Fulham lost the opening game of their Australian pre-season tour as Gold Coast United scored twice in six minutes at the end of an entertaining game at Skilled Park.

Teenage defender Chris Smalling prevented the Premier League side falling behind early on with a superbly-timed tackle on Brazilian midfielder Robson, before the Whites took the lead when Danny Murphy curled a majestic free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards. That sublime strike was the first goal that Gold Coast had conceded in eleven games.

Mark Schwarzer had little to do on his return home, but the goalkeeper was grateful to John Pantsil for clearing Joel Porter’s header off the line. The Australian international easily fielded a couple of hopeful shots from long-range before being replaced by Pascal Zuberbuhler as one of seven half-time changes. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson also offered Adrian Leijer an opportunity to play in his homeland, but the Premier League outfit, with several youngsters on the field by that point, fell apart in the final ten minutes of a very watchable contest.

First Jason Culina, who was involved in a pre-match spart with Fulham skipper Danny Murphy, combined nicely with Kiwi striker Shane Smeltz, to create a chance for Brazilian substitute Milson. The striker nodded in an equaliser – which was allowed to stand despite suspicions of obstruction on Zuberbuhler. Four minutes from time, Smeltz turned poacher – firing through a crowd of bodies after a corner had fell at his feet to secure an unlikely victory for the hosts, who will join the A-League as an expansion side next month.

Fulham finish their tour of Australia with two more matches against Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory.

GOLD COAST UNITED (4-4-2): Vanstrattan; Fitzsimmons, Traore, van den Brink, Thwaite; Culina, Griffiths (Osman 70), Robson (Lustica 75), Pantelidis (Minnecon 45); Smelz, Porter (Milson 75).

GOALS: Milson (80), Smelz (84).

BOOKED: Pantelidis.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer (Zuberbuhler 45); Stoor, Kallio (Briggs 70), Pantsil (Kelly 45), Smalling (Leijer 79); Andranik (Saunders 80), Murphy (Baird 45), Gera (Hughes 45), Seol Ki-Hyeon; Zamora (A. Johnson 45), Nevland (E. Johnson 45).

BOOKED: Andranik, Kallio.

GOAL: Murphy (16).

REFEREE: Chris Beath.

ATTENDANCE: 10,336