Soccer: Kingz looking for rebound from their first-game loss

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Expect something better now first-day nerves are behind the Football Kingz.

Obviously disappointed with their first-up loss in Brisbane, the Kingz have the incentive to put it right when they play last year's National Soccer League runners-up, South Melbourne, at Ericsson Stadium tonight.

Last season, the Kingz were thrashed 6-1 by Souths after leading a game they had to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and despite turning in one of their more enterprising displays.

But Mike Petersen, who was in charge at Souths last year but now has the Kingz, prefers to look ahead as he takes his team into battle against his old club.

"We were a bit indecisive last week," he said. "I was happy with the way we attacked. Given Souths' attacking style, this should be a good game. They will come and have a go, just as we will."

While Petersen was reasonably pleased with what Paul Urlovic and Andy Vlahos showed on attack, there were concerns at the almost 30 back passes which put debut goalkeeper Mike Theoklitos under pressure.

There will be changes in tonight's starting lineup, with midfielder Gerard Davis sidelined by a hamstring injury.

With Hiroshi Miyazawa now free to play after serving a one-match suspension, it seems he will slot into a central defensive role alongside Vinko Buljubasic, who will play his 150th NSL game.

That will free Mark Atkinson to push forward into the midfield to join Mark Burton and George Goutzioulis.

While Urlovic and Vlahos will hold their places on the flanks, Petersen has opted to start John Markovski ahead of Wynton Rufer in the central striking role.

Rufer will be joined on the substitutes' bench by Harry Ngata, goalkeeper James Bannatyne and Riki Van Steeden, who has kept Levent Osman out of the squad.

Petersen defended that move by saying he wanted to take the opportunity to have a look at all his players.

"There were some other good things to come out of the game in Brisbane," Petersen said.

"We had 62 per cent of the possession, which meant we had a fair share of the ball even though we were playing away."

There is an experienced look to the South Melbourne side, with nine of the players who played at Ericsson Stadium last season likely to be in tonight's starting XI. The nine include All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny.

"It is a game which will be a bit strange for me, a bit bizarre even," Petersen said. "But I'm more interested in the Football Kingz these days."

Petersen said he had had no contact this week with midfielder Con Boutsianis, who controversially returned to Melbourne.

"That's in the hands of the board now. Sure, I would like to have him here and playing. I can't get my head around what he has done."

The record book is already against the Kingz going on to win the league.

Only four teams since the league started in 1977 have bounced back from a first-round loss to take the title.

However, as Petersen has told his players, the Brisbane Lions lost four of their first five games this season but hit back to go 16 games unbeaten and take the AFL (Australian Rules) final.

That is something the Kingz and their fans would love to see.

Tonight's game, to be controlled by Auckland referee Derek Rugg, kicks off at 7.30 pm.

Kingz (likely): Mike Theoklitos, Jonathan Perry, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Vinko Buljubasic, Sean Douglas (capt), George Goutzioulis, Mark Burton, Mark Atkinson, Paul Urlovic, John Markovski, Andy Vlahos. Substitutes: James Bannatyne, Riki Van Steeden, Harry Ngata, Wynton Rufer.

South Melbourne (likely): Chris Jones, Steve Iosifidis, Fausto de Amicis, Mehmet Durakovic, Steve Panopoulos, Vaughan Coveny, Paul Trimboli, Peter Buljan, Joe Balak, Clayton Bell, Patrick Kisnorbo.