Soccer: Olympic Sharks set pace

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Sydney's Olympic Sharks continue to set the pace at the top of the NSL, despite dropping points to the Football Kingz.

With Perth Glory upset 2-0 by former cellar-dwellers South Melbourne, the Sharks have helped themselves to a two-point lead over Newcastle United.

The Kingz are holding sixth place and have the chance to move up the table if they can win in Adelaide on Sunday.

Adelaide are unbeaten and go into the match buoyed by a 3-2 away win over the Brisbane Strikers.

Brisbane, with goals from Fernando Rech and Peter Grierson, led 2-0 at the break. But in an amazing comeback, Adelaide's Claudion Pelosis scored in the 66th minute, added his second in the 77th and veteran Aurelio Vidmar snatched the winner in the 79th.

Perth were upended in Melbourne by a Souths team without Paul Trimboli and All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny.

Peter Buljan opened the scoring in the 66th minute. Youngster Michael Baird added the second five minutes later.

Missing striker Damian Mori, Perth suffered their second loss in five outings, one more than the whole of last season's round-robin when they distanced the field.

Newcastle moved into second place with a scrappy 2-0 home win over Wollongong. Parramatta Power were left fuming when the Melbourne Knights' Rod Vargas snatched an injury-time goal to level the game at 2-2 at Parramatta Stadium. In the other fifth-round match, Sydney United and Northern Spirit drew 1-1.

In this week's feature game, the Olympic Sharks are at home to Newcastle. At the other end of the table, Marconi Stallions have home advantage for their game against Parramatta. Both sides have yet to win this season.