Flying Kiwis – October 17
Chris Wood vs Winston Reid / Burnley vs West Ham United (English Premier League)
And here we had it, the game that we’d all been waiting for, a Flying Kiwis Premier League Derby for only the third time in history (which you know if you read last week’s edition) and Chris Wood’s first experience of such conflicted stakes.
These days Woody is well and truly first choice for Burnley. Sean Dyche has shown a lot of faith in him and his early goals have more than made up for that. Meanwhile Winston Reid starts if Winston Reid is fit, fullstop. Who are we supposed to cheer for? Neither, both? Eh, just go with the flow.
Thing is, we were waiting to see one centre back vs striker contest and instead it was another that dominated this game. James Tarkowski has been great for Burnley this season and he rose to the challenge against Andy Carroll. The two were going head to head all game (literally, if you add in a few elbows too) and, buddy, it got stroppy. But first West Ham scored and the assist came from Joe Hart in goal, incredibly. Big heave down the park and Ben Mee misjudged it. Michail Antonio did the rest, rounding the keeper to score.
Great start to the game for Winnie’s lot but then his best mate Big Andy went and left an elbow in on Tarkowski going for a header. Yellow card, which he hated. So less than two minutes later he left another elbow in on Mee. Another yellow card. Off you go son. Not even half an hour into the game. Nobody got more fired up about it than Winston either, tussling with a few Clarets in the process.
Even down to ten men West Ham still looked dangerous. Antonio, Lanzini and Hernandez were working wonders however they couldn’t quite find that second goal, which left the door open. Burnley have struggled to score in most games this season. As the game went on they gave it a good go though. Johann Berg Gudmundsson had scored a couple times for Iceland in the international break and he smacked one off the post late on after Woody had picked him out with a pass on the turn. Moments later Gudmundsson repaid the favour and then some.
It had been a typically grinding day for The Woodsman. A first half free kick from Robbie Brady almost swung right into his path but not quite. Later he ran in behind the defence on the end of Steven Defour’s pass and Joe Hart came diving out at his feet. It could’ve been a penalty but nah, no whistle (Slaven Bilic afterwards: “Joe touched the ball but if we were in that situation I would expect a penalty.”). With West Ham playing conservatively because of their disadvantage Burnley were allowed more of the ball and they did a lot with it but of their 20 shots only 5 were on target. One of those shots was this one, on the end of Gudmundsson’s perfect cross. Typical Woody.
Haha, and trying to get the ball back for a quick restart Wood and Reid ended up clashing for it. Great stuff all round, what a moment for kiwi football. Our two best players leaving it all out there for their clubs. Winner gets the captain’s armband. Also they both got booked for the scuffling.
But yeah, it ended 1-1. Burnley are undefeated for six top-flight games – something they haven’t done since 1975.
Chris Wood: “Honestly, I did believe I was suited to this division. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to stay here but I felt Burnley was the perfect outfit for me to come into and mould into. It’s a great club to be at. I’m a guy that has a lot of self-belief and I believe I can score goals at this level, it was just about being given the chance. I’ve got that chance now, I’ve been backed by the gaffer.”
Sean Dyche: “He is scoring goals. It is a great habit.”
Lancashire Telegraph Player Ratings: Chris Wood 7 - Took his goal well. Could have won a penalty which came from one of several clever runs in behind
Here’s something to panic about ahead of the intercontinentals (but probably not)”
Up Next: West Ham hosts Brighton at 8.00am on Saturday while Burnley go to Manchester City (yikes) at 3.00am on Sunday (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Grand Final time, baby. North Carolina Courage v Portland Thorns. Abby Erceg captaining the Courage at centre back, going for consecutive titles… business time.
The Courage took a blow within a couple of minutes as Taylor Smith, one of their best players, collided with Tobin Heath and would soon need to be replaced with a shoulder injury. Then later on in the half Kristen Hamilton also clashed with Heath and came off second best, needing to be replaced as well. Nothing illegal in either challenge – it was just brutal grand final footy and NCC came off worst on both occasions. The gaffer didn’t quite agree…
NCC coach Paul Riley: “I'm surprised the way Portland played in the first half, to be honest with you. It's not that type of team. They've got some great players. I'd rather see the players play than kick people. But they chose the latter in the first half. At least in the second half, the game started.”
As such the first half wasn’t much of a spectacle, as is often the case in finals. The Courage had eliminated the Thorns last season in the semis (when they were still Western New York Flash) and Portland spoke all week about how that was their motivation. Plus with the two best defences in the league going head to head it was always gonna be a game of rare chances. In fact NCC’s best shot in the first half came from Sam Mewis unleashing from pretty much halfway… it hit the crossbar.
Looking to create something through the pace of Lynn Williams, the Courage almost struck first after the break but Williams’ shot was well saved down low. Then, in the 50th minute, an inadvertent handball near halfway gave Portland a ball they could send long into the box. They did, and it was crucially allowed to bounce. Erceg had a look at it as the header was missed and the teammate to the left of her couldn’t get anything on the loose ball. She then got a great look as Lindsey Horan smashed it into the net. 1-0 to the Thorns.
The goal opened the game up - good for the fans - but try as they might the Courage couldn’t find a yard of space on attack. Williams had a couple more shots but nothing clean, same with Mewis. Abby was hovering near a flicked header in injury time but the keeper got there first. Then the final whistle went. The Thorns took the championship 1-0 while the Courage settle for second best.
At least one kiwi in the NWSL won something though...
Up Next: A whole lotta thinking about what could’ve been…
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
It was a game of relatively few chances as Zwolle travelled to play Feyenoord. Aussie Brad Jones had a couple scares in goal for the home team but nothing dramatic while Diederick Boer did have to tip a shot or two away from the target in the second half but ultimately this was a stereotypically boring 0-0 draw. Nothing wrong with that for the PECers, they get a point against a team that’s beaten them every time they’ve played away against them since 1988-89 (to be fair they weren’t in the same division most of that time).
Ryan Thomas played his 100th Eredivisie game along with teammate Stefan Nijland. And while Chris Wood and Winston Reid went head to head as international teammates, Thommo had a more important scouting task on his hands. One of his opponents was Renato Tapia, the Peruvian midfielder – although he was playing in defence for this one. Except Tapia didn’t last. An injury in the first half meant he was subbed off after only 20 minutes. It sounds like a hamstring strain and that could be crucial ahead of the World Cup playoffs next month.
Considering he played for a team that had less than a third of possession in this game, it’s not so shocking that Thomas wasn’t able to distribute the ball around as he has been doing this season. Only 59.1% passing accuracy, two shots both off target, zero chances created. However while he had trouble there he also displayed another side to his game which has really been coming along in 2017-18 so far: his defensive work. Six tackles, three interceptions and eight clearances. The Zwolle midfield was left playing very deep, especially in the second half, and Ryan Thomas definitely did his part. WhoScored.com has him ranked eleventh in the division for his average game rating.
Up Next: NAC Breda vs PEC Zwolle at 5.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Marco Rojas – sc Heerenveen (Dutch Eredivisie)
The glorious start to the season for SCH came to an abrupt end before the international break as Heerenveen went down 4-0 at home to Ajax. They then returned from the international break to get smoked 3-1 by Utrecht. Stijn Schaars had given them the lead from a deflected free kick but Yassin Ayoub equalised almost immediately with a free kick of his own and on-loan PSG forward Jean-Christophe Bahebeck scored a double to book the victory.
At least Marco Rojas started, so there was that. His second Eredivisie start although he was the first man subbed off, replaced by Michel Vlap on the hour with the score at 2-1. It was a disappointing performance in which Heery had most of the ball but couldn’t create much with it – only two shots on target. Rojas had one of those shots (the other was the goal, naturally) but playing on the left wing of a 4-3-3 he didn’t get to do a lot else with the ball seemingly stuck at the back of the midfield most of the game.
Up Next: Home to Vitesse on Monday at 3.45am (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengard (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
A draw with lowly Goteborg means that Riley’s Rosengard’s slim chances of catching Linkoping for the title are basically done now. They’re nine points back with three games to go, needing the best team in Sweden to lose all three of their remaining games having only lost two in 19 previously. Ah well, they’re also only a win away from guaranteeing second place, which means qualification for the Champions League.
Europe’s premier competition is something Ali Riley is no stranger to, of course. After finishing second last season (to the same rivals) they qualified for this season’s edition and so far it’s going rather well. A 1-0 win away to Olimpia Cluj gave them the advantage in that tie and they followed it up by smashing the Romanians 4-0 in Sweden to advance to the round of 16.
Riley & Rosengard were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarters last season, with Lyon of France going on to win the title again (Erin Nayler was with them then but didn’t get to play). Ali’s won basically every trophy in Sweden multiple time in her time with the club. Three league titles, two Swedish Cups, three Super Cups… but three seasons in a row she’s been eliminated in the quarters of the Champions League now. Three times in a row and four times out of five, actually. (Part of that is probably because the timing of the Swedish league vs the Champions League, with the R16 played in November and the quarters in March, means that Rosenberg have an entire offseason in between those rounds).
Up Next: International break for now, no Footy Ferns though
Jeremy Brockie – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)
It wasn’t easy and Brockie didn’t even score – which is rare for him in cup competition – but he has got another winners medal for the mantelpiece after SSU topped Cape Town City to win the MTN8 Cup. It went all the way to penalties though, Ronwen Williams saving two penalties as they took the shootout 4-2 after a 1-1 draw.
SuperSport have already won the Nedbank Cup and the Telkom Cup since Brockie got there, now he’s got another title plus they’re still in the CAF Confederation Cup for now too (it’s 1-1 after the home leg with the away leg coming up in a week). Damn but they had to work for this one. Despite starting strongly they found themselves trailing in the first half due to Sibusiso Masina’s goal and as soon as it went in Cape Town began to settle and SSU began to get frustrated. Jeremy Brockie was replaced in the 69th minute as they switched things up in the search for the equaliser. They lost to the same team in this final last season, after all.
The levelling goal finally came through Thabo Mnyamane with ten minutes left. Bradley Grobler set him up. But their chances of pressing for a winner took a blow a few mins later when Mnyamane was forced off with injury with no subs left. Then, playing extra time with only ten men, they also had to carry Clayton Daniels and Grobler who were both struggling with knocks sustained in the game. Really they were lucky not to lose earlier but once it went to penalties they were back in their comfort zone.
Also, remember the drama when Brockie asked permission to leave the club before this season? He ended up happily staying but there’s no indication that Mamelodi Sundowns have given up their interest and suddenly the chairman is considering a January move… but only under certain conditions…
SSU chairman Stan Matthews: “If we have have won the CAF Confederation Cup by then, we will be open to offers for Jeremy. If we haven’t, maybe we will win the Telkom Knockout. Then we might also be open for offers. This is the third trophy he has won with us and I would like one more. And if he wants a big move, we won’t stand on his way."
Up Next: Sunday morning at 7.00am over in Tunisia against Club Africain in the Confed Cup (NZT)
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
Fun vid there from the last international break but the club stuff’s been a bit of a bummer since. Nayler was injured last week, missing the last game as they lost 2-0 to Lyon (Erin’s old club). She was still injured missing the latest game, a 1-1 draw against Rodez. Bit of a shame, that.
It doesn’t sound like it’s too bad luckily. Jerome Dauba, the boss, has been chatting away on radio. Here’s a transcript that’s been through the Google Translate rollercoaster, make of it what you will.
Girondins4Ever: “We'll do everything to (smile), we have a good staff. She held (note: she played against Marseille with a sprain). There, we trust the medical staff to do a great job. It is hoped that they will succeed in restoring it. I'm pretty confident.”
The sooner she’s back in action, the sooner she can resume making award winning saves…
Up Next: Away to Guingamp at 3.00am on the Monday after next (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Tommy’s back! Just in time to get a few games in before the All Whites play Peru, aye? He didn’t start against Sheffield United though he did make his comeback for the U23s a few days earlier. 90 full minutes in face. The Town side were able to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bristol City U23 thanks to goals from Myles Kenlock and Flynn Downes – with Monty Patterson getting 15 minutes off the bench.
Mick McCarthy: “Tommy will travel. I’ve got some decisions to make in defence now, but it’s a better decision to make than having to scratch around. As somebody said to me the other day ‘it’s better looking at them than for them’.”
They could use him in the top team about now. Adam Webster also returned for this one and he got the start ahead of Smithy in a three-man defence. Mick McCarthy switched up the shape (from 3-5-2 to 4-1-4-1 and later to 4-3-3) a couple times during the game with his lads struggling against one of the better teams in the division however that didn’t help at all and they conceded in the 48th minutes as Chris Basham put one away. That ended up being the only goal in the game, meaning that after winning their first four Champ games of the season the Tractor Boys have now lost five out of seven since.
Smith’s injuries have probably knocked him down the depth charts a little and it’s highly unlikely he starts ahead of Webster or Chambers in a four-man defence. He might have a chance of replacing Jonas Knudsen in a back three but he’ll have to prove his fitness first. He’s got a couple more games to prove it to McCarthy before he’ll need to prove it to Anthony Hudson.
Up Next: Bit of a feisty derby against Norwich City at midnight on Sunday/Monday (NZT)
C.J. Bott - USV Jena & Amber Hearn – FC Koln (German Frauen-Bundesliga)
Here’s your weekly reminder that the two Footy Ferns in the Bundesliga play for the two worst teams in the Bundesliga. Well, actually Bott’s Jena have one point which puts them third to last and also ahead of MSV Duisburg but they’ve also conceded 11 goals more than them already. Bott played 45 minutes away to SGS Essen this week before being subbed off at the break as part of a double change. They were 4-0 down, so… yeah. Went on to lose 6-0.
It wasn’t so bad for Amber Hearn’s Koln but a 3-0 defeat at home to Hoffenheim means they’ve now lost all five of their league games, scoring twice and conceding 19. Hearn has one of those goals, if it’s any consolation. Hey, it’s a long season. No reason to panic yet…
Up Next: Koln are away to SC Sand while Jena hosts Bayern Munich (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
All Whites duty meant that Boxall missed two games for United. Francisco Calvo and Brent Kallman started in central defence against Atlanta United, Kallman being Boxall’s replacement although he copped a yellow and was subbed off with a dozen minutes left. Atlanta had their keeper sent off earlier in the second half and stunningly Minnesota scored two late goals to win 3-2, the third coming in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Yes but Mike Boxall didn’t play so who cares.
Then it was Brent Kallman starting with Joseph Greenspan as they hosted Sporting Kansas City – Calvo also unavailable due to Costa Rica’s games. Greenspan went and got two late yellows to finish the game in the sheds but Kallman had a better one – he scored the equaliser in the 83rd minute as the teams drew 1-1. Great result for Marinovic and Gleeson, by the way, not so great for James Musa.
Which gave manager Adrian Heath a decision to make as Minny went all the way to Los Angeles to play the Galaxy – one of only two Western teams ranked below them in the standings. The final decision? Back to the usual suspects: Boxall and Calvo. At least one of them will be at the World Cup next year. (Stink for Brent Kallman, who was named in the MLS Team of the Week a few days earlier and promptly got dropped).
Mike Boxall: “I don’t think there’s a big mental component about it because I’ve been with the national team for five, six years now — used to the group, used to the style of play — once you’re in that environment, you just adjust. The same thing happens when you come back to Minnesota United. You get back into the groove of things.”
Didn’t start too well. Only took ten minutes before Romain Alessandrini skipped inside from the right and snuck a shot past the keeper on the angle. Probably shoulda been saved. Then in the 22nd minute Jonathan Dos Santos made it 2-0. Really weird goal, he flicked on a header from the edge of the box and again Brad Shuttleworth was caught out in goal as the ball went in off the crossbar. He tried to sell it by gathering it up and continuing play but VAR confirmed it had crossed the line.
For the rest of the half it was Minny that really went for it but somehow every shot seemed to fly straight into the lap of the LAG goalie. Three or four really good opportunities. The second half wasn’t nearly as entertaining and the Galaxy eventually added a third in injury time on the counter attack. That bloke Alessandrini again. Mike Boxall won four tackles, giving away one foul, and made four defensive clearances. Nothing special.
Up Next: San Jose vs Minnesota, 9.00am (NZT)
Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
Last home game of the season and a win would clinch the conference for the Caps. David Ousted had started the previous game while Stefan was on international duty but the buggers got smoked 3-0 on the road to New York Red Bulls. So in came Marinovic for his fourth start of the season. Oh and you might notice a fella called Yordy Reyna also starting for VW, he’s a Peruvian international which meant a second instance this weekend of two intercontinental playoff rivals playing in the same game, after Marco Rojas’ travails.
Reyna was fantastic too. He scored the opening goal to have the Caps up 1-0 at the break, ghosting into the box and tapping in at the far post. If a few of his buds had been as onto it as Reyna was in setting them up then they should’ve been up by two or three by the time San Jose equalised. Marinovic had barely had a non-routine save to make but he was powerless to deny Valeri Qazaishvili after Chris Wondolowski had flicked him in behind the defensive line.
This was Marinovic’s first home start for the Whitecaps and he gave them something to remember him by with a stunning diving save to tip the ball past the post. Otherwise it was Vancouver looking more likely for the winner, Reyna drew a good save and Brek Shea couldn’t get his header on target with five left.
Oh well, just gotta do it against Portland now… the Timbers continue to leave Jake Gleeson on the bench so there probably won’t be a Flying Kiwis Derby there, however both teams need that win for playoff seedings. We’ll wait and see if Marinovic maintains that starting spot because momentum is starting to trend towards him.
Now there’s a party you wish you got invited to. The Vancouver All White-caps, all in one place… with a few friends. Dunno about Stefan’s slippers though.
Up Next: Portland vs Vancouver, 9.00am Monday (NZT)
Themi Tzimopoulos – PAS Giannina (Greek Super League)
Hey-oh! Big Themi also got a yellow in the game, which ended 3-1 to PAS. He’s played all seven games for them this season and this was his first goal. Lovely.
Up Next: Away to Levadiakos, 2.00am Sunday (NZT)
The United Soccer League Comrades
That’s it for the USL season, folks. The regular season at least… but for the Timbers and Whitecaps reserve teams those two things are one and the same because they’re both a bit crap and they both propped up the Western Conference in 2017. The Timbers polished things off first by taking on San Antonio FC and Phoenix Rising.
Against San Antonio they were down 1-0 within 15 minutes as Ever Guzman headed one in from a lovely Billy Forbes cross which split the PT2 defence, Tui left leaping valiantly but hopelessly at the near post. He did a lot better in the 38th minute when he scored his third goal of the season. Another header from a corner – take note Uncle Tony! Plus in the third minute he’d already flexed his growing ability from free kicks, curling one just over the bar. He’s come close with a few in recent weeks. But, to save you the suspense, Ryan Roushandel scored in the second half to give San Antonio the victory, 2-1.
PT2 coach Andrew Gregor: “I thought we started the match well until we made a mistake on a counter from a cross. We didn’t manage it well enough and they punished us. We did a good job of getting into it. Renzo [Zambrano] whipped in a good cross and Bill [Tuiloma] got up to score the goal and had us back in the game. In the second half, I thought we started slow. We gave the ball away in a dangerous area and they punished us for it.”
As for the Phoenix Rising match, it wasn’t much of one. Phoenix were 2-0 up within quarter of an hour, centre-back and captain Bill Tuiloma had to be fuming at his goalkeeper for missing the first one while he was also the only player back for the second goal (maybe mark the open dude if nobody else is, bro). Granted he was playing against Didier Drogba, the Chelsea legend, who set up the second goal and then scored a third after HT to really rub it in. Tui was one of a few players who got waxed by Didier for his goal, though he’s at least in good company there in world football.
Augustine Williams pulled one back before Matthew Watson made it 4-1 and that was that.
Oh buddy and then the All Whitecaps 2… this was one hell of a game. They played Orange County SC with Francis De Vries at centre back and Myer Bevan up front, though Deklan Wynne’s injury didn’t allow him to take part in the season closer. Fifteen minutes into things and we got exactly what we wanted to see: a Myer Bevan goal. Some nice passing around the place and Brett Levis’ cross from deep, Levis playing in place of Wynne, was inch perfect for Bevan to powerfully nod it down for the goal. He almost added another ten minutes later too as he pounced on a spilled save from the oppo keeper… who was able to recover just in time.
Close to half time, FDV gave the ball away cheaply while stepping up and Irvin Parra slammed it in for the equaliser, a shot that whipped and curved and probably should’ve been saved but David Norman put them back in front only two minutes later. Then, in the 63rd minute, Kadin Chung managed to slide in a third. Bevan had already gotten to the loose ball as another shot from distance was fumbled but it was slapped away from his feet. Chung got to it, had it blocked, then managed to score at the fourth VW2 attempt. Sweet as, 3-1 up and cruising to a last game win… yeah nah.
Zach Kobayashi made it 3-2 within a minute, burying his shot after James Baxendale had hit the crossbar. Then Irvin Parra scored a second straight from a free kick that went through the wall. De Vries might sorta kinda be responsible for that one too, unfortunately. Then with five minutes left a different defender made a different mistake and Kevin Jeon scored the winner for the OC. A 4-3 defeat, caps it all off.
USL: “Scoring his third goal of the season, Myer Bevan continued his burgeoning professional career as a striker. In just his second year as a professional, Bevan has now scored three goals for Vancouver, on top of making his debut for New Zealand last month with the country's FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff coming up next month against Peru. Bevan's finishing ability will keep him on the radar of his National Team Head Coach Anthony Hudson, as he will look to add to his first international goal, scoring his first in a World Cup Qualifier last month.”
Then we have James Musa, battling away with Sporting Kansas City while he awaits an opening for the starting team. Still time, Sporting Kansas City will be in the playoffs so as long as he’s doing his thing he’ll be an option. In the meantime the USL team he played his way into the MLS with, Swope Park, swept to a 2-1 win over Seattle’s ressies that ends their regular season and books them fourth place in the West and a clash with Phoenix Rising in the knockouts. Good for them, even if Musa was a non-playing reserve for the MLS team as it happened, but even better for them that they recognised this…
To finish things off there’s also Kip Colvey, who has also been sitting on the bench a few times for an MLS team but right now is with their affiliate and leading them into the playoffs. Reno’s draw against Sacramento Republic sets up a knockout clash for them with OKC Energy next week, a game that Colvey ought to be available for having played left back for them in this last one. Subbed off after 78 minutes as they chased the win but he was otherwise pretty good, hardly misplacing a pass and getting forward with a shot on target and a few sweet balls into the box as well.
Colvey was one of eight players to play for Reno on loan from San Jose in 2017, playing ten times for the USL team. His season passing success of 88.7% was the best of any player in the squad who played as many minutes as he did.
Here are some statties from the seven blokes to play USL this season hailing from Aotearoa. Chris James, by the way, is heading home to play for Eastern Suburbs in the NZ Premiership. He was the only one playing here without MLS affiliation (other than Musa, who was signed by SKC midway through the season).
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