Soccer: Kingz write own 7-0 horror show

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz turned in their own version of The Rocky Horror Show in crashing out of the 2002-2003 NSL.

They continued their rollercoaster season when humiliated 7-0 away by Parramatta Power - their worst defeat in four seasons and the third time they have conceded seven goals.

For players looking ahead to next season and about to enter contract negotiations, Saturday night's hiding left question marks over their futures with the club, which has long been embattled with the Australians - on and off the field.

For the seven players in the just-named All Whites squad for the Asia/Oceania play-offs with Iran, the embarrassment could not have been greater.

From the time Matt Thompson finished a well-constructed move to open the scoring in the ninth minute, the Kingz spent their night chasing shadows, often playing like a bunch of kids pitched together for the first time.

There was little understanding, no cohesion, too many silly mistakes and, of course, no goals.

Losing midfielder Mark Burton to an early injury did not help, but that was only a minor hiccup in a shocker.

Ahead 2-0 after 20 minutes when John Buonavoglia was unchallenged in heading home after Parramatta had taken a short corner, the home side should have been even further ahead by the break.

With a huge advantage in possession and shots on goal, Parramatta outplayed the Kingz across the park.

The Kingz defence, which has done well at times during the season, decided to take their collective holidays, leaving classy goalkeeper Michael Utting with no protection.

The midfield, too, offered little as the home side attacked at will.

Thompson could have had a second and Kosta Salapasidis squandered another after outpacing Mauro Donoso.

The first-half agony got a whole lot worse in the second spell.

Two minutes after the break Buonavoglia had his second - a stunning strike from an acute angle - and 11th for the season.

It then became the Salapasidis' show.

Three goals in 26 minutes for the 24-year-old midfielder killed the Kingz off. He could have had a couple more, including one simple chance when he scooped the ball over the bar.

Among the mayhem, Pablo Cardozo grabbed a deserved goal.



It was a continuation of the goalfest Parramatta have enjoyed at their ground in recent times.

It was their second 7-0 home win in as many matches and emphatically snapped the two-match losing streak which threatened their top-six hopes.

For the Kingz the worry is at the other end of the table. Unless coach Ken Dugdale can lift his players and turn it around, the Auckland-based side are heading for a double they should not have had to think about - finishing last in successive seasons.

Their previous worst losses - 7-1 (to Parramatta last season) and 7-2 (to Perth in November 2001) - were both at Ericsson Stadium.