By TERRY MADDAFORD
Top-six hopefuls Adelaide City Force and Marconi Stallions did themselves no favours in playing out a scoreless draw in the 25th round, but their stumble certainly helped the Football Kingz keep their Australian National Soccer League hopes alive.
Marconi still hold sixth place - a point behind Melbourne Knights
and two ahead of Adelaide - but the Kingz have closed to within six points of the top six.
Sydney United, two points and a place ahead of the Kingz, face a tough week, having to back up tomorrow night against leaders South Melbourne.
The game has been brought forward to allow four Souths players to join the Socceroos for their World Cup qualifiers, which start in Coffs Harbour on Thursday.
United warmed-up for the trip to Melbourne with a 1-1 home draw against defending champions Wollongong Wolves.
David Huxley put the visitors ahead in the 50th minute but the Sydneysiders hit back with a great equaliser when substitute Goran Talevski hit a curling free kick into the top corner.
Eastern Pride also did the Kingz a favour. The bottom-placed side beat Parramatta Power 2-1 to leave Parramatta, who are at home to the Kingz on Friday night, in 10th place - two points behind the Auckland-based club.
Parramatta had two players sent off, including the goalkeeper, and both will miss Friday's match.
In a surprise result, Melbourne Knights - with Andrew Marth as their player/caretaker coach after dumping Valdo Vanis - thrashed Northern Spirit 4-1 to consolidate their fifth place.
The Knights are at home to Adelaide on Sunday.
Canberra Cosmos, who meet the Kingz next week at Ericsson Stadium, saw their slim play-off hopes disappear when beaten 1-3 by second-placed Sydney Olympic, who remain four points back from South Melbourne.
South Melbourne had a tough battle before beating Newcastle United 1-0 thanks to a 69th-minute John Anastasiadis goal.
With end-of-season pressure mounting, bookings and sending-offs are taking their toll - on everyone it seems but the Kingz.
The team have only 22 yellow cards and no reds - ahead of the next best, leaders South Melbourne, who have 30 bookings and three red cards.
Auckland referee Derek Rugg took his tally from four NSL games this season to 23 during the Kingz match.
He has handed out one red as well and averages six cards a game, holding top spot on the season's list.
