A Mitchell Bevan wonderstrike has helped Gold Coast United to a 2-1 victory over the Australian Institute of Sport on Sunday.
In an entertaining game, United clawed back from a goal down to claim the win, thanks to Bevan-s curling 25m shot, which he tucked away neatly in the top right hand corner.
A high-tempo and spirited first half saw both sides fighting to control the match.
Coming off the bye last week, Gold Coast perhaps had the better chances, but it was the AIS who took the lead in the 27th minute.
A chipped ball from midfield landed to striker Eli Babalj, who scuffed his shot past United keeper Jerrad Tyson.
Most of Gold Coast-s attacks came through Bevan and striker Andrew Barisic, who linked up well on the left hand side in the first half.
In the 23rd minute, some clever interplay between the two saw the ball go to James Brown, whose shot from outside the box came off the side of his foot.
Brown was exciting on the right, with numerous menacing runs keeping the AIS defenders occupied.
After 43 minutes, Barisic received a long diagonal ball on the left and got it out to Bevan, who curled home the equaliser with an impressive left foot shot from 25m.
The second half was all United, as they slowly began to take control of the match.
United captain Steven Lustica took a sweet shot from the top of the box after a scramble in the area, but the AIS keeper Lawrence Thomas held it well.
Gold Coast-s hard work was finally rewarded with the lead as a long ball from the midfield was brilliantly controlled by Chris Harold, who then lifted the shot above the keeper and into the back of the net in the 68th minute.
Not long after, a free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box by Jared Lum rattled the left upright, as the AIS began fighting its way back into the match.
Patrick Dixon tried to match Bevan-s earlier effort with a spectacular long-range drive of his own in the 83rd minute, and United needed a top-drawer save from Tyson to stay in front.
AIS kept knocking at the door in desperation, searching for an equaliser, but to no avail.
United-s Benjamin Wearing collected his second yellow card in the dying stages, but it was far too late to make an impact on proceedings.
For the AIS, it was the execution in the last third that was the problem, with the killer final ball sorely missing on several occasions.
A clever flick from Babalj gave Lum an opportunity in the 15th, but his shot floated over the crossbar.
Kamal Ibrahim was impressive for the AIS, with several menacing runs on the right causing havoc for United.
One of Ibrahim-s early runs saw Mustafa Amini take a shot at the top of the box, only to be blocked by defender Zachary Anderson.
The win takes United up to 3rd position, with a game in hand, while the AIS stay at the foot of the table, still searching for their first three points.
Gold Coast United 2 (Bevan 43, Harold 68)
AIS 1 (Bahalj 27)
@ Southport Tigers
