Gold Coast United and Wellington have played out a nil all draw with neither team able to punish the other with a lot of attack amounting to nothing on the scoreboard.
It started promising enough with Gold Coast's ‘Big Four' all back and fully fit. Wellington fielded a full strength team minus McKain who suffered a hamstring injury in last weeks match against Central Coast.
Gold Coast came out to attack and had control of the opening stanza, peppering the box with crosses but Phoenix keeper Mark Paston was vigilant and stayed on top of it..
In the 5th minute a good ball in from captain Jason Culina made Paston move, but even with a flailing leg from Smeltz the Wellington stopper stayed strong.
United's intimidation however was short lived with the Phoenix poking holes through their defence and more than equalling the side at the top of the ladder.
Chris Greenacre and Leo Bertos were hazardous from the wings and Gold Coast right-back Traore was having his worse game of the season which didn't help United's cause.
One of Greenacres darts from the left would have seen Paul Ifill tapping in a low cross at the far post if it wasn't for a sliding effort by Kristian Rees to clear.
Not only was Wellington's attack equal to the league new comers, their defence help solid under pressure by the leading goal scorer this year and last, Shane Smeltz with Durante managing to always intervene at the right time.
The best chance of the half came when Matt Osman surprised the Phoenix keeper and fired a shot off his left from outside the box and had to parry it away.
The amount of chances that went astray due to players inability or unwillingness to use their left peg was remarkable. Both sides were guilty of it and it is a growing trend this writer has noticed over these few weeks. More wrong foot shot practice.
The second half started much as the first and even with Pim Verbeek in the stands as an extra incentive, neither team could break the other down.
Leo Bertos, of course a New Zealander who couldn't careless if the Australian national coach was in the stands, was coming the closest however, making the Gold Coast defence look sloppy.
The 60th minute saw the start of Wellingtons complete dominance of United when Bertos' corner was met by Daniel ‘s head only for the ball to hit the bar.
After a scuffle in the area when the ball came back in Bertos loaded up another corner, this one was deflected to the far post for Anderson to clear off the line with his chest. There were accusations of hand ball, it was his chest.
Wellington had three good free kicks opportunities from thirty out relatively wasted in the 70th minute. Both sides consistently fouling all game and being let off by the referee meant the only yellow came in the 90th minute to Vincent Lia for pretty nominal dissent after expressing outrage at having to kick the ball out for a Gold Coast player to receive attention.
Gold Coast were out played in every department, but only just. Wellington couldn't find the killer blow they needed but will go back across the Tasman happy with the result and performance.