Gold Coast United goalkeeper Glen Moss was being hailed a hero after an enthralling 2-2 draw with A-League pacesetters Brisbane in a rain-drenched encounter at Skilled Park on Boxing Day.
The United goal keeper made half a dozen crucial saves, several when one out with Roar forwards, to give the Gold Coast a credible draw in the most difficult conditions.
The 2-2 result in front of 13,065 brave fans kept a couple records intact.
United have still never lost to the Roar in their five encounters and Brisbane extended their record A-League unbeaten streak to 18 games.
However, Moss was the difference in the result and prevented an embarrassing scoreline for United, who looked sluggish in the wet conditions.
He stopped crucial shots from Kosta Barbarouses, Thomas Broich, Matt McKay and two from Jean Solorzano, including one in the 89th minute that would have earned the Roar all three points.
Without Moss’ brilliance, the Roar could have won 6-2 – at least.
Although the Roar dominated play and created quality opportunities, it was United who scored the opening goal in the 14th minute when Adama Traore pumped a loose ball from a corner kick back into the penalty box.
Teammate Dino Djulbic accepted the well-placed kick to head the ball into the net from point blank range.
The Roar replied in the 30th minute through Barbarouses, who again broke free against a stagnant and reactive United defence to score from five metres.
Like the first goal, Gold Coast United second success was also against the run of play.
Robson cut through the Roar’s defence to be one-out with goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos and slotted the ball through his legs in the 55th minute for only his second goal for the club.
The Roar equalised from a spot kick after United veteran John Curtis was penalised for bringing down Barbarouses after the pair became tangled in the top corner of the penalty box.
Moss almost saved Solorzano’s equaliser which passed under his right arm.
The Roar dominated the final 10 minutes of the game but could not find the net.
Torrential driving rain for the entire 90 minutes not only made it tough for the players but also for stadium’s ground staff.
The game was stopped in the 82nd minute to allow staff to re-mark the penalty box after the lines washed out for the second time in the match.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou was pleased with the amount and the quality of scoring opportunities his side created while also praising the work of Moss.
“He (Moss) was great and their back four was very desperate and they defended very well and they had to because we were on song tonight,” Postecoglou told reporters.
“I know we didn’t get the points but we played some really good football and created some fantastic opportunities.
“Football sometimes does not reflect what is happening out on the park.
“Under extreme conditions, they were all quality opportunities and it wasn’t by chance.”
United coach Miron Bleiberg claimed the penalty against Curtis that allowed the Roar to draw level at 2-2 was soft.
However, he said it would have been an injustice if either side had won.
“The penalty was soft,” Bleiberg said.
“We have a bit of a bitter taste. The mighty Roar need a soft penalty to equalise with us.
“To say we were better, no. But we know we can compete with the Roar … no team deserved to win today.
“The only consolation is the Roar haven’t beaten us yet.”
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