Soccer: Kingz turn in dismal display

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The dream of a first-ever third successive win in the National Soccer League turned into a nightmare for the Football Kingz when beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United at Marathon Stadium last night.

It was back to the bad old ways for the Auckland-based side who showed little against a team who went into the game six points and four places below them on the points table.

The first 45 minutes produced some very ordinary football from both sides.

The Kingz should have had the lead inside five minutes when Tim Stevens won a penalty by playing the ball in and defender Andy Roberts unluckily handled.

Captain Harry Ngata stepped forward but pushed his weak attempt straight at goalkeeper Bob Catlin.

There were a couple of only half chances at each end until the 37th minute when the home side went ahead.

A long ball was pumped deep into Kingz territory. The Kingz defence was somewhere else and when Levent Osman could not control the ball and goalkeeper Simon Eaddy could not reach it, Peter Juchnewicz had no trouble in steering the ball home for his first goal of the season.

The Kingz had a chance to equalise early in the second half but failed to breach the well-packed Newcastle defence in a goalmouth scramble.

The home side were behind in both the possession and territory stakes in the second half but the Kingz rarely looked like breaking them down.

There was a lack of determination and direction from the Kingz.

They missed the defensive resolve of Chris Jackson, the midfield skills of Ivan Vicelich and Gerard Davis and the finishing ability of injured player-coach Wynton Rufer.

Even a succession of second-half corners and attacking freekicks could not produce a goal

The Kingz found 332nd-match veteran Catlin a solid last line of defence.