Soccer: Gold Coast struggle to draw

Gold Coast United's Joel Porter and Perth Glory's Jacob Burns battle it out during their A-League encounter. Photo / Getty Images

Gold Coast United looked anything but a side chasing second spot on the A-League ladder as strugglers Perth held them to a scoreless draw at Skilled Park on Monday night.

Minus skipper Jason Culina - who is on Australian duty - and defender Michael Thwaite because of suspension, United failed to make much of an impact in a roughhouse affair featuring four yellow cards and 17 free kicks.

That may not be the end of the disciplinary action however with an off the ball incident involving the Glory's Adriano Pellegrino and United's Bas van den Brink late in the second half likely to be reviewed.

With the ball on the sideline on halfway, van den Brink hit the turf in the Glory's attacking half clutching his face with Pellegrino leaning over him trying to pull him up.

Several players rushed in and jostled while van den Brink remained lying on the ground.

A minute, the United defensive midfielder jumped to his feet as if nothing had happened.

It was the most serious of a number incidents during the game and at one stage the referee pulled aside United's midfielder Robson and Glory's Jamie Harnwell after they exchanged words and got in each other's face in the 40th minute.

The physical and uninspiring affair was punctuated with a few genuine scoring chances.

United forward Bruce Djite was denied a 90th minute winner after a linesman ruled the ball had crossed the baseline before it was pumped back in his direction.

Djite had earlier missed two quality attempts to score in the second half, his first whistling past the right hand post before another shot was easily saved by Glory keeper Tando Velaphi.

By only drawing with second last placed Perth, United missed a golden opportunity to move into third ahead of the Central Coast Mariners.

- AAP