South Melbourne showed why they continue to set the National Soccer League pace with a deserved 3-0 win over the Football Kingz in their round-15 clash at Bob Jane Stadium last night.
It was a disappointing result for the Auckland-based side, who had won and drawn their last twoleague matches, but who faded in the heat in a game which had been delayed a couple of hours by soaring afternoon temperatures.
In the first half, the Kingz gave as good as they got everywhere except on the scoreboard.
Australian referee Simon Micallef refused to award the Kingz a seventh-minute penalty when Dennis Ibrahim was shoved and toppled.
But he was quick to give the home side a penalty when Vas Kalogeracos was just touched by goalkeeper Simon Eaddy while chasing a ball headed out of the penalty area.
Captain Paul Trimboli whacked home from the spot to give South Melbourne an 18th-minute lead.
Wynton Rufer had earlier been just off target with two attempts. Mark Burton and Andy Bluhm, too, had chances. But against a team with a second-to-none defensive record, there was no way through.
South Melbourne went further ahead in the 35th minute with a good goal. Trimboli played a ball into Fausto De Amicis, who got behind the Kingz defence before crossing to Kalogeracos, who was unchallenged in scoring for 2-0.
The home side forced five first-half corners to none but the Kingz had by far the better of the free-kick count and were fractionally ahead in shots of goals.
The second half was a little more pedestrian, the only goal coming in the 76th minute from veteran All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny, who had earlier been denied by a great Eaddy save.
It is now 450 minutes - or the ninth round - since South Melbourne, coached by Mike Petersen, has conceded a goal.
