Soccer: Knights offer apologies but little else

Mariners 3 Knights 1

"Sorry gentlemen. Maybe Friday." Carefully chosen but words with a heartfelt message from NZ Knights coach John Adshead as he left the post-match media gathering at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

Another heart-breaker - this time a loss to the Central Coast Mariners, the only team to have given up points to the Knights in the opening 10 rounds of the A-League.

The result was clear enough. Elsewhere the story a little different.

The statistics showed the home team had the lion's share of possession - 64 per cent - but too much of that was not in areas of the pitch where it mattered.

The visitors had 18 scoring attempts with 16 to the Knights who had nine on target and hit the crossbar once. Both goalkeepers made six saves.

One of the Mariners' goals came from a penalty when Cole Tinkler was adjudged to have brought down Tom Pondeljak.

Replays suggested otherwise.

But if it was in referee Neil Fox's opinion a spotkick it then begged the question as to why as the last defender Tinkler was not marched.

The Knights were punished early.

Down to a breakaway goal after less than four minutes, the Knights did not buckle and only minutes later had one of their own when, after a goalmouth scramble, Fox pointed to the spot. Simon Yeo pounded it home even if Danny Vukovic did get a hand to it.

Vukovic was called into action a few minutes later when the Knights created a couple of half chances but were thwarted by the goalkeeper.

But he knew little about a Steve Fitzsimmons' snap shot which rattled the crossbar after he had gathered and turned nicely.

Inexperience and indecision put the Knights behind again early in the second spell. The Mariners won a corner which was played short. In shadowing the ball towards the goal-line for a goalkick, debutant Kris Bright was caught in possession.

The ball was turned infield and played to the far post where Stewart Petrie was unchallenged in heading home.

Petrie's controversial penalty came in the 70th minute.

"When you are bottom things tend not to go your way," said Adshead.

"The first goal came when clearly we, not them, should have had the throw. The penalty? Who knows?

"There were so many questionable decisions. Maybe in the next five or six games things will go our way.

"We weren't beaten by a lot better side. It was not a 3-1 result.

"Their delivery out of the back was much better in the second half. In general play they used the ball a little bit better."

And scored more goals.

Hyundai A-League leaders Adelaide United, playing away in front of 16,201 fans at Olympic Park, upset Melbourne Victory 1-0 with a late Carl Veart goal.

It was a game of few clear cut chances but the home side dominated everywhere but on the scoreboard.

There were lots of chances at Suncorp Stadium but even fewer goals as the Queensland Roar and Perth Glory played out a scoreless draw.

The home side had 31 attempts on goal but came up empty much to the disappointment of the 13,685 spectators.

Sydney FC held on to second place but dropped further behind Adelaide when they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Newcastle Jets at Aussie Stadium last night.

After a scoreless first half David Carney gave the home side the lead with a shot grab a valuable away point.