Soccer: Defender bounces back from nightmare to mark milestone

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Levent Osman feared the worst when his miskicked clearance handed Parramatta Power a flukey 1-0 win in the Football Kingz' last home game. He thought his season might be over.

But coaches Wynton and Shane Rufer took pity on their defender, selecting him for last weekend's game, which they won 2-0 at Canberra Cosmos.

Tonight Osman is again in the starting line-up and will play his 100th National Soccer League game, against defending champions Wollongong Wolves.

Not surprisingly, there are minimal changes to the Kingz. Simon Eaddy is almost certain to hold his place in goal ahead of Chris Marsh, who missed some training time with a groin injury.

"Chris is not right mentally to go back in," Shane Rufer said before the team flew out yesterday afternoon. "We had thought about putting Marsh in, but I think we will probably go with Simon Eaddy."

In the only change from last week, Aaran Lines comes off the bench to replace Jonathan Perry in the midfield.

Lines will play on the left. Jeff Campbell, who had a solid game against Canberra, will switch to the right.

Midfielder Mark Burton will again captain the side in the absence of Harry Ngata, who will warm the substitutes' bench.

"We are full of optimism as usual," Rufer said. "But taking on what I consider the top team in Oceania is not going to be easy. They have some very good players and have been very successful.

"But I think we are on the right track. We have had a good week at training and have to remain positive."

For Wollongong, who are playing at home in a match originally scheduled as an away fixture, this will be their last outing before heading to Papua New Guinea for next week's Oceania club championships.

In key 13th-round games, Sydney Olympic will attempt to get their season back on track against Sydney United on Sunday, while in Adelaide tonight the Force meet Parramatta.

The Kingz players not required for Wollongong will be in action this afternoon at Papakura's McLennan Park in a friendly against PNG-bound Napier City Rovers.

Noah Hickey, who has returned to the training pitch after a long injury lay-off, will play half a game, but Paul Urlovic, still injured, and Lee Jones, who may need a scan to check a hernia problem, will be missing.

It is an important shakedown for Napier who play their first Oceania qualifier against the host country's Unitech FC on Tuesday night. Their group A showdown against Wollongong is on January 17.

Kingz (likely): Simon Eaddy, Michael Cartwright, Levent Osman, Che Bunce, Jeff Campbell, Ivan Vicelich, Mark Burton, Andy Bluhm, Aaran Lines, Wynton Rufer, Dennis Ibrahim. Substitutes: Chris Marsh, Gerard Davis, Harry Ngata, Jonathan Perry.