Gold Coast United notched up their third win in a row after defeating Adelaide United 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium. Adelaide United: 0 Gold Coast United: 2
Scorers:Adel - nil GCU - Shane Smeltz 12', Steve Fitzsimmons 50'
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium Crowd: 12,741
The high-flying Gold Coast United again found themselves in front after just 12 minutes when star striker Shane Smeltz scored for the third match in succession with an easy tap-in.
The remainder of the first half ebbed and flowed with neither side really making too much of an impact but that all changed when play resumed.
Five minutes after the break, Gold Coast went ahead 2-0 thanks to Steve Fitzsimmons who netted his first goal in the A-League with a finish from close range after a Michael Thwaite header.
The match really begun to heat up in the 60th minute when Scott Jamieson made a positive run down the left flank for Adelaide and won a free-kick after Fitzsimmons brought him down.
The ensuing ball was met my Robert Cornthwaite but his glancing header went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Moments later, Jamieson played another ball in to a crowded area where debutant Lloyd Owusu's physical presence and first touch in an Adelaide shirt almost bought about a goal for the Reds but Gold Coast managed to scramble it to safety.
Again it was Jamieson who found himself in space down the left side and whipped in a ball to the back post to an oncoming Alemao who struck from outside the area but his shot went wide.
The Reds were pressing forward to try and get themselves in the match and in the 63rd minute, vice-captain Lucas Pantelis knocked the ball down with his chest just inside the box but his shot was blocked well by Kristian Rees.
Down the other end, Smeltz set up Zenon Caravella who turned and shot just outside the six-yard box but Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was on hand to make a tremendous reflex save.
Two minutes from time, Adelaide again pushed forward and were close to scoring when Adam Hughes knocked it past the far post from a corner.
But Aurelio Vidmar's men could not make any leeway, allowing Gold Coast to continue their perfect start to their debut season.
