Gold Coast United are through to the preliminary final after winning a five-goal thriller in front of a sold out Hindmarsh Stadium on the back of a Shane Smeltz double.
Adelaide bossed possession in a sweltering opening 20 minutes, but the visitors were restricting them to half chances and shots from distance.
The sides took a quarter-time drinks break due to the heat and the Reds resumed their dominance in territory and possession directly after. Flores was working them into good positions but Moss was reasonably comfortable in the Gold Coast United goal.
The Gold Coast hadn’t been in the game but Shane Smeltz reminded Adelaide of how dangerous he could be just before the half hour mark. The Kiwi raced onto a straight ball, burst into the box, cut inside the cover defender and worked the ball onto his left. He couldn’t find a clean strike and Galekovic was able to save with his legs.
Adelaide didn’t heed the warning and eight minutes later they were behind. Smeltz dropped off Boogaard, picked up the ball, looked up and smashed it past Galekovic from all of 25 yards. Adelaide were shell-shocked.
The Reds brought crowd favourite Leckie on for the injured Slory and in first half extra time he burst down the side line to get his side going forward. Van Dyk benefited, but his shot from a narrow angle flew just wide.
Things weren’t going to plan for Adelaide and Rini Coolen had the opportunity to get his side’s passing game going at half time.
It was the Gold Coast, however, almost getting their second immediately after the break. Dulbic rose highest, but first the post, then Galekovic, kept his header out.
Adelaide were struggling to find a chance but not long before the hour Van den Brink gave them one. Matthew Breth spotted the Gold Coast defender grappling with van Dyk at an Adelaide corner and had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Van Dyk sent Moss the wrong way and the home side were level.
Adelaide’s tails were up now. They huffed and puffed and in the 70th minute Leckie put them ahead. Flores worked in Cassio, Moss saved from close range but Leckie was on hand to steer the ball in off the inside of the far post.
The lead lasted a minute. Minnicon swung in a great ball for Smeltz, Galekovic saved well but Djite was on hand to nod home from a yard out against his old club. Hindmarsh – deafening seconds ago – was silent.
Smeltz wasn’t finished yet. Eight minutes later the striker dummied brilliantly to allow Porter to rush into the box. Boogaard came back at him, but could only clumsily bundle him over. Smeltz stepped up and buried the penalty down the middle after a retake for encroachment.
The Gold Coast had just over ten minutes to hang on and Miron’s men did just that to wrap up another remarkable A-League playoff game. Adelaide might well feel they threw it away after leading with 20 minutes left, but Gold Coast were good value and Smeltz’s first goal was worthy of winning any game.
Photo courtesy: Pete Nowakowski
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