The come-from-behind victory maintains United's unbeaten record for the season and moves them into third place on the National Youth League ladder, still with a game in hand over first-placed Sydney FC Youth and second-placed Central Coast Mariners Youth.

The entertaining game began at a high tempo with both sides employing a direct style in the opening quarter hour, and it wasn't too long before Gold Coast began to fashion goalscoring opportunities.

First, James Brown's weaving run and shot stung the palms of AIS 'keeper Lawrence Thomas, then a better chance fell to Chris Harold, but the young striker was off balance and Thomas saved comfortably.

Midway through the half, the AIS defence was on red alert once again when Harold's cross travelled along the goal-line then to safety as United piled on the pressure.

But in the 27th minute the visitors hit the front, albeit against the run of play, thanks to Eli Babalj's scuffed shot that had enough pace to beat Jerrad Tyson in the United goal.

Two minutes before half-time United levelled with a goal good enough to grace this or any other National Youth League season. Mitch Bevan's swirling, left-foot bullet from all of 25 metres whistled into the top corner, leaving AIS 'keeper Thomas grasping at thin air.

Their tails up, Gold Coast Youth began the second period in the same positive vein, heaping pressure on the AIS goal. Steven Lustica stung the palms of Thomas with a solid strike from just inside the box, then Bevan thumped one goalwards, but Thomas was equal to the youngster's effort.

United were looking the more likely of the two sides and took a deserved lead with another quality goal in the 68th minute. Golgol Mebrahtu flicked on a long clearance into the path of Chris Harold, who took one touch before blasting a vicious, dipping drive over Thomas from just outside the box.

The second 45 minutes was virtually one-way traffic as United looked to add a third goal, but they were given a scare 11 minutes from time when Jared Lum's pin-point free-kick rattled the upright with Jerrad Tyson rooted to the spot.

The agile Tyson was called into action moments later though, pushing Patrick Dixon's speculative effort over the bar with a flying save.

United's triumph lost some of its sheen in the final moments when defender Ben Wearing was sent off for a second bookable offence and will now miss next week's top-of-the-table clash with Sydney FC.