Soccer: Under-17 magic only a memory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Wanted to buy or trade - soccer players. Must have the ability of Fred de Jong or Wynton Rufer. Preferably younger models. Apply urgently to the Football Kingz.

The Auckland-based Kingz managed a point in their 1-1 draw with the Gippsland Falcons in their Australian League clash at North Stadium last night but it was not pretty.

The electric atmosphere of the world under-17 championships was sadly missing.

Only de Jong and Rufer, on at halftime, and a couple of the other local players showed much against an ordinary Gippsland side in front of a crowd struggling to reach 3000.

And, when the players did manage to stay on their feet, string a few passes together and look for something positive, local referee Derek Rugg whistled the life out of the game.

He found around 35 fouls, booked three - including soft yellow cards for Kingz players Che Bunce and Robbie Middleby and a deserved one for Gippsland defender Manny Gotis - but was no better or worse than much of the football.

Ivan Vicelich was wide with an early long-range attempt and Juan Nilo blasted an opportunist shot straight into the hands of Kingz goalkeeper Jason Batty.

The Kingz went ahead in the 16th minute. Harry Ngata pushed a quickly-taken free kick to Dino Menillo who crossed to Robbie Middleby at the far post from where he headed home.

The Falcons should have equalised in the 34th minute when Brian MacNichol was allowed to run and unleashed a shot which Batty thankfully saw clatter the crossbar and bounce clear.

Gippsland were back on level terms in the 50th minute.

De Jong surprised goalkeeper Bojo Jevdjevic with a snap shot. The ball, gathered and cleared was sent quickly downfield. With Vicelich watching, the ball was played to the far post where, as Batty and Bunce failed to sort out their defensive duties, MacNichol - the best of the visiting team - nipped in to score.

The Kingz almost grabbed a second in the 62nd minute when they took a short corner. Chris Jackson snapped a shot out of nothing and Jevdjevic did well to deflect for a corner.

Middleby had a couple of chances but his good work was ruined by some shocking finishing while the bounce of the ball rarely went the way of Rufer and de Jong, who toiled tirelessly.

The Kingz - who forced six corners to three and took only three goalkicks to 15 - had a healthy share of possession.

Their failure to turn that into something productive was disappointing and still leaves them chasing their second home victory.