Soccer: Kingz keep their slim play-off hopes alive

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz backs-to-the-wall battle continues this week with an "away home game" in Christchurch against National Soccer League contenders Perth Glory.

The Western Australia side, fresh from a 2-1 home win over Eastern Pride, face the long trek to meet a Kingz side still hanging on to top six play-off hopes after a 1-1 draw in Adelaide.

The Kingz again dominated but failed to take advantage of gift-wrapped scoring opportunities. They needed an 87th-minute NSL debut goal from the former Adelaide defender Michael Cartwright to snatch a point.

Earlier, the home side had gone ahead in the 67th minute with a Nathan Day header.

With nine matches to play, the Kingz need to win at least seven of them to have any chance of reaching the play-offs.

Of the decision to take this Friday night's game away from Ericsson Stadium, Kingz general manager Chris Turner said the club had always planned to play three home games out of Auckland.

The game against Perth clashes with a Super 12 home game for the Blues at Eden Park.

While there had been much talk on likely changes in the Kingz coaching staff for next season, there was as much or maybe more pressure on the players.

Turner said the squad would be trimmed to 18 or a maximum 19 from the 24 used this season.

With only Harry Ngata, Che Bunce, Jonathan Perry, Levent Osman and Sean Douglas holding contracts for the new season, and with Turner's determination to recruit overseas, many players have something to play for in the remaining games.

After the game against Perth, the Kingz have a week off and then play Marconi in Wellington.