Soccer: Forces unite to leave Knights in the cellar a week before season opens

The New Zealand Knights are back in familiar territory - their 2-1 loss to the Queensland Roar at North Harbour Stadium last night relegating them to last place in the A-League Pre-Season Cup.

The defeat came at a cost for the home side who finished the game with 10 players and with others injured.

They were up against it early.

Noah Hickey lasted only 10 minutes before he was stretchered off with a knee injury. Striker Dani Rodrigues followed 14 minutes later after tweaking a hamstring.

With the start of the Hyundai A-League beckoning, coach Paul Nevin quickly pitched Jonti Richter and Sean Devine into battle.

The first half was another dour battle with neither team able to convert half chances into goals.

The visitors had the better of it through forcing a handful of corners, one of which would have broken the deadlock but for Knights' captain Darren Bazeley's goal-line clearance.

Less than four minutes after the break Queensland took the lead.

With the Knights defence retreating after an unsuccessful attacking freekick, the ball was played wide to captain Andrew Packer on the right.

His first-time cross found Reinaldo who was unchallenged in looping his header away from goalkeeper Danny Milosevic.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Dario Vidosic gathered and easily saw off attempted, but half-hearted tackles to tap home from close range. Down, but not out, the Knights rallied to get one back 10 minutes later.

Hard-working midfielder Richard Johnson picked out Malik Buari with a superb ball wide to his left. Buari played square to Bazeley. His first-time effort curling away from Reddy and into the net. Sparked into life and keen to chase the game, home side hopes were quickly dashed.

Referee Peter O'Leary, with seemingly no feel for the occasion, booked Frank van Eijs for a second time and sent him off.

Van Eijs will now miss the Knights' season opener against Newcastle Jets at the stadium a week tomorrow.