Soccer: Not much fun lurking in cellar

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Just when it could not, surely, get any worse for the Football Kingz, it has.

Hard on the heels of their 3-2 loss to Northern Spirit, South Melbourne and Sydney United, two of the teams the Kingz have stayed ahead of for much of the NSL seasons, scored their second wins and leap-frogged ahead of the Auckland-based team.

Now only defending champions Wollongong Wolves are behind the Kingz - and that only on the count of goals scored.

The Kingz are away to Parramatta in one of three matches on Saturday night.

The Sydneysiders, six points ahead of the Kingz, will be no easybeats.

They were part of NSL history on Sunday when they went down 2-1 to runaway leaders Perth Glory.

Ahead 2-0 inside 17 minutes with a couple from sharpshooting Bobby Despotovski, the home side held on despite a 26th-minute reply from Zlatko Arambasic - his first goal for Parramatta.

The win at Perth Oval was the eighth in as many outings - a record start to any league season and just one shy of the all-time winning streak.

Newcastle hold second place, despite a 1-1 draw at Marconi and after playing much of the second spell with just nine players after Chris Zoricich and Angelo Costanzo had been sent off.

Ahead 1-0 at halftime following a goal by Joel Griffiths in the 31st minute, Newcastle dropped points when Marconi's Kevo Gulessarian scored four minutes into the second spell.

In a top-of-the-table clash, Newcastle are home to Perth on Friday night.

Brisbane beat Olympic Sharks 1-0, with Fernando Rech scoring the 39th-minute winner, four minutes after Nick Carle had been sent off.

Paul Foster should have given the Queenslanders an even more comfortable victory but missed a second-half penalty.

Sydney United came from 0-1 after 10 minutes to beat Melbourne Knights 2-1.

Toto Da Costa gave the visitors an early lead, but United's Ante Milicic equalised from the penalty spot just before the break.

Milicic scored the winner 12 minutes from time.

South Melbourne also came from behind to win 2-1 at home against Adelaide City.

* Miramar Rangers striker Graeme Little has decided to fly halfway across the world to trial with the Kingz, despite reports the struggling club are actually looking to sign a defender.