Gold Coast keeper Glen Moss was man of the match for Miron Bleiberg’s men with a string of saves keeping the lively home side scoreless over the 90 minutes.

Adelaide had the better chances of the contest but a resolute defensive effort from a young Gold Coast side stood firm.

In the opening 45 minutes Slory and Van Dijk both hit the woodwork for the Reds with Van Dijk’s effort on the half hour particularly impressive and requiring intervention from Moss to deflect the 25-metre strike onto the crossbar.

Moss was called into action again soon afterwards, this time to thwart former Gold Coast man Bruce Djite from close range as Adelaide pressed more men forward.

Gold Coast’s best opportunity came just before the break via Adama Traore’s trusty left foot, but the speedy Ivorian pulled his shot just wide of the upright.

Djite tested Moss once again just after the restart when he connected with Ramsey’s cross, then as the tackles continued to fly in, Adelaide’s McKain and United’s Ante Rozic both went into referee Gillett’s notebook.

Just after the hour mark Bleiberg made a double substitution up front with Maceo Rigters and Chris Harold coming on for Tahj Minniecon and Golgol Mebrahtu as Gold Coast went in search of a way to goal.

After resisting more Adelaide forays, Dutch midfielder Peter Jungschlager cracked one inches wide from the edge of the box and right at the death new signing Rigters went closest for Gold Coast when from a seemingly impossible angle his thumped a rasping effort just clear of the crossbar.

“Adelaide had more chances than us but we came back well in the second half especially,” said Miron Bleiberg after the match.

“We had a pretty young side tonight and I was pleased with the way they handled themselves. Playing here was always going to be difficult and overall I thought we did well and can take lots of positives from the match.

“Nobody had a bad game for us and we were well organised all over the pitch. Robson was excellent and Maceo Rigters again showed more signs that he will be a very good player for us.

“The feeling is the same as after last week’s match in that we can be confident that we will be very competitive this season and have plenty to look forward to.”

Adelaide United’s next pre season test will be against reigning Hyundai A-League champions Brisbane Roar in Toowoomba on Saturday 17 September.

Adelaide United FC 0
Gold Coast United 0
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Crowd: 2,269 @ Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Jon McKAIN (c) (2.Osama MALIK 71’), 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.Evgeniy LEVCHENKO, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 11.Bruce DJITE (24.Evan KOSTOPOULOS 74’), 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Spase DILEVSKI (21.Francisco USUCAR 80’), 23.Andy SLORY (17.Iain RAMSAY 40’)
Substitutes not used: 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 25.Allan WELSH
Yellow cards: Ramsay 44’, McKain 49’
Red cards: Nil

Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 6.Paul BEEKMANS (c) (27.Ambesager YOSIEF 88’), 7.Golgol MEBRAHTU (17.Chris HAROLD 62’), 8.ROBSON (26.Samuel TESFAGBR 90+3’), 10.Tahj MINNIECON (16.Maceo RIGTERS 62’), 12.Dylan MACALLISTER (2.Josh BRILLANTE 75’), 13.Ante ROZIC, 15.Adama TRAORE, 22.Peter JUNGSCHLAGER, 23.Dylan MCGOWAN, 28.Daniel BOWLES
Substitutes not used: 20.Jerrad TYSON (gk)
Yellow cards: Rozic 58’
Red cards: Nil