Soccer: Injuries strike Kingz again in Parramatta loss

By BOB PEARCE


A change of venue didn't produce a change of luck as the Football Kingz went down 2-1 to the Parramatta Power in Hamilton last night.

The Kingz once again played their hearts out but suffered yet more injuries as they struggled to field a competitive lineup.

The first half ended with the teams level 1-1 but the Kingz used up their substitutes after a string of mishaps. They survived the opening blitz only to lose Chris Jackson briefly after a head clash, which opened a cut above his eye.

Worse followed when Espen Schjerven gifted the ball to Parramatta near the penalty area in the 20th minute and Andre Gomprecht provided a clinical finish.

The Kingz were spurred into action. Paul Harries won two heading duels and Tallan Martin was unlucky not to score. Minutes later Parramatta defender Matt Thompson appeared to handle in the penalty area but the referee was unsighted.

But in the 33rd minute Schjerven made up for his defensive error when he escaped his marker to head home a Jackson freekick.

Then the Kingz injury bugbear struck. Harries went off with a groin injury and was replaced by Brad Scott. Almost immediately Craig Wylie went down with a hamstring strain and Alex Midstian came on. He lasted only four minutes before his injured knee gave out and Chad Coombes replaced him just before halftime.

It took Parramatta 15 minutes of the second spell to regain the lead. Ross Nicholson had saved well from Travis Dodd but in the 62nd minute he had no chance when Fernando Rech buried a clever pass from Ante Milicic.