Flying Kiwis – June 19
Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
In the hour of darkness, in the time of need, that is when true heroes emerge. And it doesn’t get much darker than losing nine games in a row which was where the Colorado Rapids were at a week ago. So chuck it forwards to their game against Elliot Collier’s Chicago Fire (Elliot back on the bench after recovering from injury) and such a hero did emerge…
Tommy! Back at it with those headed set-piece specials like he was playing for Ipswich still! Smithy barely even had to jump to thump in his first MLS goal with the noggin and put the Rapids, nursing a nine game losing streak, 2-0 up against Chicago within fifteen minutes. Dominique Badji had already put Anthony Hudson’s boys up seven minutes earlier, slotting home after Smithy had stepped up into midfield to win possession and then picked him out with a clever pass. Not even the Rapids could bugger this one up… right?
Ten minutes later it was 2-2. Deklan Wynne faced down Aleksandar Katai in the box but couldn’t prevent the low square cross coming over and then Danny Wilson went and lumped it into his own net. It then wasn’t long before Smith got beat by Katai to a long ball and the dude curled in a wicked finish over Tim Howard to level it.
At this point there were still 65 minutes remaining and it felt like a matter of time until the Rapids conceded again. They held on until the break and Tom Howard came up big with a couple saves. Colorado had their moments but no clear chances however with six minutes left a high boot from Johan Kappelhof was picked up by the VAR and old mate got a red one for that, giving Huddo’s lot the chance to push for a winner against ten men. Badji came close with his jiving run only for a great defensive block to deny him.
Meanwhile check out who played the last fifteen minutes…
Yeah mate, back in business. And Collier had himself a great opportunity to steal the points in injury time as he ran through onto a pass which, exposed as the last man, Tommy Smith was left to hunt him down. Collier cut back across onto his left foot but Smithy read him and leapt in for the block. Colorado finished stronger but the game itself finished 2-2.
Hey but that’s an end to the losing streak at least. We now transition into the still terrible but not quite as terrible ten games without a win territory instead. No Kip Colvey on the bench this time. But ninety more minutes for Wynne and Smith, with Smithy having a bit of a blinder. The goal was one thing but he did his job in all areas, best on the park for Colorado. Huddo will be chuffed.
Anthony Hudson: “In the end, when all said and done, I’m happy that we’ve stopped the bleeding. That was really important. The most important thing is, after a run like this, is we didn’t lose. So we’ve stopped the bleeding and at the end we probably did enough to get three points. We created good chances at the end. So, yeah, I’m disappointed not to get the three points but please we stopped that run.”
The accolades just keep coming…
But just be careful what you say in front of The Woodsman…
Up Next: Sunday at 1pm vs Michael Boxall and Minnesota United (NZT)
Katie Rood – Juventus (Italian Serie A)
It’ll be one and done for Katie Rood at Juventus after it’s been revealed that her initial contract won’t be picked up for another season. A massively successful campaign with Juventus as they won the league title (on penalties in a playoff!) in their first season of existence but for Katie there just wasn’t enough game time to go around, playing only 53 minutes in Serie A.
Her opportunities were a little more forthcoming in the cup competition, however as Juve prepare for a Champions League swing next season it’s not like they were going to get any weaker. They’ve already signed English international forward Eniola Aluko, for example. Hence a mutual decision was made to part ways, so it goes. It’s been fun. Better watch this space as to where Katie ends up next.
Up Next: A few chats with the agent, probably
Jake Gleeson & Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Portland’s World Cup break was split in half by their US Open Cup progression, with a round of 16 clash against LA Galaxy to get through on Saturday NZ Time. And they’ll have a quarterfinal to play soon enough too after winning this one 1-0. Sebastian Blanco with the only goal in the 30th minute.
Bill Tuiloma was back at centre-back alongside Larrys Mabiala and the pair of them had pretty solid games on their way to that clean sheet against an admittedly weakened Galaxy team. Mabiala especially, with Tui making a couple scratchy mistakes along the way if we’re being honest.
But a clean sheet well-earned after a difficult second half. The Timbers deserved their lead following the first 45 but were made to work for their place in the quarters. By the end of it they were pretty much sitting back and clinging on. Yet cling they did and the run continues. This is turning into a rather superb season for Portland. Jake Gleeson was an unused sub again, by the way.
Up Next: Monday away to Atlanta United at 8.30am (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Something odd happened in the States this week. Okay, probably gotta be more specific than that, fair enough.
But the North Carolina Courage lost. First defeat of the season in their eleventh game. Didn’t see that one coming, they went down 1-0 to Katie Bowen’s Utah Royals. Katie Bowen who returned to the starting line-up despite playing for New Zealand (in New Zealand) a week earlier. Having fallen out of favour in the midfield she was surprisingly picked at right back. Get in where you can fit in, obviously.
It was certainly a rough one for NCC who returned home after taking ten points from four away games and were the better team for most of this game. Crystal Dunn and Jessica McDonald in particular were in sharp form, just unable to find that goal that they needed. Both Dunn and sub Denise O’Sullivan hit the frame of the goal.
Then with thirty seconds left in the allotted four minutes of second half injury time, a long ball into the box from a Diana Matheson free kick fell to Brittany Ratcliffe after Erceg had gone up for the initial header, and Ratcliffe whipped it into the top corner from outside the box for an incredible late winner. 94th minute and they celebrated like they’d won the title. Crazy stuff.
Eh, with a couple more games played than Orlando the Courage are still 11 points clear at the top of the table. Ninety minutes and a clean sheet for Bowen though. This was easily the best result for the expansion Utah team so far.
Elsewhere in the NWSL it was too soon for either Rebekah Stott or Rosie White to play after returning from international duty. Stotty was an unused sub as her Sky Blue team lost 3-2 away to Orlando Pride while White was out of the matchday squad for Chicago Red Stars as they drew 1-1 at home to Portland Thorns.
Up Next: Seattle Reign vs NC Courage, Sunday at 8am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
MLS action’s been sporadic lately which meant no game for Boxy but he did manage to get down to the pub for some fan interaction.
Also of note was Boxy spitting some bars to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, along with teammate Rasmus Schuller (a Finland international), about missing out on qualification for the World Cup.
Mike Boxall: “It’s going to hurt a bit more when we see maybe Peru’s first game and say, ‘That could have been us’. If we score just one goal in that away game… but I hope I’ve got one more swing at it. It should still be an amazing event.”
Aaaand that’s about all there is from Michael Boxall. Similarly Stefan Marinovic, who is hopefully gonna return from injury soon, was also without a game to yarn about. Elliot Collier already got a mention under the Rapids banner, but yeah… slim pickings at this time of the season. All goods, gives you more time to catch up on those World Cup replays that you fell asleep during the live broadcasts of. You’re not alone.
Up Next: Today, actually, at 12.30pm away to Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Quite the journey. Not so far that Ali Riley couldn’t kit up for Rosengård as they played away at top of the table Piteå – their closest rivals in other words – but she wasn’t needed, spending the game on the bench as Sanne Troeslgaard-Nielsen’s second half strike was the difference in a 1-0 win. Closes the gap between them at the top to only two points. This was the first game Ali’s missed all season (remember also she was injured for the Ferns game).
Up Next: Old buddies Linköping drop by on Tuesday at 4.45am (NZT)
Hannah Wilkinson – Vittsjö GIK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Hannah Wilkinson was also on the bench for Vittsjö’s game against Hammarby and was subbed on at half-time to try and make the difference. But it didn’t happen. Vittsjö went down 1-0. Madeleine Tegström scored the only goal in the sixth minute.
Up Next: Away to Eskilstuna Utd at 4.30am on Friday (NZT)
Clayton Lewis – Scunthorpe United (English League One)
It’s been a rough time for Clayton Lewis as far as the football goes, playing sparingly for Scunthorpe and then barely getting a run on the latest All Whites tour. But then it’s all character building, as they say. The lad’s in a professional environment now and that comes with all sorts of hurdles which he’ll be better for in the long run. Scunthorpe did make the League One promotion semis but fell 4-2 on aggregate to Rotherham United and will remain in the third tier next season. Which is fine for Clayton, one step at a time. What’s not as ideal was the March sacking of Graham Alexander, the manager who signed him, although his playing time wasn’t much worse under the caretaker boss Nick Daws (who has since been given the job permanently). Alexander, funnily enough, is now the new gaffer at Max Crocombe’s Salford City.
That’s the housekeeping done, now enjoy a chat with Clayton excerpted from one of the club’s match programmes during last season.
Speaking of Kiwi Irons…
Up Next: Hollydaze
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