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SYDNEY - For All Whites soccer coach Ricki Herbert it was a triumph just to assemble 11 New Zealand Knights players for last night's 0-4 A-League away loss to Melbourne Victory.
The result was predictable against the runaway competition leaders, but the players' refusal to drop their heads in a scoreless second half gave the coach hope that something could be salvaged out of the train wreck that is the Knights' season.
"It was just about getting the players on the park and just somehow get through 90 minutes," Herbert said.
"It's been very difficult for the players so I gave them some space to work through it... I thought they played a superb second half in the circumstances."
Herbert wouldn't have wished the recent days on his worst enemy after Football Federation Australia (FFA) revoked the A-League licence from the debt-ridden club's owners last week.
He took charge on Friday, flew to Melbourne on Saturday with nine players after some kicked up a fuss over contract issues, collected a further six temporary signings in Australia -- including Melbourne-based All White Jeff Fleming -- and had a solitary 40-minute training yesterday morning.
Noah Hickey took over the captaincy with senior men Darren Bazeley and Neil Emblen back in New Zealand after the contract stand-off. Herbert was unsure but hopeful of having a full squad to choose from for the home match against Queensland Roar on December 29.
After a promising 30-minute opening stanza last night the cracks showed when Melbourne, in front of an adoring home crowd who packed Olympic Park, rattled in four goals in 10 minutes.
Two were from quick free kicks which caught the makeshift Knights defence napping, while Adrian Caceres cracked a magnificent left-foot shot past 'keeper Mark Paston and striker Danny Allsopp nailed his second from a slick solo effort.
Herbert was irked his defence fell asleep for the two free kick goals after they'd discussed exactly what Melbourne would do pre-match.
But he was proud of a second half when promising youngster Michael White added some zip and Ivory Coast midfielder Jonas Salley and Canadian striker Alen Marcina created chances.
Herbert reiterated he and his employers at New Zealand Soccer were committed to making the Knights work.
"Let's hope so. My personal feeling is a franchise has to remain in New Zealand. I'm very passionate about it being a Kiwi boy myself. I'd like to think that the future's going to be there for a long time.
"The next couple of weeks will be testing times but a lot of people are focused on making sure it does happen."
And there was sympathy too from Melbourne, who sealed the minor premiership with four rounds remaining, 13 points clear of nearest rivals Sydney. They scored 11 goals from three matches against the Knights this season.
"It was difficult to focus earlier in the week and we weren't even sure if the game was going to be on. In all fairness I felt sorry for their team because they had a number of professionals they left behind in New Zealand which was disappointing," captain Kevin Muscat said.
- NZPA
