The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 100

SPORT SCORING GOALS IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR IVAN ON the field he looks like Eddie Krncevic and scores goals freely like Eddie Krncevic. Off the field he is of Croatian parentage like Eddie Krncevic and came up through the Melbourne Croatian junior ranks like Eddie Krncevic. "Ivan Who?" He's Ivan Kelic and he's is the new goal-scoring sensation of Australian soccer. Fifteen goals in the first five rounds, of the West. End National Soccer League have Melbourne Croatia sitting on top of the league table, thanks in no small way to the prolific scoring feats of Ivan Kelic, who has netted eight of them.

To grasp the full impact of Kelic's eight strikes, Socceroo Franks Farina, now starring in Europe, was the West End National Soccer League's leading scorer last year with 16 goals in 26 games. Kelic has the soccer world talking with good reason. Here is another non-Sydney produced striker headed for the dizzy heights of European football following the well documented steps of the likes of David Mitchell, Frank Farina and, of course, Belgium's leading scorer Eddie Krncevic. It is early days yet, but Kelic's track record indicates he has the potential, perhaps, to exceed the deeds of Krncevic. Kelic was born at sea 20 years ago en route to Australia from Croatia "about seven days out from He has been the leading scorer in every team he has played with from under 9 years of age with Melbourne Croatia juniors until 16 years of age, followed by three years at St Albans juniors.

In his first season with St Albans in the Victorian State League last year he was not only the club's but also the Victorian State League's leading scorer with 17 goals. Unlike most youngsters who try a variety of positions, Kelic has played all his football as an out-and-out striker. Crainie set to sign on again DANNY Crainie, with 35 games for Glasgow Celtic among his soccer achievements, is set to re-sign for Wollongong City. Crainie had been transferlisted at $13,000 and signed on for just one month, but he has turned out to be the Wolves' star player. "Crainie is having a vintage season," Wollongong coach John Fleming said yesterday.

"I haven't got a great deal of depth in the squad, so his presence for another year will do wonders for us." Hail Mk WARREN ON SOCCER "I know my background is the same as Eddie Krncevic's, but I've never met him," says Kelic. "Of course I know who he is and my parents tell me I saw him play, but I can't recall it." On his game, Kelic says he has "a bit of speed and the ability to hold the ball" but in the most ockerish of accents assures one that he "lacks consistency and concentration in front of Like most emerging players, he would love to play for the Socceroos and try his hand, or feet, in Europe. Again, like most top players, he finds the demands of Australia's semi-professional set-up too demanding to hold down a fulltime job. He said: "I was never good at school, only at football. I had to quit a fulltime job to play with Melbourne Croatia." Kelic currently works part-time for a builder cousin.

Teammates says Kelic is a level-headed, laid-back type who takes each game as it comes. They also say he has all the qualities to succeed. I grabbed my first Kelic live performance when Melbourne Croatia played St George last Friday week. Kelic's two goals enabled Melbourne Croatia to share the points after being down 0-2. Like most prolific scorers, he is almost inconspicuous in general play.

But then with the chance to score, he has the right positioning, the right calculated finish the uncoachable qualities of the born goal scorer. Kelic, as his record to date illustrates, has the rarest of talents a nose for goals. That's one excellent reason why Ivan Kelic could surpass the splendid exploits of Eddie Krncevic. JOHNNY WARREN WEST CONSL END TABLE Pis GD Marconi Melbourne Croatia 15 Sydney Croatia St George Apia Preston 19 Sydney Olympic 10 Wollongong South Melbourne Adelaide City Sunshine 10 Blacktown Melbourne Heidelberg City an 00-000 LEADING GOALSCORERS 8: Ivan Kelic (Melbourne Croatia). 4: Scott Ollernshaw (St George).

3: Matt Bingley (St George), Milan Dimeski (Melbourne City), John Kosmina (Apia), Warren Spink (Preston), Damian Mori (South Melbourne), Zlatko Nasterski (Marconi). Eddie J. 330 2911 IVAN KELIC all his football as an out-and-out striker show out under the pressure IT's difficult to be critical of a Socceroo team when, with the backside out of their pants, they beat a committed, champion European club team in splendidly entertaining match. Perhaps it is an indication of the growing profile and level of expectation of us all that the Socceroos caught some flack for their jittery performance in beating reigning Swedish champions Malmo FF 3-2 in an absolute thriller at Olympic Park, Melbourne, on Friday night. Outplayed and subject to professionally intense territorial pressure for most of the match, surviving a justified penalty claim for a foul on star striker Dahlin and a thunderous drive which struck the underside of the crossbar, the new-look or "Second XI" Socceroos proved that, like their predecessors, they have the mental qualities and toughness to survive.

The Socceroos caught Malmo on the break with three goals from three chances two from the splendid Warren Spink and one from Andy Koczka. Outstanding for Australia was young Sydney Olympic midfielder Jason Polak a real star of the future. Malmo were excellent value for money. Wednesday's final match in Sydney should be a beauty. JOHNNY WARREN EVER heard of player called Graham Rutjes? Let me refresh your memory.

He is a central defender with Mechelen, the Belgian team which won Winners' the Cup European last Cup MURRAY season Amsterdam by in beating the final ON SOCCER and the team which just a few days ago wiped the floor with the Dutch Would it work here? masters of PSV Eindho- Yes it would, I am in the certain you would say if ven European Super Cup. you 8,000 were one of the And the team which who attended last currently leads the Bel- scoreless Sunday's drama pulsating, between He is the Ander- Sydney Croatia and gian first division. man Sydlecht's Eddie Krncevic ney Olympic. rates as the best centre- What a fabulous, gripback in Europe. He is the ping climax it would Eddie have been had that one man, says who can snuff out of match gone into any ties to decide the issue.

ambitions time But the NSL moves in Eddie's goal-scoring every agonisingly slow they meet. (eg summer ways And the man who soccer). obliterated the brilliant Of course it'll come Brazilian Romario in one day. both of those Just like the recent with PSV. decision to reward the Super Cup "Romario cleanest team with a Fair meetings never saw the Krncevic.

Play Trophy for which says makes the NSL must be ball," Which every warmly Aussie swoon, given how congratulated. Romario destroyed the Australian defence in 1 AUSSIE WATCH three meetings last year. records that forWell, here's the mer Olympic striker punchline. Chris Kalantzis is curGraham Rutjes is an rently the only AustraAustralian, born here of lian to carry the flag in Dutch parents. Greece.

Because of the hege- Kalantzis scored an mony of Ronald Koe- 89th-minute goal for man and Frank Rijkaard Panathinaikos in their at the centre of the 4-1 win and promptly. Dutch defence, Rutjes made the front can't get a look-in with not so much for the goal pages the Dutch national team. as for the manner of his But he'd love to play celebration of it, somerfor Australia, says Eddie sault and all, reminiscent who was quick to quiz of his theatrics in the him on the subject. 1986 grand final between Frank Arok, who has Olympic and St George. a for centre-backs Of the other Aussies, yen who can snuff out the Jim Patikas was substiodd Romario, wants to tuted as his AEK lost 1-0 check out Rutjes' cre- to Aris.

dentials. Hristodoulou, Patalis, Anastasiadis and YanTHE fashion of kos were all unsighted, deciding drawn the last two still boycotmatches with penalty ted by PAOK's new shoot-outs, as cruel as coach, Nick Alefandos. the concept is, has its In Belgium, the three admirers in Australia. Aussies all had breaks along with the Belgian And I do agree that in first division but return a country like this, where to duty this weekend. the need for marketing At the Anderlecht the game to the uncon- game will be some verted translates into a officials of Norwich eager it is craving for idea.

innovations, City, chequebook ready, a good wanting to nab Eddie After all, it has been Krncevic. introduced in estab- Unless the money is lished strongholds like irresistible, they'll be Brazil, Yugo- knocked back. Hungary. LES MURRAY BLITZ APIA MARCONI climbed to the top of the National Soccer League ladder with a crushing 5-0 win over Apia Leichhardt at Marconi Stadium last night. Before the match each team had a share of first place, but the thrashing will see Apia tumble in the standings when the rest of the league program is completed today.

The first 30 minutes gave no indication of the spate of goals to come, with both teams adopting cautious tactics. Marconi opened the floodgates on the half-hour when Derryn Stewart brought down Zlatko Nastevski in the box and the clever playmaker converted the kick himself with a low shot inside the post. Marconi made it 2-0 in the 34th minute with a classic goal. Ian Gray worked the ball midfield, passed to David Lowe on the right wing, then positioned himself perfectly to get the ball back and smack it past Apia goalkeeper Tony Pezzano. Nastevski scored his second goal just on halftime after a sweeping move involving four Marconi players.

Lowe started it with a pass to Tommy McCulloch, whose lob went back to Lowe who steered the ball to the lurking Nastevski. His angled drive gave Pezzano no chance. The second half started sensationally with two Marconi goals in the first few minutes. It was Fred De Jong who worked the ball along the sideline, Pezzano raced out to meet him and the ball rebounded in the path of Nastevski, who completed his hat-trick off the post. The crowd of 7,655 was on its feet again less than a minute later when the irrepressible Nastevski beat three Apia defenders before back-heeling the ball to Gray, who grabbed his second goal.

Marconi coach Berti Mariani caused a stir when he substituted both Gray and Nastevski shortly after their goals. A demoralised Apia-Leichhardt were on the receiving end of five yellow cards in a hectic second half. THE SUN-HERALD, February 19, 1989 101.