Soccer: Brisbane's season catches fire with decisive win

By TERRY MADDAFORD

After some lean weeks, Brisbane Strikers soccer coach John Kosmina had something to smile about as he watched his side re-ignite their NSL season with a 4-1 win over Parramatta Power.

The victory, which included a hat-trick from Paul Foster, lifted the Strikers into clear third place and within three points of second-placed Newcastle United as the run-in to the play-offs heats up.

Foster's three goals took him to within one of leading goalscorer Damian Mori, whose Perth Glory side had the weekend off.

Wollongong Wolves were unable to continue their late-season rally as Adelaide City held them to a 1-1 draw.

Stuart Young gave Wolves the lead inside five minutes, but City equalised in stoppage time at the end of the first spell through Scott Tunbridge.

Wollongong's hopes of defending the title are almost certainly gone.

Melbourne Knights continued their push and ended the round in fifth place after beating Marconi 3-1 at Marconi Stadium.

John Maisano gave the home side their early lead, but two goals - from Joel Porter and Toto Da Costa - late in the first spell had the visitors ahead at the break. Ivo De Jesus completed the scoring right on fulltime.

Northern Spirit slipped out of the top six, beaten 2-1 away by South Melbourne, whose goals came from Paul Trimboli and Peter Buljan.

In the match of the round, Newcastle United picked up a valuable away point in playing out a 1-1 draw with Olympic Sharks in a game that featured a controversial penalty and two players being sent off.

Joel Griffiths hit home from the spot after referee Mark Shield ruled that Sharks goalkeeper Clint Bolton had brought down Esala Masi.

Griffiths was sent off for a second yellow card, followed late in the match by Olympic defender Andrew Durante, also for a second yellow.

Late in the game, Jade North scored with a diving header to earn the Sharks a point.

Sydney United's 3-0 win over the Kingz lifted them to 10th place, but still six points out of the top six.

The Kingz have the bye this week. The game of the round is Newcastle's home battle with Brisbane.