Flying Kiwis – March 27
Jake Gleeson & Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
A few hours after the All Whites game finished, Portland kicked off their game away to FC Dallas with a little controversy. They were coming off an awful 4-0 defeat in the Big Apple against New York Red Bulls and new gaffer Giovanni Savarese had swung the axe. Gone was Liam Ridgewell, their English import defender and club captain (once of Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom) from the entire matchday squad of 18 and taking his starting place in central defence, just in front of keeper Jake Gleeson, was Bill Poni Tuiloma. An MLS debut for the 24-cap All White, who alongside most of the kiwi MLS crew skipped the friendly against Canada since the MLS doesn’t break for international windows. Probably a good call on his part.
Tuiloma turned up in Portland using the Timbers as a parachute after it became clear he wasn’t gonna get a run in the Olympic Marseille first XI any time soon but then spent his first half-season in the MLS playing for the T2 side down in the reserves – and largely as a centre back rather than a defensive mid which is where he’d spent most of his time with Marseille’s reserves and the national team. He was always in the plans for 2018 though, one of the boardroom suits publically talking him up as having a shot at the MLS team before a strong preseason (albeit spent mostly with the second string XI) confirmed that. Now here he was making his Major League Soccer debut.
And, tell ya what, he did wonderfully too. The Timbers were pegged straight back on defence but Tui was strong and composed, winning the ball when it was there to win and holding his line with discipline. He and Larrys Mabiala already look to have a solid partnership – apparently they call themselves “The French Connection” (Mabiala being French and Billy T having played a couple years there). Nine defensive clearances for Tui as well as a blocked shot and an interception. Only gave away one foul. Top notch debut from him.
The game was pretty stretched in the first half with Portland looking to attack with a bit of pace after getting pegged back early. Both teams were fond of a dig as well. Diego Valeri was close to getting on the end of Seb Blanco’s cross and then Dallas could’ve had a penalty for a handball against Cristhian Paredes but the ref let it continue. Then in the 36th minute the home side finally broke through. Nothing Tuiloma could’ve done about it as Jacori Hayes dodged a tackle or two and fed Roland Lamah who lashed one into the bottom corner from outside the box.
That was the way it stayed into HT but then Sebastian Blanco ripped off a beauty cutting in onto his left peg within a minute and a half of the resumption and it as 1-1. Dallas went looking for the winner and were boosted when Lawrence Olum picked up a second yellow (for a handball, of all things) and the midfielder left for an early bath, the Timbers having to play the last quarter of an hour with only ten men. And yet they only gave up two more shots. In fact Alvaro Powell was inches away from winning it in the 84th minute, driving across goal. The whole defensive effort was a quality one and this is where the other kiwi in the team comes in for some credit…
It finished 1-1 and the Timbers got their first point on the board after two opening defeats. Something to think about for the manager as both Gleeson and Tuiloma are putting up cases for more regular starting spots. Big hugs for the kiwi lads.
Stumptown Footy: “Tuiloma was among the more active members of the Timbers’ defensive shell on Saturday, registering nine clearances and a crucial early-game block of a dangerous Maxi Urruti shot. And more important — though hardly sexy — is that he had a clean run throughout the game. The Kiwi centerback was perhaps the biggest winner out of the Timbers’ preseason, rising from being a fringe depth piece to a competitor for minutes at one of the Timbers’ most uncertain positions. On Saturday Tuiloma continued that rise and went from a hypothetical threat to Ridgewell’s job at left centerback to out-and-out competition for the job. Given the way Tuiloma performed on Saturday, he may even be the favorite for now.”
Bill Tuiloma: “To make my debut in Major League Soccer is such a blessing. I went in to the game with the right attitude and the right mentality to work for my players.”
Gio Savarese: “Sometimes it’s those decisions a coach has to make that has nothing to do with the player. We felt that we needed to change something. We changed the system, we changed some players, but I want to make it clear that I still believe 100 percent in Liam. Liam is a fantastic player and leader for us, and he’s going to be important for us in our future. This was just a coach’s decision right now, because I feel this was just what we needed today, but we’ll continue to build with Ridgewell.”
Up Next: Up against Elliot Collier’s Chicago Fire at 10.00am on Sunday (NZT)
Katie Rood – Juventus (Italian Serie A)
On the same day that Manchester United (finally) joined the 21st century and applied to form a women’s team, another European superclub (football heritage aside) who’d had similar ideas a year ago had a pretty tasty cup tie against Novese. Man United will likely join the revamped English Championship, the second tier below where Olivia Chance and Anna Green play, but Juventus’ first ladies season saw them leap right into the top flight, assuming the licence of another club. These big clubs get a bit of a boost from the associations but they’re also vital for the commercial stakes of these leagues, not to mention their credibility (although it was Juventus and Man United who looked worse by holding out).
Anyway, Katie Rood is a foundation player at Juventus and she’s seen exactly what it’s like for a major club to embrace the half of the population that often get ignored when it comes to sports. Juventus have been perfect in their first season. 16 wins from 16 in the league with a +45 goal difference and now they’re into the quarters of the cup as well.
It’s not a spoiler to say they beat Novese. They were never going to lose. What matters here is that Roodie was given the start against the second division team and, after the underdogs kept it tight at 1-0 over the first 45, the floodgates soon opened and there was a kiwi on the scoresheet. Michela Franco had scored the opening goal in the 27th minute and then, in the twenty minutes after the restart, Arianna Caruso went and scored a hatty. In between was a 64th minute strike from Katie Rood. Carlotta Masu scored one from distance on club debut eight minutes later and then Katie Zelem whipped one in from a free kick. That made it seven but we weren’t done yet because Katie Rood had another one for the tally, scoring with a close-range header with three minutes left to complete an 8-0 victory. Bingo.
Rood’s made five league appearances, all off the bench and totalling 48 minutes, but she’s been a force in this cup run – scoring twice on debut against ACF Torino back in September and now adding two more. She started the previous round’s game as well, a 2-0 win over Juventus Torino.
Here are the highlights of the Novense win…
Rood was then an unused sub in the league game away to Sassuolo but she wasn’t really needed. Barbara Bonansea scored four goals in a 5-0 win and that result is notable because it mathematically guarantees that the Juventus women will be playing Champions League football next season, how good! See, it’s true, Gigi Buffon said so.
And another thing…
Up Next: Away to Sassuolo at 2.00am on Monday (NZT)
Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)
Tony Cascarino: “Wood was fantastic at Leeds and I was surprised other Premier League clubs didn’t rival Burnley last summer when they signed him for £15 million. He has power, pace and is a composed finisher — he could be a bargain.”
That’s nice of him to say so.
Meanwhile a couple of the folks at the Lancashire Telegraph had a yarn about whether Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes need to be starting together next game for Burnley and here were the results…
Matt Riggs: “The obvious answer is yes, given that they have both scored in the last two games. However, it might take away our 'plan B' if things aren't just going to plan. Jeff Hendrick as the number 10 just isn't working but Sean Dyche seems to like him playing there. That would be the position to drop to accommodate Chris Wood, so it's whether Dyche will play Hendrick or Ashley Westwood alongside Jack Cork in a midfield four, if he was to change it.”
Andrew Greenwood: “I think it’s been clear to everyone the difference in the last two games when Chris Wood has come on. Jeff Hendrick is currently out of form and low on confidence so I think we should definitely start with Ashley Barnes and Wood, especially as they have both scored a few goals of late and will be full of confidence.”
Seems decisive enough. Unleash The Woodsman!
Up Next: West Brom vs Burnley, 2.00am on Sunday (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Nah don’t panic. Abby was fine to play the 2018 NWSL season opener and helped the Courage to a clean sheet as well as they took some scant revenge on the defending champion Portland Thorns in a rematch of last season’s grand final.
This was no walkover, as you’d expect. It was a seriously competitive game in which the Courage had the better of possession and the better of the shots but it took a brilliant strike from Brazilian international Debinha to split them. American winger Crystal Dunn had a quality debut for NCC as well, creating more than a couple opportunities, and then the defence had it on lock down once they got that lead. The fourth straight game between the two best teams in the league, North Carolina and Portland, to end in a 1-0 victory one way or the other.
And now a couple other particularly enticing comments, specifically the latter one…
Up Next: Home to Rebekah Stott’s Sky Blue at 7.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Cory Brown – Fresno FC (American United Soccer League)
As predicted in last week’s FKs, Cory’s got his deal with Fresno after all. Drafted 62nd overall by the Vancouver Whitecaps following one of New Zealand’s most decorated US college ‘soccer’ careers, Brown’s size probably counted against him (towering at 5’9) when it came to getting the attention of clubs at the top of the American system – because it sure wasn’t his leadership, game-reading or ability on the ball. So while the giant Elliot Collier rocks up and wins a spot in the MLS immediately, Brownie’s gonna need to work his way up the way Deklan Wynne did through the USL. He’ll have four other Whitecaps prospects with him at Fresno.
Fresno FC general manager Frank Yallop: “Cory has demonstrated himself as a talented footballer who has excelled consistently at the collegiate level here in the states. He's a strong centre back who will add more depth to our spine. He was drafted by our MLS affiliate because they believe he can excel at the professional level, and we're thrilled to be a part of the next stage in his career.”
He didn’t play a few days later as Fresno drew 1-1 with LA Galaxy’s reserves, going behind to an own goal in the third minute and then playing 76 minutes with a one-man advantage following Justin Dhillon’s red card, only equalising with quarter of an hour to play through Alex Cooper, but all goods. Probably a little soon. They’re on again in a couple days.
Up Next: Seattle Sounds 2 vs Fresno FC, Thursday at 3.00pm (NZT)
Olivia Chance – Everton (English Super League)
That FA Cup quarter-final went pretty well then. Everton continued their great cup run and Livvy Chance continued her own personal streak with an influential first half against Durham. It was a game that the Super League side were expected to win and it only took quarter or an hour before Chance had set up the first goal and she added another for herself within thirty minutes of footy. From the Everton website…
“Olivia Chance found space at the edge of the box before unleashing a strong shot, stinging the hands of Alderson with the ball rebounding to Sweetman-Kirk who looped the ball over the keeper. On the half hour mark Everton were close to making it two through Meg Finnigan, who was starting at centre-back as the injured Gabby George sat out. Kelly whipped in a corner however it just evaded the head of Finnigan as the ball went out for a goal kick. Twelve minutes later Everton did make it two, and what a goal it was. Dan Turner showed her electrifying pace down the left-hand side and crossing into the centre, the cross was blocked by Sarah Wilson however Chance was on hand to stroke home to make it 2-0 to the Blue Girls, which is how it stayed until the break.”
Yet another FA Cup goal for Chancey, who also got a double against Bristol City a couple rounds back. A pair of quick goals after the resumption made it 4-0 and it was safe for Chance to be subbed off with an hour played. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk went on to score a hat-trick and the game ended at 6-1. The Toffees will play Arsenal in the semi-final in three weeks’ time, come on!
Up Next: Sunderland vs Everton at 7.00am on Thursday in league action (NZT)
Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
How does a clean sheet against the team that just signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic sound? Good enough, probably. It’s definitely a lot better than what they managed last week when they lost 4-1 away to Atlanta United (granted there was a red card in there – a red card to Kendall Waston which was overturned by the MLS despite only being given by VAR… an overturned review being overturned on review… which is weird). It’s now 11 home games in a row without defeat for the Caps but they only drew 0-0 in a game they probably should’ve really won.
Zlatan didn’t play for the Galaxy after only signing two days earlier. They were also missing Romain Alessandrini, Giovani Dos Santos and Jonathan Dos Santos plus a couple other injuries so basically a second-string team. As such the Galaxy played pretty deep and looked to frustrate the Whitecaps and it basically worked, Vancouver unable to break them down and only managing two shots on target despite having the run of the game. It took them 24 minutes to take a shot at all as the Galaxy controlled the ball with riskless possession. They got feistier as the game dragged on, winning a bunch of corners at the end, but their finishing was terrible and they simply couldn’t break down a stacked defence.
Not a foot wrong from the NZer in goal though. Marinovic only had one save to make but he also came up big when he charged out on Emmanuel Boateng to put him off enough to strike wide of the post. He even ended up with the captain’s armband after Efrain Juarez was subbed off in the second half and with Kendall Waston away on international duty. First clean sheet of the season for Stef. Take ‘em as they come.
Stefan Marinovic: “Those are toughest type of games for a keeper, really the toughest. You’re doing nothing for 80 minutes, then all of a sudden, I had to do something. It was a one-v-one and all of a sudden, I have to get my angles right. Those are the toughest games for me to play in, for any keeper to play in.”
EightySix Forever Report Card: Stefan Marinovic (B)
“The Kiwi Keeper kept his sheet clean for the first time this season, although he only needed to to make one save while doing so. His best moment came early in the second half when he smartly charged Emmanuel Boateng and cut down the angle nicely after Boateng beat Jose Aja to a ball played over the top.”
Mate but how about that sexy-ass jacket!?
Up Next: Away to Columbus Crew at 7.00am on Sunday (NZT)
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Gunny Jónsdóttir. Remember the name. She’s the one who scored Utah Royals’ first ever NWSL goal and it came inside three minutes of their season opener. Historic stuff there, all it was missing was an assist from Katie Bowen.
But Katie was out there. She got all ninety minutes in on the left of a midfield trio, with a shot on target, and it looks like she’ll be as much of a regular in Utah as she earned her way to being back with Kansas City. Against a strong Orlando Pride team, the lead only lasted until the 21st minute when a very controversial call gave the Pride a penalty – the ball adjudged to have hit Becky Sauerbrunn on the hand despite the video looking like it got her in the face. She even got a yellow for it, which left Katie Bowen astonished… and her mum even angrier.
Tell you who else wasn’t impressed…
Both teams had chances to win this thing but Orlando weren’t helped by Alex Morgan getting subbed off after a head knock and Utah weren’t helped by Gunny firing one over the crossbar right at the end.
Here’s another thing…
Up Next: Saturday at 1.00pm away to Houston Dash (NZT)
Greg Draper – The New Saints (Welsh Premier League)
You want trophies? Talk to Greg Draper. The one-time Wellington Phoenix winger continues to score goals on top of goals but he didn’t even have to lace up his boots this week before it was season objective completed. Bala Town’s 1-0 defeat to Connah’s Quay crowned The New Saints as champions of Wales for the seventh time in a row and the thirteenth overall. They basically confirmed it last week when they beat Bala Town 3-0 and even if BT had won then TNS would have only needed one more point to lift the trophy. Greg Draper’s got 15 goals in 26 games this season. Top drawer, amigo.
But wait there’s more!
Jeez, this dude just doesn’t let up. The day after his team is confirmed champions and he celebrates by bagging four-for in a 5-1 win. Get him back at the Nix!
Also, this trophy is remarkably cool…
Up Next: Away to Bangor on Sunday at 4.15am
C.J. Bott - USV Jena / Amber Hearn & Meikayla Moore – FC Köln (German Frauen-Bundesliga)
More bad news for all three. CJ Bott started at left back as Lisa Seiler gave Jena an early lead away to Frankfurt but Jackie Groenen equalised right on the brink of half-time and that kinda changed things. Lise Munk put the Frankies up 2-1 in the 59th minute and five minutes later Bott was subbed off in an attacking move to chase those lost points but it didn’t work and each of the Frankfurt goal scorers added another and ten minutes later they were down 4-1. Tiffany Cameron pulled back a consolation right at the end but a 4-2 loss does them no favours.
(CJ is wearing #2 for the team in white)
Likewise with Hearn and Moore who each played ninety minutes for Köln away to SC Freiburg but the less said the better because they were already 3-0 down at HT and were no better in the second, going down 6-0. Both of them are very much in relegation danger, although FC Köln are on again in a few days to play their postponed clash away to 1899 Hoffenheim, which is at least a little more winnable than Frankfurt proved to be.
Up Next: FCK are away to Hoffenheim at 5.30am on Friday while USVJ arent on until Monday at 12.00am/midnight against SGS Essen (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Michael Boxall and his regular CB partner Francisco Calvo were both away on international duty this week as Minnesota took on New York Red Bulls, the same team that thrashed Portland a week ago, and they did the same to the Loons. Add in injuries to both fullbacks and it was an entirely different back four that played this one: Marc Burch, Brett Kallman, Wyatt Omsberg and Carter Manley. The latter two are rookies who were making their MLS debuts. Not exactly a game that was designed for them to win and a Bradley Wright-Phillips double sure enough doomed them to a 3-0 defeat. Ah well, should be better next week when Boxall’s ready to go.
Up Next: Home vs Atlanta United at 12.00pm on Sunday (NZT)
Tommy Smith & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
That looks like fun, sure. More fun would have been going 2-0 up within ten minutes against Sporting Kansas City thanks to goals from Dominique Badji and Joe Mason. The second goal was especially fun because it came about from a long ball fired down field from Smithy, one of his trademarks from the old Ipswich days, which Mason was able to run onto and do the rest with.
But on a windy day in Colorado, at altitude and all that, SKC were able to get right back in it in the second half and pulled a goal back through Felipe Gutiérrez. Deklan Wynne started once again but this was probably his toughest test yet as the Kansas side really looked to hit them through his channels. Tim Howard’s big gloves kept the game in the Rapids’ favour right up until he couldn’t any more and Diego Rubio scored in injury time to deny Anthony Hudson a first win with his new club. Guts, lads. That’s now three points lost to two injury time goals this season.
Which led to the world’s most predictable headline:
Up Next: Colorado vs Philadelphia, 1.00am on Sunday (NZT)
Aimee Phillips – Spartak Subotica (Serbian Super Liga Zene)
Aimee’s took a while to her league debut for the club as they only just resumed the comp and then Spartak Subotica’s game away to Mašinac Niš got postponed. But she finally got her chance up against ŽFK Rad Beograd and played 59 minutes in what ended up being a 9-0 victory, the Spartaks continuing to do what they’ve done all season and a dozen games in they’ve now scored 81 times and conceded zero. Rather comprehensively strolling towards a title, it appears. No goals for Aimee but it was 7-0 by the time she was replaced so she must’ve had a hand (/foot) in more than a couple of them. Una Miljković had the right ide for the visitors, getting sent off while it was still 6-0.
These same teams played two weeks ago in the quarter-finals of the Serbian Cup and Phillips’ lot won 10-0 on that occasion so a slight improvement on the whole. Phillips played the second half off the bench on that occasion, also not scoring.
Up Next: Got a trip to Napredak in a couple weeks
James Musa – Phoenix Rising FC (American United Soccer League)
Yup, gotta watch out for those lower body injuries. They’ll get ya, alright. They sure will.
Moose had some pretty esteemed company on the injured list too, you’ll notice. The Rising went on to win their home opener 4-1 with a hat-trick to Chris Cortez doing the job against OKC Energy.
Up Next: Away to Reno 1868 at 11.00am on Sunday (NZT)
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