Soccer: Ibrahim magic lifts Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Another couple of slices of Dennis Ibrahim magic paved the way for the Football Kingz to score a 3-1 National Soccer League win over Parramatta Power in Sydney last night.

In a game in which the Kingz had to win keep their slim playoff hopes alive, they profited from one their earliest raids by winning a corner.

Gerard Davis failed to get any height in playing the ball over to the goalmouth, but was able to gather the clearance and fire a long cross into the penalty area where it was met perfectly by Ibrahim who headed home in the 14th minute.

Some shocking defensive work from the Kingz let Parramatta back into the game quarter of an hour later. Under no pressure, Michael Cartwright conceded a corner. Ahmad Elrich played the ball over, Luke Roodenburg gathered but fired wide, only to get a second chance shortly after.

He beat Chris Jackson's attempted tackle then shot between goalkeeper Julio Cuello's legs and into the net.

The Kingz enjoyed a wealth of possession and were again well ahead in the free-kick count, but only rarely threatened rookie Liam Reddy in the Parramatta goal.

It was another of those flat Kingz' performances which led to some hard talking at halftime. "It was a very poor first spell," Kingz assistant coach Shane Rufer said. "We were lucky the game goes 90 minutes."

But it was not a lot better for a long time in the second spell, despite the Kingz again having the advantage in the number of free-kicks and corners.

There were half-chances for Mark Burton and Ibrahim but little else until the 80th minute when Ibrahim squeezed between two defenders, got his foot high to the ball and flicked it away from the advancing Reddy and watched in delight as it rolled slowly into the unprotected goal.

It was his fifth goal in two matches and ninth of the season.

Davis had a late chance to seal it for the Kingz, but fired high.

However, they had the last say when substitute Andy Bluhm scored three minutes into time added on.

Parramatta, while beginning the weekend just one place below the Kingz, accepted that their own playoff hopes were ended by their loss to bottom-of-the-table Eastern Pride last week.

Their plight was a possible reason for the paltry crowd of just 1544.

The Kingz, with a club-record unbeaten run of six matches, left the home of the Parramatta Eels rugby league side in eighth place, three points out of the top six and with four matches remaining.