Soccer: Embattled Kingz flattered by narrow loss to Marconi

SYDNEY - The patched-up Football Kingz slumped to their 16th loss of a wretched National Soccer League campaign when slipping to a flattering 2-1 defeat by the Marconi Stallions.

Long condemned to last on the table, the Kingz, missing a host of first-choice players, could make little headway in uncomfortably humid conditions at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night although substitute Paul Harries pulled back a consolation goal in stoppage time.

Not surprisingly a third-season victory again proved out of reach for the Kingz who arrived in Sydney with only 15 players available.

Skipper Chris Jackson was out through suspension while Danny Hay, John Tambouras, Michael Williams, David Rayner, Paul Seaman and Espen Schjerven were unavailable through injury or illness.

Even some of those who fronted were carrying knocks, or in Mark Burton's case making their comeback from a long-term knee injury to help coach Tommy Mason's depleted squad.

Considering all those obstacles Mason was pleased to keep the scoreline respectable, though he admitted the margin could have been far greater had Marconi not frittered away a mass of opportunities.

"It could have been a lot worse. It's probably our best 2-1 loss of the season - it could have been six or seven on chances created."

The Kingz frustrated the play-off aspirants until the 31st minute when midfielder Chad Gibson blasted in a 20m free kick past Michael Utting.

Earlier Utting, who played despite a foot injury, had kept the Kingz in the match with three fine saves including a penalty stop in the 23rd minute from Australia under-23 representative Nick Carle.

Utting's save, low down to his right, exacted justice for the visitors after referee Ben Williams pointed to the spot after an innocuous challenge by Jason Rowley on Alex Brosque.

Carle, who also hoofed the ball over the crossbar from close range in the 57th minute, atoned in the 61st minute when he clipped the ball under Utting on an acute angle despite the tackle of Mauro Donoso.

Brosque, who squandered a gilt-edged chance in the 89th minute, was a constant menace up front for Marconi while Stallions goalkeeper Michael Turnbull was rarely tested.

Brad Scott's long-range effort in the opening half capped one of the Kingz' few attacking forays.

The Kingz finally got on the board when Harries latched on to a long ball, catching the defence napping, and slipped the ball past Turnbull a minute after Brosque should have made the score 3-0.

- NZPA