WHAT a start for GC United! Winning a derby is never something to be taken lightly (as a West Coast Eagles fan I should know - we’ve lost seven of the last eight).
And with all the hype that had gone into this match, the result was always going to be euphoric for one set of fans and shattering for the other.
As I watched the piece of history unfold before my eyes, it occurred to me that in one 90 minute period, a year of myths, suggestions, boasts and criticisms of GC United were put to the test. All the baseless claims now have a very real measure through the performance shown on Saturday night. It's worth considering how some of the more common suggestions regarding how the team would go stacked up so we can separate myth from fact.
Fact 1: GC Utd are a very good team by HAL standards
It may have only been one performance, but already United have shown their class. Pre-season form suggested this, but to do well in a proper competitive game should put the issue beyond doubt. It wasn't the greatest performance in history (or even in GC Utd's history, according to Miron Bleiberg) but there was certainly enough shown by the team to suggest they are capable of mounting a genuine title challenge.
Fact 2: Jason Culina is an elite player
The last few people who doubted Culina's abilities must surely now have been silenced. He masterly controlled the tempo of the match. He lifted his team-mates as a good captain should and to top it off, he scored a very well taken goal. What's more, the chance for Jason to run the show as he did this season must surely be a good thing for the Socceroos. It's got to be better than playing a season in Holland at right-back!
Fact 3: Smeltz and Porter are amongst the deadliest forward combinations in the HAL's short history
The combination between these two created the first two goals for United. Smeltz showed his expert poaching skills to score from Porter's cross in the first half before the two expertly linked with Culina to break open Roar's defence for the third. Porter may not have scored this time, but I expect both these two will at a minimum have tallied up double figures by the season's end. Indeed with the extra six rounds this season we could see one of these two be the first HAL player to notch up 20 goals in a season.
Myth 1: GC Utd will go through the season undefeated
For all the positives, the simple fact is that Brisbane outplayed United for large periods of the game, especially in the first half. The upset wins for the Mariners and, to a lesser extent, Adelaide, plus Fury's good showing against Sydney show just how close the A-League competition will be this season. Luckily, no-one really believed this myth anyway.
Myth 2: GC Utd has no defence
Most critics of Miron Bleiberg's squad pointed to the lack of proven HAL defenders. Critics of United's defence will have to be quiet though after the performance put in on Saturday. Van den Brink in particular was outstanding. There were a few small lapses, but the backline never looked genuinely threatened and Higgins showed supreme confidence when Brisbane did manage to get anything through. If Giggles is number two to Vanstrattan, then I can't wait to see the former Juventus man in action!
Myth 3: Miron Bleiberg as coach will be the club's weakest link
GC United were tactically spot on against Brisbane. When they were troubled, they were able to respond by absorbing pressure and retaining possession at the back. When they were on top, they were able to lift the tempo and amplify the pressure they were putting on the Roar backs. While Brisbane put unthreatening ball after unthreatening ball into the United box, Bleiberg's team expertly built up their chances ensuring that when the breakthroughs came, they resulted in goals. Bleiberg outwitted Farina on the night and showed that his team has developed a game-plan suitable for winning HAL matches.
Myth 4: The FFA was right to have Suncorp Stadium host the match
19,902? Not a great turnout. With any luck the Gold Coast fans will prove a point and show up in similar numbers for the first home match of the season.
Finally... with the debut now out of the way and one derby win under their belts, United's next match will give them the chance to claim total bragging rights in Queensland by getting the better of Fury. This match will be the first chance to see how the club has met its second great challenge - bringing fans through the gate. Hopefully Skilled Stadium will be sold out to see the already top-of-the-table United secure their second win of the season!
