Soccer: Chance for Kingz to show goods

By TERRY MADDAFORD

An Australian preview of this week's round of NSL matches describes the Football Kingz as "a hopeless joke last season".

Tomorrow at Ericsson Stadium the 2002 version of the Kingz have the chance to show they are infinitely better than the mob who masqueraded as a football team last season.

The test could not be any greater than in facing Perth Glory, who have set the benchmark for the past couple of seasons only to choke at the final hurdle.

Not surprisingly, Kingz coach Ken Dugdale is set to put out the same team who thumped Northern Spirit 4-1 away last week.

The only injury concern is midfielder Raf de Gregorio, who broke his nose last time and is also battling a niggling groin injury.

Ever-popular veteran Harry Ngata popped up with a club record four-goal haul against Spirit and was later named the NSL player of the week (a rare recognition for the club), but tomorrow Dugdale will be looking for something from Chilean Patricio Almendra.

"There are similarities in the way our three front men play," said Dugdale. "We don't really expect Ngata, Almendra or Vlahos to be prolific goalscorers. Rather, we expect they will all pop up and score a few during the season.

"Almendra is settling in well. Already we have seen touches of class.

"Rather than look to him or one of the others, we would like to get a few players scoring goals as it can make it difficult for defenders to pinpoint where the attack will come from."

Despite conceding only one goal in their opening two rounds and two in two warm-up games against Spirit before that, Dugdale warns there can be no complacency at the back.

"Sure, I have been pleased with how well they have done but there can be no letting up against players like Damian Mori and Bobby Despotovski, who have spearheaded the Perth attack for the past couple of seasons," he said.

"It has been good to be able to stick with the same line-up. It is all about playing together and becoming consistent. That was not always the case in the past.

"We still have to be careful. The understanding so necessary in any position comes from doing it week in, week out."

Perth, despite their first home loss in a couple of seasons, still go into the game as favourites.

Likely teams:

Football Kingz (from): Michael Utting, Jonathon Taylor, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Mark Atkinson, Jonathan Perry, Chris Jackson, Patricio Almendra, Jeff Campbell, Andy Vlahos, Harry Ngata, Raf de Gregorio. Paul Urlovic, Johnny Foundoulakis, Riki Van Steeden, James Bannatyne.

Perth Glory (from): Jason Petkovic, Matt Horsley, Jamie Harnwell, Brad Hassell, Andre Gumprecht, Scott Miller, Bobby Despotovski, Edgar Aldrighi Junior, Damian Mori, Shane Pryce, David Tarka, Nick Mrdja, Michael Garcia, Gary Faria, Vince Matassa.

Kick-off: 4.30pm tomorrow.