Pantelidis ban upheld
02/18/2010 12:20:06 PM
Gold Coast midfielder Steve Pantelidis' only hope of featuring again this season is if United makes the A-League Grand Final after his appeal against a five-match ban for striking was dismissed on Thursday night.
Pantelidis was handed the hefty suspension for an ugly off-the-ball hit on Victory striker Robbie Kruse during Gold Coast's 1-0 victory over Melbourne at Skilled Park in Round 25.
The blow forced Kruse to be substituted off in the first half with an injured shoulder.
Gold Coast hosts Newcastle in a cut-throat semi-final on Saturday night at Skilled Park.
If Miron Bleiberg's men successfully negotiate that encounter, they would then have to beat either Wellington or Perth in the Minor Semi-Final before accounting for either Melbourne or Sydney in the Preliminary Final away from the Gold Coast.
That treacherous scenario would hand United a grand final berth and Pantelidis the opportunity to take to the field again this season.