OFF-SEASON BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR ONE-SIDED COAST RIVALRY
IT’S fast become one of the biggest rivalries in Gold Coast sport – but for three years it’s been owned by one side.
In five NPL Queensland starts, Gold Coast United has never beaten rival Gold Coast Knights.
Two draws and three Knights victories tell the tale of a one-sided Gold Coast affair. So, can you even call it a rivalry? Knights skipper Roman Hofmann still says yes.
“Generally in these matches we’re considered favourites, but … they’re always quite close,” he said.
“United always gets up for this game. They always find that extra 5-10 per cent and I think if we walked away losers we would be disappointed.”
Former A-league giants United are perennial losers in this, one of the most anticipated grudge matches in Coast sport, and have lost the past three on the trot.
When the two teams clashed at Tallebudgera back in May, it was the visiting Knights, courtesy of a firsthalf Cai Tipaldo goal, who claimed all three points.
But United, the ironed-on underdogs of this fixture, were far from disgraced. In fact, Grae Piddick’s side was probably unlucky not to come away with at least a draw on that occasion.
Fast-forward five months and the trajectory of the two sides could not be more different.
Though the Knights have been the better team over a season spanning 25 rounds, it’s United, fielding a crop of promising young talent, that has had the better run home.
The Knights’ finals hopes came crashing down in a 1-nil loss to Sunshine Coast Wanderers last month. And, when lowly Redlands United prevailed 2-1 over the former league champions a fortnight ago, it consigned the perennial post-season fancies to their worst-ever NPL Queensland finish.
“It’s not in line with the goal we set ourselves for this season, for sure,” Hofmann said.
“Notwithstanding everything that’s happened, the boys should be proud as a unit and as a team.
“I still think (we’re favourites to win). We’ll dust ourselves off because we know there’s something on the line, especially playing at home. “It’s not just another league game." Conversely, United has won three of its past five matches, including a last-start 5-3 win over competition leaders Peninsula Power, who in that same span they also held to a 3-3 draw.
United could equal its best wins and points total if it breaks its longrunning Knights curse at Croatian Sports Centre on Sunday.
Injury-hit and blindsided by the NSW border battle, Piddick has turned to United’s youth to get the senior team to the finish line.
The experienced coach, who last year led the Knights before an acrimonious parting of ways late in the season, was brought in to right the United ship and the early signs are promising.
But he’s not satisfied, yet. Piddick wants to take an elusive Knights scalp with him into the offseason.
“Absolutely it’s a great way to finish,” he said.
“Last game of the season and bragging rights for next season … the boys are really up for this one.
“Gold Coast United has never beaten the Knights – never won a local derby.
“We’ve ticked off a lot of neverbefore (done) things this year. We want to beat Knights and tick that one off, too.”