Soccer: All White link for NSL final

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand fans will have some interest in Sunday's Australian National Soccer League grand final with All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny joining his South Melbourne team-mates for the one-off clash with defending champions Wollongong Wolves.

Although Wollongong earned the right to a home final, the game will be played at Parramatta Stadium to cater for the expected large crowd.

South Melbourne, the most successful club in NSL history, booked their place in Sunday's match with a 2-0 win over Sydney Olympic in the preliminary final.

With Coveny back in the starting line-up, South Melbourne began strongly and went ahead in the 27th minute when Olympic defender Scott Baillie inexplicably played the ball square 25m from his goal.

Con Boutsianis pounced, advanced a few metres and tried to curl the ball around goalkeeper Clint Bolton, who could only watch as his captain Ante Juric deflected the ball in with his hand.

The clincher came in the 63rd minute when Zeljko Susa pounced on the rebound after hitting the crossbar.

Coveny will have no time to savour his team's victory should they win a record fifth championship. He is due to join the national side in Auckland on Monday.