Soccer: Knights on a high

Jeremy Brockie during last night's 1-1 draw with Adelaide at North Harbour Stadium. Jeff Brass/Getty Images

NZ Knights 1 Adelaide United 1 

The stadium announcer exercised a dry wit when he played Bonnie Tyler's 'It's a heartache' before a ball was even kicked in the North Harbour Stadium. 'It's a fools game' ran the lyrics. 'Hits you when you're down,' it continued.

The NZ Knights have not had an easy ride in the A-league. A simple glance at the table reveals a side that would appear to have been outclassed and outplayed by virtually every opponent they have faced. Somewhere among those depressing statistics is an 11-game losing streak and a goal difference of minus 31.

Thoughts of ending their final home game of the season on a high were at best hopeful, at worst naive. The opposition for this final foray on New Zealand soil was the team from Adelaide. A side already crowned premiers and arriving here on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run.

In light of this, the Knights were keen to press for an early advantage. Jeremy Brockie unleashed a speculative effort in the opening minutes that was enough to vocalise the Knights supporters. Zenon Caravella tried his best to influence the game but Adelaide seemed adept at soaking up the pressure.

Adelaide were clearly focusing their attack down the left with the diminutive Lucas Pantelis looking a serious threat all evening. It was apt that he should be the provider for Lucas Brain to head home for United in the 21st minute.

The game opened up in the second half but for all their opportunities, the Knights seemed unable to execute a final telling ball.

The introduction of Xiaobin Zhang was to turn the Knights' fortunes around. It took all of four minutes for Zhang to put the men in black back in the game with a textbook header and earn himself a yellow card for taking his shirt off.

The Knights were clearly roused and played with a tempo that hadn't been seen earlier and you couldn't help but wonder what might have been.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY