Flying Kiwis – May 1
Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
Three straight defeats including the rock bottom 6-0 loss last week and Big Stef and the Whitecaps were in dire need of a result to get things back on track. And, oh look, they got one. A 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
Had to work for it though, it was another one of those typical Whitecaps performances where they have, like, a third of the ball and spend most of their time defending then try hit hard on the counter. That almost paid off early on when Anthony Blondell was played in behind the defence first time by Jordon Mutch but having rounded the keeper the poor bugger got tackled by Justen Glad with the goal at his mercy. Then RSL had a few moments, Corey Baird lobbing one off the crossbar with Marinovic able to recover to snuggle the follow up. He was on hand again, no pun intended, to tip one away in the closing stages of the half.
Brek Shea did something incredible about an hour in when his half-volley somehow hit both posts and the crossbar in between without going in but around ten minutes later the ‘Caps finally had their breakthrough. Nicolas Mezquida brought the twinkle toes into the penalty area and was cut down as he got to the ball ahead of Nick Besler and tried to go round him.
Cristian Techera made no mistake from the spot but he made a huge one in taking his jersey off to celebrate when he was already on a yellow. One of the more dumbarse things you’ll see this season, it’s not like anybody doesn’t know the rules there. A second yellow and a red for Techera but sub Alphonso Davies came on and set up a second within minutes of Techera’s red, this one for Blondell who was lurking like all strikers about six inches off the line to tap in. The Whitecaps held on for the 2-0 win and the losing streak is snapped. A clean sheet for Stef goes down well also.
The Province: “It was the typical Whitecaps victory; they had just 31 per cent of the ball, were outshot 18-13 overall — 4-3 on target — but it didn’t matter. Most of Real’s chances were from distance, and either the post or goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic took care of the chances that weren’t.”
Eighty-Six Forever Report Card: “Stefan Marinovic: 7 - Real didn’t have a ton of clear cut chances, with many of their shots coming from distance. The ones they did have on goal were easily collected by Marinovic, who picked up a clean sheet after a rough patch. Exactly the kind of performance the Kiwi needed to regain some confidence going forward.”
Up Next: Away to Mike Boxall and the Minnesota United folks on Sunday at 6.00am (NZT)
Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)
Another week without a goal for Chris Wood but at this stage the damage has already been done. Europa League is on the cards and a scoreless draw at home to Brighton didn’t do that cause any harm. Burnley are on the verge of European qualification for the first time in 51 years… although Woody played Europas with Birmingham a few years ago so not such a long wait for him, to be fair.
The Brighton game was a boring one, let’s be honest. Wood had bugger all to do, his best opportunity being getting edged off the ball by Bruno before he could unleash a shot having zoomed past Shane Duffy. Burnley had better opportunities than that. Matt Ryan, the dirty Aussie, made a couple sweet saves and there was a penalty shout or two. Nothing much to dwell upon.
Instead the wildest thing that happened (apart from some unfortunate booing in the crowd towards Gaeton Bong) was the injury that caused Chris Wood to be replaced in the second half.
It was as he made that charging run into traffic that he got hurt. The physio came out and the tape came out but the boot never went back on once it came off. You could see the blood seeping into his sock as he wandered off the field with a shoe-less foot, limping like a chick with a busted heel on a Friday night.
Oddly enough it’s now been 41 games since Burnley were last awarded a penalty kick in the Premier League, the only team without one all season. Woody might not be the spot kick taker at the Clarets but remember he did used to bang them in regularly from there at Leeds, one to ponder for sure when considering what the Woodsman’s bringing to the table. Haven’t even seen that aspect yet.
But what they haven’t had a problem with is keeping clean sheets and another one here still meant a 0-0 draw and a valuable point that all but puts them into Europe. Seventh spot is guaranteed entrance into the qualifying stages (which may mean a short offseason, those qualifiers beginning in late-July, All Whites fans take note) and for Burnley to miss seventh would take a meltdown of galactic proportions. Like, Brazil in a home semi-final at the World Cup kind of meltdown.
Fingers crossed a few bandages and some ointment on that sucker and Woody will be fine for next week because it’s a big one… Arsene Wenger’s last game at The Emirates.
Lancashire Telegraph Player Ratings: “Chris Wood 6 - Came off injured but his threat was minimal before that. Couldn’t find a way into the game”
Up Next: Arsenal vs Burnley, Monday at 3.30am (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Safe to say that the Rosies’ opening game draw is long since forgotten. They rocked back to form last week with a 4-0 win away at Kalmar and this time they hosted Eskilstuna United and it was never even close.
A defensive mishap almost let Fiona Brown score pretty much immediately after the kickoff but she put her header wide. No dramas, they didn’t have to wait long. Anna Mittag scored in the second minute, beating the onrushing keeper to the ball, before Sanne Troelsgaar-Nielsen sliced in and it was 2-0 within five minutes. Caroline Seger scored from the spot in the 17th min and then Fiona Brown got her goal after half an hour – a similar header at the far post, all goods.
The second half was just as one-sided. Mittag scored two in a four minute span, then STN got another. Substitute Lisa Utland made it eight with ten minutes left and then Mittag got her fourth with a couple mins left. 9-0 was the final score, a sublime performance. No goals for Ali Riley and surprisingly no assists either, although she did help initiate a couple of those goals with her typically dangerous chipped crosses overlapping down the left.
Unfortunately no repeat of last week’s heroics from Hannah Wilkinson. She got the full ninety for Vittsjö but they went down 1-0 to Kalmar thanks to a second half goal from American Shade Pratt.
Up Next: Djurgården vs Rosengård, 2.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Marco Rojas – sc Heerenveen (Dutch Eredivisie)
It’d be great to bring news of few more goals this week for Marco but instead all there really is to say is that he held onto his starting spot. Got ninety minutes in as well, with the other two of the front three chosen ahead of him to be replaced. But away to NAC Breda they were down 2-0 inside a dozen minutes and Pablo Mari made it 3-0 immediately after the break and, yeah, that’s the way it ended. It was a win that guaranteed NAC another year in the top division while Heerenveen can still finish anywhere between sixth and ninth with their final game coming up next in the next seven days.
Up Next: SCH vs Feyenoord, 12.30am on Monday (NZT)
Olivia Chance – Everton (English Super League)
Well that ain’t happy news. That’s season over for Chancey, a super season in which she forced her way into the starting XI by the end of things, playing 11 games in the WSL as well as starring in a cup run that took Everton all the way to the semis of the FA Cup, scoring three times along the way and playing the full ninety in the semi against Arsenal as they lost 2-1. Stink way to end the season but on the bright side Olivia Chance is set up to bounce back better than ever once that knee is back to a hundy percent. Heaps and heaps of support out there from her teammates as well, which is always cool to see.
Up Next: Whatever the doctors and physios say, basically
Jeremy Brockie – Mamelodi Sundowns (South African Premier Soccer League)
The on-field frustration endures for Brockie who continues to be a late substitute for Sundowns. He came on in the 88th minute as they were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup (a trophy Brox’s already won twice) with a 3-1 defeat to Maritzburg United and then didn’t play at all as the Brazilians conceded late to draw 2-2 with the same jokers a few days later in the league. And following that, at home to Ajax Cape Town, he had to wait until the 89th minute for his introduction with the result already locked up, Sundowns winning 3-1 despite conceding in the first minute of the game. They were 3-1 up by half-time and cruising towards the three points that would win them the league title long before Brockie warmed up.
It means he’s only played 190 minutes across seven league appearances so far, to go with 163 more minutes in the cup over three games and hopefully some action to come in the Champions League as Mamelodi Sundowns crack back into that this week. Still yet to score a goal and there’s only one more game in the PSL season to make it happen. But other than that things are bloody swell. Not only did he just celebrate his first ever league title as a player but he also celebrated his six year wedding anniversary as well so can’t complain about those blessings.
Up Next: MS vs WAC Casablanca, Sunday at 7.00am in the CAF Champions League (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
Oh look, the PECers lost again. 1-0 at home to Willem II. Ismail Azzaoui scored the only goal with his side’s only shot on target. Zwolle got away with one in the first half when Jordy Croux hit the crossbar but other than that they were all over them and couldn’t turn it into goals. They’re now in serious danger of missing the Europa League playoffs which might just mean that next week’s league finale against AZ will be Ryan Thomas’ final appearance for the team… assuming that he’s able to play because part of the problem against Willem was that the All Whites midfielder had to be replaced in the first half, unable to run off a sore hamstring after getting some lengthy treatment on it.
If that is the end of his season (and the end of his tenure at the club, maybe) then at least he left them with something to remember. The supporter’s club had their annual shindig after the game and Ryan Thomas was honoured with the ol’ Henk Timmerbokaal, the Player of the Year award. See, here’s the proof…
Up Next: AZ Alkmaar vs PEC Zwolle, 12.30am on Monday (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The Houston Dash hosted North Carolina Courage and it went about as expected. The Courage scored early in each half through Crystal Dunn and then Kristen Hamilton and they bossed this game on every side of those two goals. Coulda been a few more but there was no need. All the while Erceg and the rest of them kept another clean sheet for a 2-0 win and that’s now six games undefeated and a big lead already opening up at the top – seven points clear of second-placed Chicago Red Stars (though Portland Thorns have a game in hand and can cut that to five).
Largely a comfortable night for Erceg then, though she did get waxed by Aussie Kyah Simon near the end only for her shot to miss the target. It was Simon’s debut for her new team. Meanwhile it was a fourth clean sheet for Erceg and the Courage, once again at the heart of the best defence in the league.
Up Next: Home to Chicago at 7.00am on Monday (NZT)
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The good news is that Utah didn’t lose and the bad news is that they didn’t win, Nope, for the fourth time in five games the NWSL’s newest franchise has drawn. Amy Rodriguez scored in the 53rd minute, getting in behind the defence and rounding the keeper to score, but Utah’s lead only lasted 14 minutes before USA international Tobin Heath broke the line and scored for Portland Thorns. Solid result against the defending champs although Bowen was an unused sub for this one, the first game she’s missed this season, so no reason to dig any deeper.
Up Next: Utah vs Washington, Sunday at 1.00pm (NZT)
Jake Gleeson & Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Important win last week over New York City FC to make it six points from a possible six at home (and two from a possible 15 away from home). Tui didn’t play because of injury while Gleeson moved back to the bench but that’s the way it goes. No game this week, however. The Timbers copped a bye in the middle of their growing momentum… although at least Bill Tuiloma got to make a new friend in Post Malone…
How about that, aye? Handed the jersey over personally and everything. It ain’t a terrible time for a rest either with Tuiloma among a handful of regulars who’re making regular visits to the physio at the moment. Midfielder David Guzman and fullback Vytas are also nursing knocks but all three are close to returning for the next game, according to their coach.
Gio Savarese: “All of them are potentially available to come back. We will evaluate day-by-day, but we expect them to be able to get better, the way that they have been doing, so far.”
Up Next: Away to San Jose, Sunday at 2.30pm (NZT)
Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
Home to Orlando City, Kip Colvey on the bench again as Tommy Smith and Deklan Wynne started. Sweet as, what’s next? Well, after a bit of a feisty start Smithy came close to giving his team the lead with a header but it caught the wrong side of the post. Instead it was Dominique Badji who opened the scoring with a great first touch after breaking the offside trap and then a casual but impressive finish for the goal, his fifth of the season.
That was the way it stayed until half-time with the Rapids in good position for the win… only for those second half blues to come their way again. Orlando had started to figure it out late in the first and they went on to dominate that second 45 and Cristian Higuita had this game back at even stevens in the 52nd minute with a shot that deflected off of Smithy and caught out the reserve keeper (Tim Howard was suspended for his red last week).
As Orlando pressed for a winner and Colorado got a little frantic trying to hold on, the tackles started flying and this game got rough. Deklan Wynne was one of four Rapids to be booked within twenty minutes of the equaliser (he kicked a guy in the nuts, a different ref and he mighta got a different colour). Those fouls were fine. The foul from Dillon Serna that conceded the winning goal not so much. He clipped Yoshimar Yotun and the Peruvian stepped up to score the spottie, Anthony Hudson once again on the wrong end of a result against a footy player from Peru.
Serna did his best to make amends. He was denied what looked like an open chance in injury time by a spectacular diving block and then his free kick hit Smithy on the head but the ex-Ipswich dude couldn’t get over the ball. A 2-1 defeat having been winning at the break. Not the first time they’ve blown a lead this season either. A few more laps coming up at training this week, by the looks.
Up Next: Away to Sporting KC on Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
The Whitecaps avoided a fourth straight loss with their win meanwhile Boxall’s Minny Utd avoided their fifth as they came from behind to beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 at home. 15 goals conceded in seven games so far, without a clean sheet, has gotten these chaps in a little hole but credit to the gaffer for not changing things up. Granted that decision looked questionable when Alberth Ellis gave Houston the lead inside ten minutes. He and Romell Quioto, the two Hondurans, unlocked the defence as Quioto crossed hard from out wide and Ellis dashed in at the far post to score. Fantastic cross but the left back had no idea, marking the wrong dude and leaving Ellis open behind him.
Christian Ramirez only lasted half an hour before getting injured and having to leave but Darwin Quintero got Minny back on level pegging when his header caught the arm of a defender and he slotted it from the penalty spot after the ref agreed with the protestations. Minnesota had to wipe the sweat from their brow after Quioto smashed one off the frame of the goal before the break and then in the second half Bobby Shuttleworth made a ripper of a save to deny Mauro Manotas. Four minutes later Ibson scored and, after a couple more testy moments, Boxall and the lads held on for the win.
Mikey got shortlisted for man of the match by the club’s twitter, though only got 4% of the vote behind the two goal scorers (how they ignored Shuttleworth in goal is insane).
Up Next: Home to Big Stef’s Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday at 6.00am (NZT)
C.J. Bott - USV Jena vs Amber Hearn & Meikayla Moore – FC Köln (German Frauen-Bundesliga)
Bit boring to report on a 0-0 draw in which two of the three kiwis involved didn’t actually play. CJ Bott’s had trouble keeping Sandra Žigić out of the team but this time neither was in the XI (Lara Schmidt stole the left back spot) as Jena hosted Köln and came away with a point that probably suits their opponents a lot better than it suits them. Heaps of chances but no goals in this one. CJ Bott was an unused sub.
On the other side of the coin, Meikayla Moore didn’t appear in the Köln ranks but Amber Hearn played a full game. MSV Duisburg’s loss to Bayern means that Köln climb out of the bottom two and ahead of them while USV Jena at least close to within two of Duisburg… but they remain three points clear of safety. Here’s hoping Werder Bremen keep losing and allow both these teams to stay up. By the way, this was Köln’s fourth clean sheet of the season from 18 games yet they’ve still somehow conceded 70 goals altogether.
Up Next: Köln can go a long way towards securing top flight status when they host MSV Duisburg on Monday while USV Jena are away to mid-table Hoffenheim the same day (NZT)
Tyler Boyd – CD Tondela (Portuguese Primeira Liga)
Sometimes all you need is 26% of possession and four total shots. That’s all that Tondela had against the might of Benfica but they still got the win, claiming a memorable three points with a 3-2 scoreline. Tyler Boyd played the whole thing and if he’s looking for a new home soon he might have some fans at Porto because this result pretty much wraps up the league title for them now.
Boyd didn’t score in this one, he’d barely touched the ball before Pizzi gave Benfica the lead with a sharp shot at the near post in the 12th minute. But Miguel Cardoso was too quick on the break after half an hour and was able to control and flick the ball past the keeper into the net at pace before that same bloke smashed in at the far post after a long throw got over there and Tondela were up at the break.
It took plenty of luck and desperation to cling on against a second half onslaught from Benfica, Like, way too much luck to rule out the possibility of supernatural aid (check the highlights) yet with ten minutes left they scored again thanks to Tomane with a fantastic finish and even a late goal from Eduardo Salvio late in injury time couldn’t stop them.
Benfica’s now gotta hold off Sporting Lisbon next week, who are level on points with them, since only the top two in Portugal make the Champions League. As for Tondela, they’re guaranteed another year in the top flight with two games still to play. Mission accomplished. They’ve got Tyler Boyd’s parent club next up though so we won’t get a look at the kiwi there.
Portugoal: “Unable to make the breakthrough at parent club Vitória Guimarães as of yet, the development Boyd has made over the campaign should give him confidence when he returns to the club in June, or indeed Tondela may look to step up and sign him permanently. His return of 5 goals and 4 assists from 25 matches this season is extremely respectable, especially given he was a starter in only 12 of those appearances. One way or the other, hopefully he will stay in Liga NOS as he is really beginning to show his potential in what can be a very tough league to adapt to.”
Up Next: Tondela vs Vitoria SC, Sunday at 5.15am (NZT)
Adam Mitchell – Bolton Wanderers (English Championship)
Times are tough for the first team at Bolton A 2-0 loss to Burton on the weekend means they need a result in their final game if they’re going to avoid relegation to League One… but at least their development team is kicking arse. Adam Mitchell was a regular at the back until he got injured on All Whites duty. It wasn’t a great diagnosis so that’s kept him out of the team ever since but they’ve done enough to hold on to the Premier Development League North and will play off with Charlton for a chance to get promoted to the PDL National division. So that’s cool, then.
Up Next: To be confirmed…
Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)
The Chicago Fire haven’t been the best team in the MLS by a long shot but they’ve sure played in some of the best games. Twice coming from behind to draw with Portland was a good one, as was the crazy 4-3 loss they had to Sporting Kansas City. This latest game away to Toronto FC has to be up there for drama as well.
Elliot Collier got another start, continuing to defy the odds, and he played 66 minutes before he was replaced as the first sub. Another good chuck of footy for the rookie. Only issue was they were 2-0 down when he left the game, thanks to early goals from Jonathan Osorio and Victor Solsona. Toronto FC had lost the Champions League final on penalties to Guadalajara of Mexico only a few days earlier and clearly came out with a point to prove. Their domestic form has been awful as they’ve prioritised the CONCACAF stuff (remember they knocked Colorado out of the CCL a while back) and they had a near perfect start here.
There had been a goal in between those two ruled out with VAR interference (he was offside, right call) as well so that gives you an indication of how hot Toronto started. But Bastian Schweinsteiger wasn’t gonna lie down and take that. He won the ball back outside the Toronto area with 35 mins gone and helped create a situation where Nemanja Nikolic, after some more VAR interference, had himself a penalty kick. But Schweiny missed it and the ball was cleared away before Collier could get to the rebound. Collier had his big chance later on which drew another top save out of the Toronto keeper, which he probably should’ve scored.
Again, no worries. He was there in the 69th minute, soon after Collier had been replaced, to deflect a header into the goal after a corner kick to make it 2-1. Then he was again in the action deep into injury time as his free kick ended up reaching Alan Gordon who slammed it home for a 2-2 draw, Toronto feeling the miles in their legs at the end and letting it slip, both goals from set pieces.
Up Next: Chicago vs Atlanta, 12.30pm on Sunday (NZT)
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