Soccer: Dismal Kingz go down in Brisbane opener

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Opening-day blues continue to haunt the Football Kingz.

For the third successive year they slumped to a first-up loss in the Australian National League, going down 2-1 to the Brisbane Strikers at Ballymore last night.

Against the odds, the home side took their chances to score a goal in each half and beat a dismal Kingz effort which has left new coach Mike Petersen with plenty to ponder before next Friday's home game against his old South Melbourne club.

After weathering the early Kingz' raids, the home side took control and went ahead in the 21st minute when Brazilian striker Fernando Rech turned Gerard Davis before hitting the ball home.

Brisbane took heart from that and as the Kingz retreated they continued to grow in confidence and put the Kingz defence under pressure.

The Kingz should have done better. Andy Vlahos and Paul Urlovic gave them attacking width and the chance to build through the flanks. But there was little central attacking presence.

In defence, the uncertainty continued. In continually reverting to the back pass they put debut goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos, who pulled off a handful of brave saves, under unwanted pressure.

Wynton Rufer, hardly sighted in the opening 45 minutes, gave way to John Markovski at halftime.

He sparked some life, but it was Urlovic who grabbed the Kingz' first goal of the season - the first time they have managed a goal in their season opener - in the 55th minute.

Urlovic beat the offside trap and then watched in glee as his soft shot rolled home.

But the defensive uncertainty remained, and seven minutes from time Paul Foster was gifted a chance which he side-footed home.