The win takes United back to the top of the National Youth League table and reaffirms their status as genuine title challengers after a recent dip in form.

But Gold Coast made heavy weather of it in the first half with Sydney looking the more likely of the two sides after a bright opening to a high tempo match.

United captain Steven Lustica stung the palms of Dylan Mitchell with a 20-metre drive early on, then Sydney went close when Jared Lum hit a swirling effort that just cleared Jerrad Tyson's crossbar.

The visitors took the lead they had been threatening on 20 minutes after Gold Coast needlessly gave the ball away in the middle of the park and were made to pay for their lack of concentration.

Tyson did well to save Lum's shot, but could only palm the ball into the path of Simonoski who comfortably tucked away chance.

Sydney were looking the more threatening and Lum again tried his luck from long range, followed by a Justin Hayward header that whistled wide.

Within two minutes of the restart Lum was only inches away with a 20-metre dead ball, but from the resulting goal kick United went up the other end and levelled with a fine goal from Golgol Mebrahtu.

On as a half-time substitute, Mebrahtu tore through a gap in the Sydney defence and confidently side-footed home with his first touch of the ball.

It was just the start to the second period that Gold Coast needed and with their line-up reshuffled at half time by coach Mike Mulvey, the home side began to stretch the Sydney defence time and time again.

A second Gold Coast goal looked on the cards and sure enough it came in the 63rd minute, this time United benefitting from some sloppy Sydney defending.

Fresh from his Hyundai A-League debut during the week, 17-year-old Josh Brillante stole the ball before embarking on a 40-metre run that ended with a powerful, low drive that was too hot to handle for Sydney ‘keeper Mitchell.

Mulvey's men were looking like a different side to the one that produced a lack-lustre first half display and striker Chris Harold almost notched United's third with a drive that rattled the crossbar.

With 15 minutes remaining Gold Coast defender Ben Wearing was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity when he hauled down Blake Powell just outside the penalty area.

But even with ten men United looked comfortable and increased their lead with a peach of a goal from Ben Halloran.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, Halloran wasted no time in taking aim and drilling a thumping drive into the bottom corner to confirm the points for Gold Coast.

GOLD COAST UNITED YOUTH 3 (Mebrahtu 48', Brillante 63', Halloran 82')
SYDNEY FC YOUTH 1 (Simonoski 20')