Gold Coast captain Michael Thwaite bagged an injury-time equaliser as another Melbourne Victory meltdown resulted in a 1-all draw in last night's A-League clash at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
Thwaite slammed his equaliser into the net and erupted into wild celebrations as his side avoided a third straight loss and consigned the Victory to more soul-searching after a match it had dominated slipped away.
Harry Kewell had put the Melbourne side in front with a free-kick set-piece chance in the 66th minute after proving a constant menace to United's defence.
But the chances he created went begging, with Archie Thompson the main offender, and the Victory now finds itself needing to beat crosstown rival Melbourne Heart in Saturday's derby to keep its finals chances alive.
Kewell, though, might have had a double after he was denied in controversial circumstances in the 32nd minute when his header from a throw-in was batted into play by Gold Coast keeper Chris O'Connor, who appeared to do so from behind the goal-line.
Desperately needing maximum points ahead of the clash with the Heart in just three days' time, the Victory leaves Launceston with a second confidence-sapping fade-out in a week.
It might have been worse but for keeper Ante Covic, with the Socceroos representative producing some stunning reflex saves after some early defensive wobbles.
The Coast took a step towards avoiding the wooden spoon but backs up its visit to Tasmania with the tough trip to Perth for a clash with the Glory on Monday.
After a nil-all half-time scoreline, the Victory exploded out of the blocks after the break, seemingly creating chances at will but was unable to convert.
Two yellow cards in four minutes to desperate United defenders, though, resulted in Kewell nailing his second free-kick set-piece chance in the 66th minute and the Victory led 1-0.
With the majority of the 5268 crowd willing it on, the Victory held off some late raids from United, including a superb free kick from Golgol Mebrathu which produced another superb Covic save, but the latter couldn't hold off the one that counted.
''Obviously it's been a disease at the club this season,'' said Victory coach Jim Magilton, still winless after four games in charge.
''We just need to win a game.
''We have to be more resilient ... I thought we'd done enough to win that game.''
While United coach Miron Bleiberg hailed Thwaite's run as Beckenbauer-esque, the skipper himself was more down to earth.
''I do two or three a game where I try and stream through without much action around me,'' he said.
''I just tried to roll the dice at the end of the game. I think I got a lucky nutmeg.''
Magilton said skipper Adrian Leijer and Kewell (both shoulder) would be likely to play with pain at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
AT A GLANCE
MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Harry Kewell 66m) drew GOLD COAST UNITED 1 (Michael Thwaite 90+3m) at Aurora Stadium. Crowd: 5,268. Referee: Matthew Gillett.
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