Rejuvenated United Earn Draw
Brandon Reeves in action v Olympic (Olympic FC / Patrick Kearney)
A rejuvenated United earned a point against competition high-flyers Olympic FC in Brisbane last night.
The home side were looking for a win to take them 3 points clear on the ladder but the Surfsiders produced a gritty display holding the hosts to a 2-2 draw.
The Goodwin Park faithful were silenced when Brandon Reeves opened the scoring for the Coast but it didn’t take long for the slick Olympic counter-attacking machine to respond, young gun Jez Lofthouse equalising and then putting the home side 2-1 in front on the stroke of half time.
After the break Reeves scored his second goal early on to level the match and that’s how it remained, with Olympic spurning several good chances including a missed penalty from veteran Danny Byrne.
After a disappointing run Coach Sean Lane was well pleased with the draw and the attitude and commitment from his team.
“This was a fantastic team performance against a very experienced side.
“After the last 3 poor results the draw stops the bleeding and now we can push on from here.”
New signing Pasquale Gioffre stood tall in the United goal and impressed Coach Sean Lane on debut.
“Paz Gioffre had an excellent debut. He’s a big lad with a big presence.
“He made two world class saves in the first half and kept us in it in the second.
“He’s got some catch up work to do fitness wise but Mirko Runje our GK Coach will beat him into shape.”
The Coast has the chance to build on this result when North Qld United visit Robina next Saturday.
NQ are in the relegation zone and will be desperate for points. United recorded a 1-0 win in Townsville in Rd7.
National Premier Leagues, Rd 19
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
Olympic FC 2 (Lofthouse 24’ 45’)
Gold Coast United 2 (Reeves 10’ 47’)