Gold Coast United have remained in the hunt for a top-two finish with a 3-0 home win over Melbourne Heart tonight.
United were in control of proceedings on the scoreboard but it was the Heart who could count themselves unlucky after creating a swag of chances but their inefficiency in front of goal ended up being their downfall.
Gold Coast defender Bas van den Brink kicked off happenings with a header from a corner just before half-time and things only got better for the home side prior to the hour-mark when Bruce Djite was brought down in the area by Heart centre-half Michael Beauchamp.
Jason Culina stepped up to the spot and converted to make it 2-0 before Djite set him up for a second in the 77th minute to kill off the luckless Heart who remain fifth on the table as United edge closer to second-placed Adelaide United who lost in Wellington earlier tonight.
A-League Week 17Gold Coast United: 3 (Bas van den Brink 41', Jason Culina (p) 58'/77') Melbourne Heart: 0
Venue: Skilled Park, Robina Crowd: 1,658 Referee: Jarred Gillett Yellow cards:GCU - Bas van den Brink 84' MH - Michael Beauchamp 57', Adrian Zahra 65'
Starting Line-Ups
GCU Scott Higgins (gk), Robson (Minniecon 75'), Dino Djulbic, Anderson, Jason Culina, Bruce Djite (Barisic 79'), Bas van den Brink, Kristian Rees, James Brown, Adama Traore (Fitzsimmons 87'), John Curtis
Subs - Jerrad Tyson (gk), Tahj Minniecon (75'), Andrew Barisic (79'), Steve Fitzsimmons (87')
MH Clint Bolton (gk), Michael Marrone (Hamill 46')Simon Colosimo, Michael Beauchamp (Taseski 69'), Matt Thompson, Gerald Sibon, Alex Terra (Worm 46'), John Aloisi, Aziz Behich, Nick Kalmar, Adrian Zahra
Subs - Peter Zois (gk), Brendan Hamill (46'), Rutger Worm (46'), Kliment Taseski (69')