Cian Cuba continues hot form as Gold Coast United stretch NPL winning streak to four games
TWO seasons spent honing his craft in Spain have given Cian Cuba the belief he can mix it with the state’s best, with Gold Coast United’s man of the moment rapidly transforming into an NPL matchwinner.
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TWO seasons spent honing his craft in Spain have given Cian Cuba the belief he can mix it with the state’s best, with Gold Coast United’s man of the moment rapidly transforming into an NPL matchwinner.
Having found the net three times in victories over Brisbane City and Brisbane Strikers, Cuba helped United stretch their winning run to four games with a sublime injury-time finish in Saturday night’s 3-2 triumph over Brisbane Roar Youth.
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The 20-year-old midfielder joined the Surfsiders from Gold Coast Premier League club Mudgeeraba this season, but spent large portions of the preceding two years with Valencia-based Spanish club Ribarroja CF.
He said that time had been invaluable in his development, with the former NPL junior at Palm Beach now a key figure in United’s top-four push.
“I’ve been going well and the team’s been going well. We just need to keep working on a few things as a team,” Cuba said.
“I’d say it’s been an easy transition (to the NPL). The football is a lot different, obviously you get a lot more time on the ball in the NPL, whereas in the Premier League they’re right up you and like to get stuck in early. It’s a big change.
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“I’ve played in Spain for the last two years at a high level and that was good, so when I’ve come back I guess I just used all the skills that I learnt over there and brought it down to the Gold Coast and now in the NPL.
“From the start we believed (as a team) that we would be competitive and that’s shown. The first few matches we were a bit shaky but we’re showing that we’re a strong team.”
Saturday’s victory at Tallebudgera moved United to 12 points, one behind the Gold Coast Knights after they fell 2-1 to Peninsula Power in their top-of-the-table encounter at Kippa-Ring.
The Knights led 1-0 at halftime on the back of Sam Smith’s opener, before a 76th minute thunderbolt from Sekou Jomanday restored parity.
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The hosts were then awarded a dubious penalty three minutes later, with Brenton Fox converting from the spot.
The two Coast outfits meet for the first time in the NPL at 7pm on Saturday at Carrara’s Croatian Sports Centre.
In the NPLW yesterday, United’s women fell 1-0 at home to Logan Lightning.
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