Flying Kiwis – March 11
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
After the toothless gumming they gave Newcastle last week until Chris Wood was chucked on, there was little doubt that he’d be out there and starting as Tottenham Hotspur came to visit... on a bit of a dud streak themselves in contrast with Burnley’s quality run. Nice time to be playing them.
Sure enough, Burnley came out playing with the heat turned up and were picking that Spurs back three and midfield apart, winning almost every second phase ball and bossing them around with their physicality. First to damn near everything. Chris Wood picked up and early sighter outside the box as he absolutely lashed one just over the top, a strike so powerful it broke the sound barrier. A few more scrambly chances came along early for the Clarets, including Jay Rodriguez nudging the crossbar from a corner and a Jack Cork effort saved, and then, in the thirteenth minute (because all that happening inside thirteen minutes), Chris Wood did what the great strikers do and lurked around that six yard box, holding off his marker to slide the ball home after Rodriguez’s initial blasted shot had only been parried by Hugo Lloris.
You know what that is? It’s his 11th goal of the Premier League season is what it is. Takes him past the 10 that he scored in his previous two campaigns for Burnley. There’s still time for a few more to catch up this season but the other players to have scored double figures in each of the last three seasons: Mo Salah, Jamie Vardy, Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, and Raheem Sterling. The best of the best, in other words.
Burnley kept on that way throughout an excellent first half and the only bummer was that they didn’t add a second. Woody missed a pretty decent chance near the end of it as he bundled a knock-down wide but the flag was already up for an offside from the initial cross. Jose Mourinho being Jose Mourinho, never one to take a defeat lying down, he made two subs at the break and changed Spurs’ formation to a back four and frustratingly it paid off straight away with the Londoners much more effective in the back half of this game. And they were level just five minutes into the stanza. Dele Alli too good from the penalty spot after Ben Mee had caught Erik Lamela with a sliding challenge.
Speaking of penalties, on another day Chris Wood would’ve had one of his own. Going up for a header in the corner of the area not all that long afterwards he got thumped over in midair by Davinson Sanchez but the ref was having none of it. Which led to a growing feeling from the home crowd that the ref was having none of anything they asked for, such is the way that it goes. There was a surprising lack of VAR in this game considering that perceived foul on Wood and then also there might have been a handball in the lead up to Wood’s goal from Dwight McNeil.
Anyway, the game continued and Woody had a couple decent efforts from range which he kept low but straight at the keeper. Otherwise the best two opportunities for Burnley to win it fell to sub Matej Vydra who couldn’t do the deed. Spurs were the team making more of the play in that second half but they also didn’t really test Nick Pope enough to push for a winner of their own. 1-1 was the final score which makes it seven games unbeaten for Burnley, keeps them ahead of Spurs on the ladder, and ensures that Tottenham have failed to win any of their last five in all comps. More importantly, Chris Wood keeps doing cool stuff.
Chris Wood: “It’s always nice to get back on the scoresheet early, especially when you’ve been out for a couple of games. It’s nice to have that tally ticked past from the past seasons. It’s a good place to be in and hopefully there are a lot more to come.
“The first half was fantastic. I think we played extremely well and created some good opportunities. We started well and it was nice to get on top with a goal. We had a few more chances and felt like we had a good first-half performance. The second half we started off a bit quiet but then we came into our own again and we had chances to win it. I think we’re quite pleased with the way we played, except for the first 10-minute spell in the second half. We would have liked to have got more from the game, but a point against a very good side is an upward step for us.”
Up Next: Manchester City vs Burnley, Sunday at 4am (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich II (German Liga 3)
Everybody’s favourite German-employed New Zealand footballer of South Asian origin was at it again this week. Playing off the bench for the ressies again, he made the most of his lessened time on the park by whipping in a gorgeous volley from the edge of the area. That wand of a left foot of his still working its magic. Sonnenhof Großaspach didn’t know what had hit them. A cross into the box had been half-cleared and the ball looped up high, Singh getting there just as it dropped upon him and the sweetness off the volley was pure filth. Just imagine the sound when you hear a perfectly timed cricket shot, leather cracking off willow, that’s what this was like.
Singh had again been left on the bench as Jeong Woo-yeong was preferred in the number ten role, though he was subbed on pretty early, only six minutes into the second half, and when he was it was in place of a deeper midfielder. The scores were still level at that point. Bayern 2 had hit the post and they’d drawn a couple fine saves out of the Sonnenhof Großaspach gloveman but were still looking for that cheeky goal they needed... which they’d eventually find in the 61st minute. Jann-Fiete Arp scored it after Jeong had dribbled across from the left wing where he’d been moved after Singh was introduced and slipping in a lovely pass for the assist. Then ten minutes later Singh scored his goal and BM2 were away laughing.
2-0 was the final score there. This was the 7th goal he’s scored to go with 4 assists for the ressies this season. Yet having missed only ten minutes of the 15 games he was available before the winter break, he’s not played ninety minutes since – coming off the bench three out of five times including the last two games in a row (and he was suspended for a couple before that too). It’s also not coincided with him sneaking only the bench for the top team during their busiest run of fixtures to date but s’pose there’s still time for that. Also gotta remember he trains full time for the senior team now so that could affect how the team gets selected for the reserves... ultimately it doesn’t matter as long as he’s still contributing at a high level which he definitely is.
Days like this one don’t do any harm either...
But wait there’s more because that BBC interview he did which was teased a few weeks back has finally emerged, with a write-up and a couple vids (one sit down interview and one tour of the club)...
Plenty of fun, have a good old geeze.
Up Next: Ingolstadt vs BM2, Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Yeah right on, how about that one? Thomas and teammate Cody Gakpo each included in the Eredivisie Team of the Month for February (as decided by Opta stats). The stats love Thommo, they always have. Barely misplaces a pass and he’s been chipping in with both goals and assists lately too. Speaking of... how’d he fare this week?
PSV were away to FC Groningen, a game they had every reason to expect to win. Ryan Thomas was in his new normal role of the shadow striker. Let’s go.
It took PSV a little while to get going but then they struck about quarter of an hour into it with their first genuine chance, Denzel Dumfries dashing it down the right side from fullback to get on the end of a long ball and then finishing from a tight angle, all at pace. It was about the only decent chance they’d create all first half but despite a couple scrambling moments they defended quite well to keep it even after 45. Ryan Thomas was up to his usual tricks, moving around, pressing on the keeper, lots of quick passing... though the ball wasn’t quite making its way to him when it mattered most.
Both teams came out with more energy in the second stanza and PSV fans had to sweat a couple penalty shouts while Groningen fans had to sweat a few counter attacks from Thommo and the lads. Nothing on the end of either and as the game ticked into the final twenty minutes it was still that narrow lead for PSV... at which point it was PSV keeper Lars Unnerstall’s turn to step up with more than a couple excellent saves to really earn that clean sheet. PSV would hold on to an unconvincing but hugely valuable 1-0 win. All the top four won this week so PSV remain in fourth but they also don’t lose any ground, crucially. Ryan Thomas played the complete game which was always likely considering they were without Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Ihatarren.
Up Next: PSV vs FC Emmen, Sunday at 7.45am (NZT)
Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)
Last week we had some insider info leaking into the press on the American side of the Atlantic Ocean, this week the English side has responded in kind. Having learned that Winnie’s on loan for the entirety of 2020 we now also know that West Ham are paying an absolute landslide majority of his salary which makes that an utter steal for Sporting KC.
Football.London: “Football.London has learned that Sporting KC are supporting just 15 per cent of Reid's reported £70,000 a week wages, handed to him after he signed a whopping six-year contract extension back in 2017.”
That piece also lead with the suggestion that West Ham have no intentions of selling either Reid or the similarly perpetually injured Jack Wilshere in the offseason... although we all know that’s subject to change. The Hammers are in a relegation battle at the moment so they sort of need to keep two plans in mind in case they go down and a guy like Winston might hypothetically come back into the reckoning should they be playing Champo footy – the standard’s a little lower and he’s a long serving club man with something to prove. The best case scenario for West Ham is that they avoid the drop comfortably and build for a future which Reid is unlikely to have any part in... but actually selling him will be immensely tricky considering those hefty wages.
Meanwhile Sporting KC had another nice win to make it two from two to start the MLS season despite a rebuilt squad. They whupped Houston Dynamo 4-0 with goals from Alan Pulido, Roger Espinoza, Gadi Kinda, and Khiry Shelton... three of whom being new signings as SKC try to make up for a poor 2019 in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. A dominant display from that lot. Only issue was that Winston Reid is still yet to be seen. He missed this matchday squad same as he missed the last one and all of preseason before that.
Here’s some context on the squad rebuild: “Out were longtime midfielder Benny Feilhaber, forward Krisztian Nemeth and defenders Seth Sinovic and Jimmy Medranda, and in their place came a fresh wave of hungry and talented players at all levels of the field. The biggest signing was forward Alan Pulido, who was the top goalscorer for Chivas Guadalajara and came to Kansas City for a record transfer fee approaching $10 million. But nearly as important were the arrivals of forward Khiry Shelton, who spent last season in the Bundesliga, forward Gadi Kinda on loan from Israel, and defenders Roberto Puncec, Amadou Dia and Winston Reid — the latter on loan from West Ham United — to give Sporting KC a fresh new look.”
Up Next: Away to Atlanta United on Sunday at midday (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
First day of preseason for the North Carolina Courage as they begin their quest to win yet another title. It’s also a good chance to check in with Abby Erceg seeing as she’s stuck in the States awaiting her green card and couldn’t travel to join the Football Ferns in Portugal... meaning she’s the only woman featured in Flying Kiwis this week (which will flip when the men’s international window come in a couple weeks – corona virus notwithstanding). Fingers crossed that green card gets done sooner rather than later because it seems to be dragging on now. Missing Ferns duty is one thing, she also couldn’t even go home to see family over the offseason which is even rougher.
Abby Erceg: “I go summer to summer most years so this was the first winter I [didn’t go home] and I was away from my family and away from a lot of my friends. I found it really difficult. I’m someone that likes to spend a lot of time outside and go hiking and I spent more time indoors than I’d probably like to… The club are doing my Green Card at the moment so part of that phase is a travel restriction. We are at the end of it which is good. I would be with the [national team] at the moment but it is just because of the travel restriction that I couldn’t go, unfortunately. It does damage the relationship with my national team a little bit and that is tough especially with an Olympic buildup, you don’t get much time. Hopefully, it comes through soon so I can get back.”
Hold up though, here’s some good news to patch over the rest of the waiting process..
Two more years (with a club option for a third), hopefully two more championships (or three, as the case may be). Erceg is arguably the most decorated current kiwi footballer out there and she’s got a brilliant home in North Carolina where she’s captaining the standard bearers of the NWSL. No reason to go anywhere else.
Up Next: New season starts on April 14, NCC vs Chicago Red Stars at 11am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Still no James Musa or Noah Billingsley in sight but all good coz Michael Boxall’s holding it down for all the rest of them and his side were all up in the goals as the played San Jose Earthquakes. Five of them in fact. After scoring three in their first game they upped that effort in a blistering 5-2 win with a brilliant performance that saw Ike Opara score twice against the team that drafted him (and thus hogging all the centreback attention away from a merely tidy Michael Boxall game). San Jose’s goals came from a VAR-awarded penalty which allowed them to make it 1-1 after twenty minutes and then a 53rd minute deflected shot after a stunted corner kick routine... though Boxall didn’t help matters by heading a clearance straight to goal-scorer Vako. The two goals conceded take a little of the shine off... but when you score five and are leading 4-1 at half-time there’s plenty of shine to go around.
The Loons have repeated their 2019 start of two wins from two to kick things off and are one of only four teams to have won both their first two games... others being Winston Reid’s Sporting KC, Deklan Wynne’s Colorado Rapids... and Atlanta United who don’t have a kiwi. Not that Reid or Wynne have played yet. Shout out to Boxall though. A first choice player for this club who has had to reinforce his value to the Loons at times, being dropped for a while last season before forcing his way back in as Minny Utd finished the regular season strong and seem to be continuing on that trajectory with a few crucial new additions going forwards. They’re a good team. Get excited.
Elsewhere we had...
Elliot Collier (Chicago Fire) – Unused sub as the Fire scored a 70th minute equaliser to draw 1-1 away to New England Revolution, Chicago only using two of their subs on the day.
Kyle Adams (Houston Dynamo) – Not in the squad for Dynamo’s 4-0 loss to a Winston Reid-less Sporting Kansas City. Instead he dropped down for a crack with the feeder team Rio Grand Valley Toros, where he’s spent the last couple years so very familiar surroundings for KA. Adams captained the side and played ninety minutes against LA Galaxy II... though they lost 5-1. Adams is a fringe first teamer making steady upward strides but will probably spend most of his time here in the USL... though unlike last season he’s free to sit on the bench for the Dynamo anytime without having to sign a short term contract.
Deklan Wynne (Colorado Rapids) – Also an unused sub as Colorado once again scored late to claim a 2-1 victory, this time at home against Orlando City. Wynnebags is basically waiting for an injury in his backup role on the bench.
Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers) – Still listed as QUESTIONABLE on the MLS Injury Report with that calf strain, as Portland overcame having just three total shots in the game to beat Nashville 1-0. We’re really not seeing a lot of MLS x Flying Kiwis action yet, are we?
Sam Brotherton – (North Carolina FC) – On that note, the one regular USL dude we’ve got got a full game starting at CB, picking up where he left off for NCFC in 2019. Brotherton’s lot fell 1-0 at home to Louisville City in their season opener though. Could’ve been better.
Up Next: Minnesota United vs New York Red Bulls on Monday at midday (NZT)
Oscar Ramsay – Charlotte Independence (American USL Championship)
But wait, there’s one more. 22 year old midfielder Oscar Ramsay’s snuck in under the radar ahead of the USL season, moving straight into the pros after four years at Hofstra University and landing at a pretty decent level too. Ramsay had a very solid college career and has played lower league USL stuff over the years and now here we are. Charlotte Independence. Same level as Sam Brotherton is at, same level that James Musa and Kyle Adams have used to leverage themselves into the MLS.
This from Western Springs AFC with a thorough rundown of the dude’s career so far...
“Oscar started playing at Western Springs as a five year old for Team Rimu coached by life member Steve Lowe. A few years later he moved on to “Joga Bonita” - the three times metro championship team coached by Bart Cleverly. Oscar then joined Wynton Rufer’s WYNRS Academy which played its club football under the banner of Onehunga Sports. Here he was coached by Auckland City great, the late Keryn Jordan.
A stint at Central United followed, winning the U19 league and making his first team debut. He also played for Auckland City in the national youth league under Chris Zorocich, the current Springs Premier coach. Oscar then returned to Western Springs to play first team football under Neil Emblem. He also played for Westlake Boys High School during this time, captaining the team in his final year. Oscar was in the extended squad for the NZ U20 team before moving to New York.
He accepted a scholarship to Hofstra University on Long Island. As a starter for the NCAA Division One University, he played 73 games over his four year college career. He also spent his summers playing in the USL2 league for various clubs including Reading United and Lionsbridge FC, where he made the USL2 national final in 2018 with the former. Oscar will begin preseason with Charlotte Independence this month. With a semester of university papers to complete online, he plans to graduate in May with a major in Finance.”
The Independence won their first game 2-1 with a rather dramatic late winner to beat Swope Park Rangers... Ramsay was an unused substitute though.
Up Next: Charlotte Independence vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday at midday (NZT)
Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)
Yes, beautiful, there it is. Back to winning ways for Viborg with a crucial 3-1 win away at Fredericia which raises them back up to second on the ladder ahead of their victims. Awkward game, the corona virus threat has finally infiltrated Flying Kiwis with Nikko Boxall playing this one within an empty stadium, with only officials, team folks, and a few media members allowed to attend. And Viborg were excellent. Christian Sørensen scored from a free kick in the tenth minute and then a couple goals early in the second half from Mikkel Agger and Mads Aaquist put the game to bed. Fredericia pulled one back in the last twenty minutes but it was all over by then. Nikko Boxall played the full game at centreback.
Up Next: Viborg vs Skive, Saturday at 6am (NZT)
Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)
This game didn’t go quite as well as last week’s battling Swedish Cup group stage win... but even a 1-0 defeat to Norrköping didn’t stop them from progressing to the quarter-finals in the top of their group by virtue of a better goal difference that their opponents here. Norrköping needed to win by two goals and they only won by one. The Swedish Cup is basically a preseason tournament so no tears would have been shed either way but still nice to be in the running for trophies and even nicer considering that Matty Garbett got an even more extended run out there this time. He was subbed on in the 62nd minute, the first substitute used. Doesn’t even turn 18 for another months and he got ten minutes last week now 28 minutes this week and will hopefully be in the squad again next week as they play that quarter-final. Pretty amazing.
Here’s a photo of him running around from the FFF website...
Up Next: Mjällby vs FFF, Sunday at 4am, Svenska Cupen quarter-final (NZT)
Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)
Lost 1-0. Barely created a meaningful chance. Pitch looked like something a Sunday League team would be embarrassed by and still had the rugby league markings. The goal they conceded was absolutely disgusting with a lobbed cross to the far post after a penalty box scramble somehow missing everybody. But still two points clear of relegation. A full game as always for Steven Old at the back.
Up Next: Morecambe vs Plymouth Argyle on Sunday at 4am (NZT)
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