Soccer: Spirited Northern defy sending off to beat Kingz

11.35pm

NORTHERN SPIRIT 1 KINGZ 0

The Football Kingz squandered a chance to register consecutive National Soccer League (NSL) wins when they failed to break down a 10-man Northern Spirit at Gabbie Stadium, losing 1-0 in Sydney tonight.

Despite playing a man down for 70 minutes Spirit were the more impressive of the competition stragglers and deserved their victory courtesy of a Jonathon Richter strike in the 57th minute.

The bottom-placed Kingz, 2-0 victors over South Melbourne last weekend, are now assured of retaining the competition wooden spoon with a game to play.

Frustratingly they could not bank on their numerical advantage in oppressive heat and wilted in the second half after Richter put the home side in front.

Defender Mark Milligan was the early casualty after two cynical challenges within minutes on Kingz midfielder Jeff Campbell.

Milligan earned a yellow card after clattering into the All White in the 17th minute; two minutes later he badly mistimed another tackle giving referee Craig Zetter no option but to flash the red.

Zetter also booked Stewart Petrie in a feisty first half for a crude challenge on John Tambouras while Kingz midfielder Mauro Donoso also felt the force of a physical home side when he retired with a chest injury after falling awkwardly in the 32nd minute.

Spirit goalkeeper Paul Henderson was rarely tested with the visitors only forcing their first corner in first half stoppage time.

Mark Burton and Craig Wylie had glimpses of goal in the first spell but Henderson handled their relatively weak finishes comfortably.

Northern Spirit, out of play-off contention in 11th, were superior after the break as New Zealand striker Brent Fisher and fellow forward Petrie exploited a tiring Kingz defence.

The pair seriously exposed the backtracking Kingz in the 57th minute with stranded goalkeeper Michael Utting given a reprieve when Petrie slammed his shot onto the bar.

A minute later Petrie turned provider, threaded a pinpoint cross into the path of Richter who gave Utting no chance from 10-metres.

In a repeat of the first half the Kingz had limited opportunities although Jeremy Christie's 87th minute free kick from the edge of the box was goal bound until Henderson expertly parried the shot wide.

The Kingz complete their disappointing campaign with a home match against Brisbane Strikers at Ericsson Stadium next Sunday.

- NZPA