Melbourne Heart are looking to mount a serious challenge on the A-League championship, while Gold Coast United just want to be taken seriously – for once. Join us from the kick-off at 7.45pm for minute-by-minute live updates from AAMI Park.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Heart were gatecrashing the top two but with a string of injury problems they have gone eight games without a win, plummeting to the nether regions of the top six.
Olyroo duties have also taken away some of their in-form players but balanced against that their talismanic skipper, Fred, is likely to return and fellow midfield collaborator Matt Thompson is a 50-50 chance to play.
That will be a fillip for both the Heart and the game, with promoters lining up to bill this fixture the ‘Kindergarten Cup’ such is the abundance of youth to be found across these two teams.
The Heart have had a reasonably successful season, at least until they hit a recent snag, founded on getting good value out of a clutch of youngsters, including Mate Dugandzic, Aziz Behich and Curtis Good, some of whom are now on Olyroos duty.
Gold Coast United is about to take the whole youth policy thing to sublimely ridiculous levels.
With skipper Michael Thwaite suspended, and the on-loan Jonas Salley having finished his tenure on the Coast, United has been forced to bring in two 17 year olds, Mitch Cooper and Jake Barker-Daish.
Both are part of a reasonably successful Gold Coast youth set-up, but they are likely to notice the step up in intensity tonight.
On top of that, Gold Coast United decided to hand the captaincy of the team to one of the debutants, Mitch Cooper.
Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg publicly stated the obvious that it was ceremonial only and that practically speaking, Kristian Rees would take on the captaincy duties after the tossing of the coin.
This has landed the coach in hot water with Clive Palmer, who has indefinitely suspended Bleiberg.
With United in such disarray, you would have to think the game is a lay down misère for the Heart, but coach van ‘t Schip makes the point young players are capable of playing with a sense of freedom, completely oblivious to the shenanigans that are likely to affect the older players.
But I’m not so sure. If Heart can’t win this game at home, they may as well forget about their season. I think it will be a 2-0 win to the Heart.
Can the Heart get their first win of the year? Is there anything left in the tank for the Gold Coast? Kick-off a bumper weekend of A-League action tonight with our up-to-the-minute live commentary from 8.00pm AEDT and if you’re watching, don’t hesitate to join in the discussion below.
Stevo
Guest
Well just got back and it was heart in mouth stuff to the very end. Heart is clearly a better team with Fred, Thomo, Babalj on the pitch. Attack had more potency when Babalj came on and then Thomo provided extra avenues to gaol. GCU were good value but not sure that they had many shots on goal. 3 points and relief but need Mate and Aziz back and firing.
pete4
Guest
Dugandzic is the key for Heart! Babalj was good when he come on to get the goal. Harold and Halloran had a quieter night for GCU
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me tonight - a week of drama ends reasonably well for GCU, but Heart get the points, in the end, only just
The Cattery
Roar Guru
great performance by GCU, given everything that has happened, youngsters did well
The Cattery
Roar Guru
FT Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 Heart win from a momentary defensive lapse by GCU, Fred and Thompson combined to set up the tap in for Babalj, 3 valuable points for Heart - but not a convincing performance! Well done to GCU for making a real game of it, kept Heart honest, gave nothing away till the end, youngsters were good, Mebrahtu gest on ground first half, Cooper and Barker-Daish were not embarassed, Bowles and Anderson very good down back, Halloran also good. Heart still looking a fair bit off the pace, they'll be happy to have Fred and Thompson back, but will miss Dugandzic.
pete4
Guest
Good effort from GCU considering all that's happened! Plus how many regulars are out. Best on ground for Heart was Goodwin for mine
The Cattery
Roar Guru
94 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 counting down now, GCU don't have much run left in them, it's just a case of not doing anything silly for Heart and the ref has blown the whistle right on 93 min!!??
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Fred won MOM, just announced, but it wasn't his best game Thompson came on late 2nd half and set up the winner, he did well in short time on ground
The Cattery
Roar Guru
91 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 4 min stoppage time, GCU in attack, win corner, comes to nothing, Fred nominated as MOM, in truth, he wasn't at his best, but Heart has been so poor, Mebrahtu was clear best in the first half, but faded in the 2nd half
The Cattery
Roar Guru
90 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 Halloran with a good run, he goes to ground right on the corner of the box, gets nothing for his troubles, but a reminder to the Heart defence that the game is not over yet
The Cattery
Roar Guru
89 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 short corner taken, Fred drives it in, and backs up with a run into the box, ball taken by Tyson
The Cattery
Roar Guru
88 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 good set piece from Worm, right over the hot spot, no Heart head on it, eventually cleared
Victer
Guest
Three points here and they're back in the hunt for top four. I am unable to see the game live, how has Fred played Cattery? Or Matt Thompson for that matter
The Cattery
Roar Guru
86 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 signs now that the GCU youngsters are running out of legs, a few of them are not used to senior football, so they've had to work harder than they have ever done in their very short careers, what a fantastic learning experience it has been for them
The Cattery
Roar Guru
85 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 You'd think Heart should be good enough to keep GCU out, but full marks to the youngsters for not being showed up at all, not in the least
The Cattery
Roar Guru
looking at the replay of the goal again, it was a terrific stretch right on the by line to cut it back for Babalj, he really had to work hard to get to it and set up a simple goal
The Cattery
Roar Guru
82 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 It was a long time coming, and Heart have really struggled all night, but they had upped the tempo the past 10 min, the subs getting into the game, and of course it was a sub who scored
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Heart finally caught GCU out, bit of a defensive error, poor pass coming out from deep, fell to Fred of all people, he put it across the face, Thompson squared it up for a Babalj tap in - they were queuing up by this point
The Cattery
Roar Guru
79 min Melbourne Heart 1 Gold Coast United 0 GOAL!!!!!!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
79 min Melbourne Heart 0 Gold Coast United 0 Traore and Harold work well to get the ball into the box, but no shot comes of it, Heart on counter, first down the left, Williams cuts back in, forced back, and then Williams collects Barker-Daish, easy decision for the ref, relieves the pressure again