Soccer: Sharks too good for sorry Marconi

By TERRY MADDAFORD

In a typical top v bottom clash, NSL leaders Olympic Sharks beat Marconi Stallions 3-0 to extend their lead to four points.

The win, the Sharks' sixth in a row, took their goal tally to an impressive 30. Jeromy Harris scored two in the second spell after Hiroyuki Ishida had given the visitors the lead at halftime.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for Marconi, who have scored only nine goals in 12 outings.

Their woes were compounded in having six players booked and Grant Last sent off before halftime.

Second-placed Perth Glory remain the only serious challenger, despite being held 1-1 by an improving Brisbane Strikers.

Newcastle United hold third position on goal difference from South Melbourne, eight points behind Perth, following their 4-1 win over Sydney United.

A 56th-minute chipped goal from Brad Maloney was enough to earn Parramatta Power a 1-0 home win over Wollongong Wolves.

The real action came in Melbourne where the Knights beat Adelaide City Force 4-3.

Both sides had suffered three consecutive losses, and Adelaide had been left without a coach when Charley Villani quit during the week.

Veteran City midfielder Aurelio Vidmar gave his side the lead in the 18th minute. Nick Budin made it 2-0 six minutes later.

But the Knights were level at the break thanks to goals by Leon Buhic and player-coach Andrew Marth.

The visitors regained the lead 12 minutes into the second half when All Whites striker Shane Smeltz' attempt was deflected home.

The Knights got back to 3-3 when Iain Fyfe scored an own goal, and Anthony Pelikan grabbed the winner in the 70th minute with his ninth goal of the season.

Adelaide finished with nine players.

Michael Valkanis and Rod Vargas were sent off following their second yellow-card offences.

In this week's feature matches, South Melbourne are at home to Newcastle and the Sharks play the Knights.

The sixth-placed Kingz are away to 10th-placed Sydney United on Sunday.