‘Lucky Knights’: Why United ‘deserved to win’

Knights fans saw things differently but United’s coach has lit the fuse on the Gold Coast derby.

KNIGHTS fans saw things differently but Gold Coast United boss Kristian Rees claims his side deserved to win Tuesday’s enthralling NPL derby.

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The fourth-placed Knights, riding on a Sam Smith brace, and fifth-placed United played out a 2-2 draw on a rough Coplick Family Sports Park pitch.

SOCCEROO’S KNIGHTS AMBITION

The match remained deadlocked at 0-0 at the break before Tommy Miller cancelled out Smith’s opener in controversial circumstances, with Knights players – and fans on social media – insisting there was a handball in the lead-up.

Gold Coast United and Gold Coast Knights played out a 2-2 draw in Round 22 of the NPL Qld competition at Coplick Family Sports Park, tallebudgera, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Pictured is United's Dean Wernerson (left) and Knights player Jarrod Kyle. Picture credit: Sportspics.

Smith’s penalty restored the visitors’ advantage before Conor Smith restored parity with 10 minutes remaining after Knights gloveman Josh Langdon failed to clear his lines.

While Knights fans were left aggrieved over the refereeing, Rees insists it was his side who was unlucky to not claim all three points.

UNITED’S BOLD NPL CALL

“I think on reflection with our chances we deserved to win,” he said.

“The work rate and effort that our team displayed was fantastic and overall it was a great night for football on the Gold Coast.

“Tactically they ran out of ideas in the second half and the goals they scored were just small errors on our behalf that they were lucky to capitalise on.”

Gold Coast United and Gold Coast Knights played out a 2-2 draw in Round 22 of the NPL Qld competition at Coplick Family Sports Park, tallebudgera, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Pictured is Knighs player Sam Smith (left) and United player Junya Yabe. Picture credit: Sportspics.

Officials estimated a crowd of about 1200 attended the second Coast derby of the NPL season.

The Knights now host Moreton Bay at 6.30pm on Saturday, while United travel to Olympic at 6pm on Sunday.