Soccer: Kingz get down to business and humble Newcastle 5-1

By BOB PEARCE

The Kingz reigned supreme at Ericsson Stadium last night as they humiliated Newcastle 5-1 - a club record goal blitz.

The result, coupled with their win and loss in earlier games, rocketed them toward the top echelon of the Australian National Soccer League table.

It was a further improvement on their solid win over Eastern last week. This time they kept pressing forward after an early lead and their strikers reaped the reward.

Last week's hero, Tim Stevens, added two more goals to his tally before halftime. Paul Urlovic then scored the two best of the game, and substitute Aaron Silva knocked in the fifth in the dying minutes.

The Kingz clearly meant business from the start. After Argentine goalkeeper Julio Cuello had tipped an early Newcastle shot over the bar, that man Stevens pounced on an error by Chris Zoricich to put the home side ahead in the seventh minute.

In the 18th minute Urlovic's shot was only partially saved and Stevens nipped in to score his second.

Newcastle had their chances at this stage as Cuello looked tentative in his Kingz debut. But the Kingz could have extended their lead when John Buonavoglia hit the bar from close range and Zoricich missed a sitter after a string of corners.

They made the game safe in the 55th minute when Urlovic went round two defenders on the edge of the penalty area and beat Brad Swancott with a powerful shot.

Andy Bluhm, who had shown something of his best form despite a golf-ball-sized bruise on his head, was substituted soon after and the Kingz midfield lost some certainty.

With 14 minutes remaining, Daniel McBreen gave the visitors some hope with a goal from an acute angle, but the Newcastle finishing was otherwise appalling.

Silva, who had replaced Stevens, created the Kingz' fourth goal, expertly finished by Urlovic in the 84th minute, and Silva headed the fifth with two minutes to go.

Though the strikers deserved credit for their finishing, it was in the midfield that the game was won. Ivan Vicelich pressed forward, laying on a stream of good passes, and Bluhm added that touch of class which was missing from his debut in the opening game.

The Kingz defence, marshalled by sweeper Levent Osman, were quick on the tackle and can take some credit for the poor Newcastle shooting.

Cuello in goal was a mixture. He made two brilliant saves, but his catching and distribution were inconsistent and he was at least partially to blame for the Newcastle goal.