Soccer: Chance for NZ Knights to outscore Queensland

The New Zealand Knights have another home game as they attempt to salvage something from the A-League Pre-Season Cup.

The Knights, frustrated and disappointed with their last-gasp 1-0 loss to Perth Glory in Friday night's 5th-8th place play-off, will be back at North Harbour Stadium on Friday night to play Queensland Roar for seventh place.

The final of the Hyundai A-League pre-season venture will be played between last season's minor premiers Adelaide United and last season's beaten grand finalists Central Coast Mariners.

Grand final winners Sydney FC, beaten 2-1 by Adelaide in Wollongong, will meet the Newcastle Jets for third.

It is the chance for the Knights to turn early promise into goals.

In five matches they have scored just twice but conceded only four - and never more than one in a match.

The rematch with Queensland, with whom they drew 1-1 away in the second round, will give some indication of where they are ahead of their first A-League proper match against Newcastle in a fortnight.

Coach Paul Nevin is not overly concerned at this stage.

"We played some decent football out there [against Perth] but that's not good enough," he said.

"It is about winning games.

"If we weren't creating enough scoring chances, then I would be worried."

Melbourne Victory and Queensland played out a scoreless draw in the other 5th-8th play-off match before Melbourne went on to win 4-2 on penalties.

Melbourne are at home to Perth in the play-off for fifth.

There was plenty of action on the coast between neighbours Central Coast and Newcastle.

Ten yellow cards as well as the red were shown during the sometimes spiteful match, won 2-1 by Central Coast.