By TERRY MADDAFORD
A strong second-half effort earned the Football Kingz a 2-1 away win over Sydney United last night.
Stand-in captain Harry Ngata scored twice as the Kingz notched their first victory in six attempts this season.
Even before a ball was kicked, the Kingz were on the back foot with
news that Chris Jackson, rushed into the side to give some much-needed midfield grunt, had not been cleared to play.
Tim Stevens was rushed across the Tasman to sit on the bench, allowing Leigh Kenyon a start by stand-in coach Shane Rufer.
Kenyon did well, but again the Kingz, especially in the first spell, struggled to stretch the opposing defence.
Too often they surrendered possession and were caught on the counter-attack, which contributed to a three-to-one shots-on-goal advantage by United as they made the most of their greater possession.
But three minutes after the break, and following just their second corner of the match, the Kingz went ahead.
Paul Urlovic, beyond the far post, fired the ball in, the goalkeeper could only parry and Ngata was on hand to provide the finish.
Taking some confidence from that, the Kingz went in search of a second, with Urlovic having the best chance after linking with Wynton Rufer, who had replaced John Markovski at halftime.
But it was the home side who scored next when, in the 67th minute, Paul Bilokapic looped a high ball in and the unmarked Commins Menapi volleyed home.
The Kingz regained the initiative and forced a corner. Mark Burton, who turned in his best effort of the season in the second half, swung the ball deep and as the goalkeeper backed into him, Ngata rose well to head home in the 70th minute.
Forced to defend for most of the closing minutes, the Kingz defence held tight.
The Kingz now have five points compared with United's four.
