United snatch a draw

A 10-man Gold Coast United have come from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw in the dying seconds against the Central Coast Mariners at Skilled Park on Saturday night.

Early second half goals from Pedj Bojic and Adam Kwasnik gave the Mariners a two-goal lead after United were reduced to ten men following Michael Thwaite’s 48th minute red card.

Facing the prospect of their first defeat of the pre-season campaign, United rallied and Shane Smeltz buried a last-gasp equaliser after Adama Traore had begun the fight-back, firing home with nine minutes remaining on the clock.

United had the better of the opening chances but the visitors could have taken an early lead had Michael McGlinchey not missed the target from close range in the second minute.

As Bleiberg’s men settled they produced a glorious move that began with Adama Traore’s precise pass to Zenon Caravella on the edge of the box. After some neat footwork Caravella found Shane Smeltz who fired a goal-bound shot towards Danny Vukovic, but the Mariners’ custodian finger-tipped the ball past the post.

Midway through the first half United skipper Jason Culina fired a 20-metre free-kick inches wide and soon after Caravella sent one narrowly over the crossbar as the home side looked for the breakthrough.

It was the Mariners who finished the half strongly though with Matt Simon wasting two good opportunities and John Hutchinson firing just over.

United suffered a double blow at the start of the second period when Michael Thwaite was red-carded for pulling back his opponent on the edge of the penalty area.

If that wasn’t bad enough for United, from the resulting free-kick Bojic smashed the ball past Jess Vanstrattan to put the Mariners in front.

The visitors capitalised on their one-man advantage within minutes and doubled their lead when Adam Kwasnik tapped home from close range in the 53rd minute with Vanstrattan stranded.

Despite playing almost the entire second half with only ten men, United continued to press forward at every opportunity and reaped reward when Adama Traore halved the deficit with ten minutes remaining.

A superb 50-metre cross-field ball from Culina found the Ivory Coast Under 23 international on the left touchline. Weaving past his marker, Traore sped towards goal before firing a deflected shot past Vukovic.

With the clock ticking down, United made the most of their final chance of the match when Culina’s pin-point free-kick was met by Shane Smeltz who made no mistake with his powerful header.