IT'S not often that you get to watch the football team you support when you're hoping they'll lose. But that's exactly the situation I found myself in last Sunday afternoon.

Yes that's right; the secret's out.  I have two football loves.  Well four actually.  But even if we ignore the obligatory European-based football teams for Australian fans I still share my love between the team of my old hometown and my youth that is Perth Glory and my new-found source of joy that is Gold Coast Utd. 

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I'm sure a few readers can think of at least a couple of dirty or nasty names for someone so willing to split their affections unashamedly between two rivals.  "How can you call yourself a true fan of either?" is the question thrown to such an attitude.  In truth, perhaps I can't call myself a fan?  

At the end of the day, I can't deny that my passion is for the game itself rather than the particular institutions that officiate, organise or play it.  I'll happily wear my purple scarf or yellow beanie and cheer gladly for a Shane Smeltz goal or Jamie Harnwell goal-saving tackle.  I felt pain when Sikora's second goal rolled in and it looked like United would be buried by half time, but I also despaired when Smeltz stole that late equaliser to deny a deserving Perth of two points that would've been very handy in such a close A-League season. 

Neither Perth nor Gold Coast, however, leaves me blinded by the passion that some more hardcore fans might feel.  I wouldn't sooner see the A-League collapse than it continues without the Glory or United represented.  I wouldn't deny the faults of either club or team.  And of course I would never consider acting violently against someone for merely offering their support to an opposition side. 

Ironically, this nonpartisan attitude of mine came from one of the most emotional moments a football fan can experience- their club winning an inaugural championship.  I celebrated long and hard when Perth beat Sydney Olympic in 2003.  But a strange sense of melancholy also overcame me at the time. 

I couldn't quite work out what it meant that Perth were champions.  I knew what the team had achieved, but I hadn't achieved anything.  I knew I had enjoyed the moment, but I also knew Grand Final losses in 2000 and 2002 hurt by just as much, if not more. 

I knew I'd be able to gloat about the team's success at work in the week ahead, but I also knew none work would carry on as normal and no-one would really care.   

So it came to be that I stopped life as a love-struck teenager obsessed with a purple-clad football team and entered a mature relationship with a beautiful game. 

Now I can rejoice as Bleiberg's ambitious lot continue to prove their arrogant attitude was in fact well-founded.  I can also enjoy seeing Perth slowly grow into a team capable of recreating those greater times out west.  Indeed I even enjoyed thoroughly watching over and over the highlights of the Cassio, Charlie Miller and Robbie Fowler strikes on the weekend. 

I even, as a Leeds fan, watched the Birmingham-Aston Villa match on the weekend and got completely caught up in the derby atmosphere.  Call me what you want, but I've got it all. 

So, after that personal admission I can offer my quasi-neutral thoughts on Sunday's match. 

Gold Coast played as badly as I've even seen them in the first half.  Perth weren't outstanding but deserved more than their 2-0 lead.  The game should've been over after 45 minutes and United should thank the industry of Culina and lack-thereof from Glory's midfield going forward for the fact that they weren't. 

The second half saw a more determined Gold Coast take advantage of a mentally fragile looking Perth to equalise.  I couldn't say that United outplayed Perth in the second half but they certainly took advantage of their momentum.  Indeed the half reminded me of the first 45 between United and Roar.  The teams were level on the balance of play, but the massive levels of confidence and some individual brilliance was enough to win both those halves. 

The headline acts that are Bleiberg, Culina and Smeltz will almost certainly distract more than a few from the fact that Gold Coast have in fact formed a gritty, resilient and confident team that will battle anyone to the final whistle.   

And I'll be cheering (nearly) every time they're showing those abilities.