Soccer: Unbeaten trio share early Australian league lead

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Brisbane Strikers, Marconi Stallions and Newcastle United, with identical two-win, two-draw records, are making the early running in an Australian National Soccer League season that has yet to hit top gear.

After missing the first four rounds as they prepared to step into the void left by Adelaide City's late withdrawal, Adelaide United will play Wollongong Wolves on Friday night to kickoff their campaign. United face a series of catch-up games to get the league back on schedule.

While the lead is shared by three teams, the Football Kingz are at the bottom of the table and are the only team yet to collect a point.

The team one point and one place ahead of them, the Melbourne Knights, meet the Kingz at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday - a game Kingz coach Ken Dugdale has set as the one that will kickstart their season.

Brisbane continued their strong start with a 1-0 away win against South Melbourne in front of 7250 fans at Bob Jane Stadium. The game was settled in the 48th minute when Louis Brain scored.

The all-Sydney clash between Olympic and United was also decided by just one goal, with under-20 international Michael Baird scoring midway through the second spell - just a couple hours before joining his Australian teammates on their flight to the United Arab Emirates for two friendly internationals.

Newcastle United and Parramatta Power retained their unbeaten records with a 1-1 at Newcastle.

United went ahead in the 28th minute with an own goal by Parramatta captain Alvin Ceccoli. They held that lead until added time at the end of the first spell when the visitors equalised, after former Newcastle striker Travis Dodd lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Tom Willis.

Two games were decided by the odd goal, with Wollongong beating Melbourne Knights 2-1 away and Marconi Stallions winning at home by the same score over Northern Spirit.