Soccer: Kingz hold high fliers Newcastle to just two

An improved second-half performance failed to prevent the Football Kingz falling to their fifth successive loss in the National Soccer League (NSL) as they went down 0-2 to Newcastle United in Sydney tonight.

After a lacklustre opening spell in which they conceded an early goal, the bottom-placed Kingz worried the high-flying United after the interval at Newcastle.

But a late penalty against the run of play killed off any hopes the visitors had of getting anything out of their trip across the Tasman.

The result kept Newcastle in second place with two rounds to go before the playoffs.

The Kingz had a great chance to take an early lead when a Jeff Campbell cross in the eighth minute found Harry Ngata unmarked in the penalty area.

But Ngata, making his 100th NSL appearance, was unable to guide his free header on target, later saying he lost sight of the ball in the floodlights.

Newcastle made the Kingz pay for that miss seven minutes later when Esala Masi showed fine speed to latch on to a long ball and sweep past John Markovski.

The Fijian international then cut the ball back for Joel Griffiths to scramble home.

Griffiths almost doubled the lead in the 17th minute when he rounded marker Levent Osman but shot wide of the target.

From there, Newcastle appeared to sit back rather than put pressure on the Kingz.

By the second half, the Kingz were showing confidence on the ball, with George Goutzioulis at the heart of many of their forays upfield.

Striker Paul Urlovic hit the post from a tight angle on one occasion and then shortly afterwards had the ball in the net, only for Kingz substitute Cameron Banks to be ruled to have fouled goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame.

With 10 minutes to go, Newcastle's livewire substitute Alex Moreira tumbled in the box under a challenge from goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos and referee Matthew Breeze pointed to the spot.

The penalty looked questionable, but Moreira struck the ball home to make the match safe for United.

With two minutes to go, Urlovic's own appeal for a spot kick was waved away with Breeze awarding a free kick just outside the box.

- NZPA