Soccer: Kingz' next opponents score solid away win over Pride

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Football Kingz players and coaching staff took more than a passing interest as last season's beaten finalists, Perth Glory, scored a 3-2 away win over Eastern Pride in the Australian National Soccer League.

The Kingz fly to the Western Australia capital on Friday morning for a middle-of-the-table clash which gives both teams a chance of their third win of the season.

After their disappointing slip-up against Adelaide on Friday night, the Kingz will be keen to avenge last season's 1-3 loss and drag their season back on track.

They will need a better all-round effort than their stuttering performance against the South Australians.

Perth raced to 3-0 inside 55 minutes against bottom-placed Eastern Pride at Mobil Park on Sunday, but then gave up two goals in quick succession and struggled to hold on for their second win.

The Kingz trained on Saturday and again yesterday, although injured Mark Burton, Arran Lines, Tim Stevens and Lee Jones were missing, but there is hope that they will recover in time to for Friday's trip.

With Carlton thumped 3-0 by Sydney Olympic, only Olympic and defending champions Wollongong Wolves remain unbeaten.

Captain Ante Juric opened the scoring for Olympic then got back to clear one off the line as Carlton created the first of four near-misses.

Wolves beat struggling Brisbane 2-1 as the defending champions continue to prosper, despite having last season's triumphant coach, Nick Theodorakopoulos, controversially dumped three months before the start of the new season.

South Melbourne scored the biggest win of the round when they beat Melbourne Knights 4-1, with skipper Paul Trimboli scoring two first-half penalties.

Solomon Islands striker and New Zealand player of the year Commins Menapi helped Sydney United to secure a late 2-2 draw with Marconi and maintain third position when his 82nd-minute attempt ricocheted off Marconi goalkeeper David Aceski and United captain Aytek Genc completed the job.