Soccer: Kingz show steel after early blow and keep hopes alive

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz season lives on after tonight's spirited, 2-1 come-from-behind away win over Melbourne Knights.

It was a gutsy effort from a team who appeared down and gone against a team they had not beaten in seven previous outings.

The win lifted the Kingz to eighth place on the NSL table - five points out of the top six.

Helped by some outstanding play from goalkeeper Michael Utting, the Kingz, in the end, got what they deserved.

But any thoughts of a positive start were quickly dashed when the Kingz conceded a gut-wrenching own goal.

With the Kingz defence appealing - unsuccessfully - for offside, Jonathan Perry stuck out a foot and steered the ball into the Kingz net for the opener in the 15th minute.

Obviously unhappy with what he was getting from his players, coach Ken Dugdale went to his bench inside 25 minutes.

Perry was the first to have his night cut short, replaced by Japanese Hiroshi Miyazawa, who joined Australian Con Anthopoulos and Chilean Mauro Donoso in a United Nations defensive line.

A minute later Darren Young, who started in left midfield, was off - his place taken by Mark Beldham.

The Knights continued to press - twice hitting the post - but without scoring the second goal which could have ended it.

Harry Ngata, in his 100th NSL outing, had a chance on the turn but fired straight at goalkeeper Martin John, who used his head to block the shot.

Right on halftime, the Kingz' battling hopes came good. Chris Jackson, who minutes earlier had been booked for a foul, was on the receiving end.

From the free kick Patricio Almendra hit the ball at John, who pushed the ball on to the bar. The rebound fell neatly for Andy Vlahos, who steered the ball into the net.

The home side would have taken the lead in the 71st minute but for yet another slice of Utting magic.

In conceding a foul on the edge of the penalty area, Miyazawa was booked and gave the Knights a golden opportunity.

The ball was played towards the near post and seemingly destined to sneak home - until Utting somehow reached out and, in colliding with the steel upright, got a hand to it and pushed clear for a corner.

Patched up, he continued and minutes later joined his team-mates in celebrating what might prove to be their biggest goal of the season. James Pritchett played the ball in and Ngata charged to head home the 82nd-minute winner.

The Knights had two late chances when the Knights were 11 on 10 following Jackson's dismissal but Utting - again - was superb.

A loss would have almost certainly ended the Kingz' hopes. Now, with a series of games against lesser teams, their play-off hopes are alive.