The Soccer Kingz began their second season in the Australian national league with a 0-2 loss to Sydney Olympic in Sydney last night.
It was an improvement on their 0-3 loss in their first game of last season, but they were outplayed by a much sharper outfit, who adapted to a
Belmore surface more suited to beach volleyball.
Kingz fans could point to two interventions by the referee's assistants, one of which influenced Olympic's opening goal and the other which led to a Kingz goal being disallowed.
But in all honesty Olympic had enough chances to have won by a far bigger margin.
Olympic dominated the midfield, forcing the New Zealand team to backtrack and whenever the ball did find its way to the Kingz' strikers, they were isolated and under pressure.
In the 13th minute Ante Juric bounced a shot off the Kingz crossbar with goalkeeper Chris Marsh beaten.
Moments later, Nick Carle, who tormented the Kingz defence all night, fired just wide.
Scott Baillie and Greg Owens missed golden opportunities for the Sydney side before Ante Moric opened the scoring from a Baillie cross in the 34th minute.
The Kingz defence hesitated when the flag seemed to go up for offside, but the referee awarded the goal.
After the break the Kingz started positively, but too often passes went astray or the first touch was insecure.
Olympic's second goal in the 77th minute was inspired by Karle who eluded three defenders close to the goal-line to lay on a perfect cross for Kresimir Marusic to score.
Five minutes later Michael Cartwright had the ball in the Olympic net after a centre from substitute Gerard Davis, but the referee's assistant had his flag up for a previous offence.
The Kingz play Eastern, the renamed Gippsland Falcons, on Friday at Ericsson Stadium. Eastern drew 1-1 with Newcastle at the weekend.
In a replay of last year's grand final champions Wollongong drew 1-1 with Perth Glory.
