Soccer: Wolves hunt down NSL lead

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Sparked by a Saso Petrovski hat-trick, defending Australian National Soccer League champions Wollongong Wolves thumped Parramatta Power 5-1 to join South Melbourne at the top of the points table.

Wolves have been playing catch-up since their time out while qualifying for Fifa's world club championship in Spain. But they are back on track, having played 20 games - as have South Melbourne who sat out last weekend when their game against Brisbane Strikers was postponed because the Queensland side had four players on under-20 international duty. That game will be played on Wednesday week.

Petrovski's second-half scoring spree took him within two goals of the league's top scorers, Perth's sharpshooting pair of Bobby Despotovski and Damian Mori, who have netted 13 each. Ben Burgess (Northern Spirit) and Archie Thompson (at Marconi after starting the season at now defunct Carlton) have 12.

While many matches were a goalfest - it is the fourth successive week more than 20 were scored - the key top-six clash between Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions was decided by a solitary goal.

Scoreless for almost 90 minutes and with Olympic fans heading to the gate muttering about points lost, diminutive midfielder Troy Haplin raced towards the goal, skipped past Marconi captain Dominic Longo and curled a shot into the back of the net.

Olympic's 11th win (in 21 games) kept them in third place ahead of Perth, who drew 3-3 with the Football Kingz in Christchurch.

Melbourne Knights kept their playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 away win over Sydney United. Midfielder Joel Porter's 43rd minute strike earned the visitors their 10th win and took them one point clear of Marconi, who remain five points ahead of seventh-placed Adelaide.

After trailing 0-3 with 11 minutes to play, Newcastle United grabbed two late goals but still went down 2-3 in Canberra.

It was not a great round for goalkeepers or own goals.

Four keepers, including the Kingz' Simon Eaddy, scored own goals - the first own goals conceded by goalkeepers this season.