Soccer: Goal-less draw first for Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Defence has never been one of the Football Kingz' strong suits, but they turned in one of their better rearguard efforts at Ericsson Stadium last night in their first-ever National Soccer League scoreless draw.

The point they took from Melbourne club Carlton was a godsend for the Wynton Rufer-coached team. It snapped a three-match losing streak and showed they had the spirit to put a 1-5 drubbing just six days earlier in Perth firmly behind them.

Rufer's return sparked something more positive from the home side.

A couple of touches of his pure class looked likely to break the deadlock.

But his, and other efforts from the rejigged Kingz attack, were handled comfortably by Carlton goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis.

The towering Carlton defence, again well led by Dave McPherson, gave the Kingz' strike force few opportunities, but Mark Burton, Arran Lines and Rufer still managed half- chances.

Carlton's Andrew Packer had the first chance, his fifth-minute effort being blocked by goalkeeper Chris Marsh.

Marsh took real confidence from that and went on to play perhaps his best game for the club.

He was ably assisted by Levent Osman, who relished the return to his favourite sweeping role.

While there were signs of panic at times as Ivo de Jesus, John Markovski and the league's top goalscorer, Archie Thompson, bore down, Osman remained calm and gave some much-needed stability to a defence which had given up 14 goals in the previous six outings.

The Kingz again let themselves down with some ill discipline which earned Lines, Che Bunce, Chris Jackson and Paul Urlovic bookings from referee Brett Hugo, who frustrated both teams with his many strange rulings.

Markovski was the only Carlton player booked in a game punctuated by too many free kicks.

Rufer had the best of the home team's opportunities in the first half. However, his 36th-minute attempt - a classic turn and volley - after good lead-up play from Jeff Campbell and Ivan Vicelich was brilliantly saved by Anastasiadis.

After trailing the possession stakes in the first half, Carlton turned that around in the second, but could not grab the goal that would have taken them to the top of the table.

The point they did earn was enough to take them into third position, two points from the leaders, Sydney Olympic, while the Kingz gratefully picked up their seventh point of the season.

They can take some confidence into next week's away game against Marconi, who are just above them on the table.