Soccer: Ill-discipline costly for NSL leaders

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The battle at the top of the 15-team Australian National Soccer League remains close after leaders South Melbourne were held 0-0 by bottom-placed Eastern Pride.

The draw came at a cost to South Melbourne - midfielder Con Boutsianis was sent off by New Zealand referee Neil Fox just 15 minutes into the game.

And three of the league leader's players were booked, including veteran striker Paul Trimboli.

South Melbourne are at home to the Football Kingz on Sunday in one of the feature matches of the 14th round.

Perth Glory - playing in front of the biggest crowd of the round, 11,942 - thrashed Brisbane Strikers 7-2. Damien Mori scored four in a 19-minute burst late in the game.

Sydney Olympic returned to winning form with a 3-1 home win over Sydney United after trailing 0-1 at halftime.

The point Wollongong took from their 1-1 draw with the Kingz kept Wolves in second place a point behind South Melbourne. Wollongong, however, will fall off the pace in the next couple of weeks while they play in the Oceania club championship in Papua New Guinea.

Three second-half goals, led by Aurelio Vidmar's 52nd-minute strike and followed by two from Carl Veart, carried Adelaide City Force to a 3-0 home win over Parramatta Power and into the top six on the points table.

The Kingz remain in 12th place, but just seven points away from a place in the top six.

Parramatta have the chance to get their season back on track with a tough home game against Perth on Friday night.

In the other early game in the 14th round, Newcastle are at home to Olympic. In the best of the rest, Melbourne Knights are at home on Sunday to Marconi, who drew 2-2 at home to Newcastle United.