Soccer: Boutsianis goal proves a winner

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The scoreboard showed 2-1 in favour of South Melbourne over the Football Kingz at the end of last night's NSL clash at Melbourne's Bob Jane Stadium. But whether that result stands remains the big question.

In a desperate finish, controversial bad boy Con Boutsianis grabbed the winner. But was it?

The issue is now destined for an off-field battle, with the Melbourne-based club apparently flying in the face of a "gentleman's agreement" in playing Boutsianis, who had been cleared by the Kingz to play a week ago against Perth Glory but on the condition he did not front against the Kingz last night.

From the outset it was a dour midfield battle with neither team able to gain any real dominance up front.

Shots on goal were few and far between. Those on target were even fewer.

It was, in those early stages at least, about what had been expected from the two teams at the bottom of the table.

The only change in the Kingz starting lineup came with Mark Burton's inclusion in the midfield in place of George Goutzioulis, who was sidelined with a throat infection.

For long periods it was a game which was headed nowhere, despite referee Perry Mur's obvious intention to let it flow with the minimum of whistle.

Inside five minutes the Kingz, however, gave some hope when right-wing back Jonathan Perry ran deep and wide before crossing to Burton, whose header was grabbed at the far post by Souths' goalkeeper Michael Petkovic.

Ten minutes into the game the home side forced their first of many corners. The Kingz defended well and were able to send the ball long to Paul Urlovic, but his attempt barely threatened the target.

Midway through the spell Joe Bacak created a shot out of nothing for Souths, but in-form Kingz goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos made a good save.

The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute when Boutsianis played in a ball which was headed on to the post. It rebounded to Bacak, who calmly hit home.

But he appeared to have been in an offside position.

On the half-hour the Kingz put together their best attacking move of the first spell. It resulted in Andy Vlahos having a shot on the turn and which Petkovic deflected for a corner.

Determined to inject some life into his team's effort, Kingz coach Kevin Fallon rang the halftime changes with Goutzioulis and Hiroshi Miyazawa pressed into action.

South Melbourne, however, dominated the early second-half exchanges, forcing a number of corners.

Then, in the 70th minute, and from only their third corner of the match, the Kingz struck. The ball was played in, Perry flicked on and Urlovic charged to stab home the equaliser from beyond the far post.

Just two minutes from time Theoklitos pulled off another brave save, but as the ball rolled loose Boutsianis was on the spot to whip home the winner.