Soccer: Missed penalty by Kingz proves costly

11.00pm

The Football Kingz were left ruing missed opportunities after losing 1-3 to Adelaide United in Auckland tonight.

Harry Ngata's failed penalty attempt in the 70th minute with the score at one-all proved crucial as Adelaide added a further two goals to consign the Kingz to their eighth loss in the National Soccer League.

After a goalless first half Adelaide opened the scoring in the 50th minute through a great strike from Adrian Pellegrino who powered the ball past Kingz goalkeeper Ross Nicholson from just outside the penalty box.

The Kingz levelled 11 minutes later when striker Mark Beldham was brought down in-goal after another surge down the right flank.

Ngata slotted the ball from the penalty spot high into the left hand corner but failed from the same location nine minutes later when Beldham was brought down in the penalty box.

Ngata's second penalty attempt sailed high over the cross bar.

All White Shane Smeltz regained the lead fro Adelaide after chesting the ball home from an Adelaide corner in the 70th minute.

Carl Veart killed any chance of a Kingz revival 15 minutes later after latching onto a loose ball from a Nicholson parry to wrap up a 3-1 victory for the visitors in the round 12 fixture.

- NZPA