Adelaide United 1-1 Gold Coast United: Last-Gasp Leckie Saves Reds

A dramatic injury-time equalizer has salvaged a point for Vidmar's embattled side.

Nov 20, 2009 11:05:27 AM

Kristian Rees and Alemao, Adelaide United v Gold Coast United (Getty Images)

An injury-time Mathew Leckie strike has salvaged a 1-1 draw for Adelaide United at home to a ten-man Gold Coast United at Hindmarsh Stadium this evening.

Miron Bleiberg's visiting outfit went a goal ahead against a Reds team lacking confidence, despite the early loss of defender Kristian Rees to a red card.

Belatedly Aurelio Vidmar's men were saved in wet conditions by the dynamic legs of Leckie, the 18 year-old ensuring a happier end to another difficult week for the embattled club.

The visitors had the best chance of the first half and it came courtesy of the All White World Cup hero Shane Smeltz, who set-up Joel Porter with an intelligent scooped ball in-behind the Adelaide defence.

The latter though could only side-foot wide of the top left-hand corner what was a difficult chance but one that highlighted the potential danger posed by the strike duo.

Service to them would be limited throughout the rest of the match though as their side went a man down in rather controversial circumstances on 32 minutes, experienced defender Kristian Rees adjudged to have fouled Mathew Leckie as he bore down on goal.

Referee Chris Beath issued a red card despite the fierce protests of surrounding Gold Coast players, replays showing that they might have been justified given Rees stepped on the ball and not the man.

Beath will argue though that an outstretched arm impeded Leckie, who was played in thanks to a sublime defence-splitting ball from the energetic Kristian Sarkies.

The midfielder was Adelaide’s main threat in the opening stages, testing Higgins from range both in open play and from set-pieces as the Reds struggled to break down their opponents despite a numerical advantage.

Aurelio Vidmar’s side headed into this clash with the league’s worst attacking record and their lack of invention was conspicuous against a defensive unit that have similarly struggled in recent weeks.

Indeed, the Coast might have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time as Mark Rudan was forced to clear inside his six-yard box with white shirts lurking to nod home Michael Thwaite’s knock-down from a Jason Culina free-kick.

However, they were fortunate to go into the break with ten men still on the pitch, youngster Zac Anderson blatantly pulling down an electrifying Mathew Leckie as the latter made a break from inside his own half.

Despite appearing to be the last man Beath only issued a yellow card to the former, though Leckie’s burst was a positive sign for the embattled Reds.

It was a rare bright spark for Adelaide during an otherwise flat performance though, the Gold Coast taking an inevitable lead on 64 minutes.

Zenon Caravella was the architect, brilliantly turning Sarkies and leaving him on his back-side down the left flank before floating a cross to the back-post.

Steve Fitzsimmons arrived late and produced an aggressive, thumping headed finish, climbing above a cluster of Red shirts to send the ball into the far side of the net.

Understandably drained of confidence, Adelaide waited until the dying minutes of the match to rally, Travis Dodd first flashing a header past the near post before Robert Cornthwaite almost capped a frustrating night for his side, a Jason Culina ball across the face of goal tangled underneath the legs of the gangly defender before bouncing back off the upright.

Scott Higgins then produced a sharp stop at his near post to deny Fabian Barbiero as the home side grew desperate, their fans having gone nearly 300 minutes without seeing them score a goal.

They were saved by the 18 year-old legs of Mathew Leckie, who drilled home a dramatic equalizer from outside the area after sidestepping Socceroo Jason Culina, sending the Hindmarsh faithful into raptures.

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com

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Adelaide United 1-1 Gold Coast United: Last-Gasp Leckie Saves Reds

A dramatic injury-time equalizer has salvaged a point for Vidmar's embattled side.

Nov 20, 2009 11:05:27 AM

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