Soccer: Defenders spearhead Kingz win

SYDNEY - The goalscorers were on target, but it was the growing maturity of the defenders that most pleased Football Kingz co-coach Shane Rufer following their 3-1 National Soccer League win over Eastern Pride in Melbourne.

The Kingz produced a composed display against the bottom-placed team in scorching temperatures and on a hard, bumpy Mobil Park surface on Saturday night.

A goal late in the first half to striker Dennis Ibrahim, reacting to a block by Pride goalkeeper Bojo Jevdjevic, gave the Kingz a deserved halftime lead.

Aaron Lines scored the best goal of the match shortly after halftime when quality inter-passing by Ibrahim and Mark Burton put him through and one deft touch was enough to beat a charging Jevdjevic.

A Lines cross and glancing header by Paul Urlovic sealed the match midway through the second spell, although the home team restored some pride via Angelo Motsiopoulos.

"It was good that Paul and Dennis, as strikers, scored because we've been making a lot of chances but just not scoring," Rufer said.

However, most praise went to defenders Levent Osman, Michael Cartwright and Sean Douglas.

"I was very happy with the back three because they're playing more and more intelligently and starting to believe in themselves, which is a good sign."

In temperatures nearing 40 degrees, the three controlled possession superbly, making the Pride strikers run and blunting their presence for the rest of the game.

"We had to use our brains," Rufer said. "Keeping the ball was the key and those guys did it very well. We were able to control the game through that possession."

Because of the conditions, the teams agreed to have a drinks break midway through each half.

Rufer said his team were playing with more intelligence than at the start of the season and he hoped they could maintain that as they chase a third consecutive win away to lowly Newcastle on Friday night.

Midfielder Burton (twisted ankle) and winger Jonathan Perry (strained quad muscle) are expected to recover from niggles in time for that match.

- NZPA