Soccer: Newcastle, Sydney share the lead

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Newcastle United and Sydney United, both 2-1 winners over the Football Kingz in the opening rounds of the Australian National League, are setting the early pace with two-from-two records.

With the competition disrupted with a bye and a postponed game each week, eight teams are unbeaten, with Newcastle and Sydney alone on six points.

At the other end of the table, the Kingz are in 10th place, ahead of only Wollongong Wolves and Northern Spirit.



Three of the second-round matches were won 2-1. Brisbane Strikers and last season's beaten grand finalists Sydney Olympic drew 1-1.

Defending champions Perth Glory scored the round's biggest win, 3-0, over the young Melbourne Knights, netting all their goals in the last 10 minutes.

The game came alive after a dull first half, but it was not until the 83rd minute that Damian Mori broke the deadlock.

It was also scoreless at halftime in Brisbane. Then, in the 54th minute, David Pilic scored with a free kick. Olympic, in their first game of the season, snatched a point when Jim Bakis scored 10 minutes later.

Newcastle United needed two Jobe Wheelhouse penalties to get home over Northern Spirit.

The first came when Newcastle captain Robbie Middleby was brought down by his opposite, Noel Spencer, after just one minute, and the second when the referee ruled the ball had hit Spencer on the arm in the 78th minute.

Dylan Macallister scored from a 28th-minute scramble to keep the Spirit in the match.

He could have given his side the lead in the 55th minute, but his penalty hit the post and was cleared.

Brad Maloney has scored all three of Marconi Stallions' goals this season.

His two against Wollongong Wolves, in the ninth and 18th minutes, followed good work from Brendan Renaud.

Substitute John Majurovski gave the Wolves some hope with a 73rd-minute strike.

In this week's feature games, Brisbane are at home to Perth and Marconi play Newcastle.