Soccer: Kingz frustrate supporters again

By BOB PEARCE

The maddening Football Kingz made all the play but had to settle for a 0-0 draw with the Wollongong Wolves at North Harbour Stadium last night.

The Kingz had chance after chance but could not capitalise, and the visitors seemed happy enough to settle for a draw.

Steady rain fell throughout the first half, turning the rock-hard surface into a skating rink and then forming pools of casual water which made passing hazardous.

Neither side relished the conditions and it was 20 minutes before either had a shot at goal. Appropriately it came from 19-year-old Naum Sekulovski, who had impressed with some strong runs on the right of the Wollongong attack.

The shot went wide and Michael Theoklitos in the Kingz goal was not seriously tested again before halftime.

The Kingz were clearly missing the speed of the suspended Paul Urlovic, who would have relished the loose ball on the slippery surface.

In his place, Campbell Banks and Andy Vlahos struggled to develop any combination and a string of high balls were comfortably intercepted by the Wollongong defence.

The Kingz did not manufacture their own first shot until the 34th minute when Vlahos turned cleverly on the edge of the penalty area and goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis was happy to see it pass just wide.

Four minutes later the Kingz were desperately unlucky not to score. George Goutzioulis had the ball in the net but inexplicably, 30m away, referee Neil Fox had blown for a foul on Vlahos for which he gave Ben Blake a yellow card. Goutzioulis was clearly through the defence before the whistle blew and Fox should have played advantage.

In the 40th minute the Kingz had only themselves to blame for not opening their account. Vlahos had a shot brilliantly parried by Anastasiadis and Harry Ngata headed over the top from close range.

After the break the Kingz, despite playing into a strong wind, had a concerted period of attack but could not get the ball in the net. Banks was narrowly wide with a header from a cross by Chris Jackson and then Banks had outflanked the defence Jackson missed from 5m.

Vlahos floated a perfect cross and Banks and Goutzioulis failed to capitalise with an empty goal in front of them.

Then Ngata drove a powerful shot heading for the top corner but Anastasiadis produced a billiant save. Ngata was finding plenty of space on the right but those inside him squandered a stream of crosses.

The Kingz next game is against Sydney United at Ericsson Stadium on Friday at 7.35 pm.