Adelaide United FC has played out its second scoreless draw against Gold Coast United this season after neither side was able to find the back of the net on an extremely humid night at Skilled Park.
Adelaide United FC has played out its second scoreless draw against Gold Coast United this season after neither side was able to find the back of the net on an extremely humid night at Skilled Park.
The match loomed as critical for both the Reds and Gold Coast-s run up to the finals, but with both sides coming off short turnarounds from matches played in sweltering heat on the weekend, the game failed to reach any great heights.
Hoping to gain some ground on the second placed Central Coast Mariners, the Reds were not without their chances, but it was a night that seemed destined not to see a goal. The result leaves the Reds three points behind the Mariners, although the Central Coast have a game in hand.
The talking point of the contest was arguably the unexpected send off of Paul Reid with ten minutes to go after he was involved in a fifty-fifty challenge with Gold Coast defender John Curtis.
Both players appeared to have eyes on a bouncing ball as their studs met in mid air, and after a lengthy delay in which Curtis was stretchered from the field in a neck brace due to his head hitting the ground from the collision, referee Chris Beath produced a straight red card to Reid. The club is set to appeal Reid-s red card with Football Federation Australia tomorrow.
United Head Coach Rini Coolen brought Mathew Leckie into the starting line up as he looked to expose Gold Coast early on, but it was the home side that had the better of the early chances, Adama Traore not far away from scoring the opener.
The Reds- response came in the 19th minute in the form of Sergio van Dijk, the league-s leading scorer curling a free kick just wide of the post.
The energy sapping conditions coupled with the state of the Skilled Park surface was not conducive to attractive, free flowing football as the opening half was riddled with fouls.
Van Dijk was again at the centre of the Reds- other promising chance of the half when Leckie cut the ball in from the left in the 40th minute. The Dutch striker was well positioned to capitalise but first attempt was spoilt by Krisitan Rees before goalkeeper Glen Moss was able to keep out van Dijk-s follow up effort.
Traore almost caught the Reds napping within a minute of the restart when he was put through a gap by Steve Pantelidis, but Eugene Galekovic was awake to the danger.
Leckie-s return to the starting eleven lasted 54 minutes before he was replaced by Iain Ramsay, and ten minutes late the substitute produced some fine interplay with Travis Dodd to allow the Reds captain to take aim from the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was blocked by a desperate Gold Coast defence.
Coolen went to the bench again with 20 minutes to go injecting Reid and Andy Slory for his highly awaited debut appearance.
Then in the 80th minute the accidental collision between Reid and Curtis took place, the stoppage in play as Curtis was treated to seemingly giving both sides a chance to charge their batteries for one last attempt at finding a winner.
But just as the players were ready to resume, the referee proceeded to show a straight red card to Reid for the incident, leaving the Reds to fight out the remainder of the contest with 10 men.
In the 86th minute the home side should have made the most of the their added player advantage as Tahj Minniecon appeared certain to score, but brilliant last gasp defending from Cameron Watson and Francisco Usucar prevented the Gold Coast substitute netting the winner.
The Reds must now back up at home on Saturday night for the visit of the Phoenix, who are fighting to stay in the top six. Tickets for the match are available through Ticketek.
Match Details
Gold Coast United 0
Adelaide United FC 0
Referee: Chris Beath
Crowd: 2,138 @ Skilled Park
Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 6.CASSIO, 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES (11.Andy SLORY 70-), 13.Travis DODD (c) (12.Paul REID 70-), 14.Cameron WATSON, 19.Mathew LECKIE (17.Iain RAMSAY 54-), 21.Francisco USUCAR
Substitutes not used: 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)
Yellow cards: Hughes 37-
Red cards: Reid 80-
Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11.Bruce DJITE (14.Joel PORTER 26-), 16.Kristian REES, 22.Adama TRAORE (15.Tahj MINNIECON 68-), 24.John CURTIS (29.Zachery ANDERSON 80-), 33.Peter PERCHTOLD
Substitutes not used: 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk)
Yellow cards: Perchtold 37-
Red cards: Nil
