Flying Kiwis – August 28
Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)
That’s right, go on and get some.
Chris Wood always scores in the Europa League, it’s one of the things that he does. After putting one away against Olympiacos on Thursday night in Greece, he now has a second goal in three starts (plus one appearance off the bench). He also set up a goal in Aberdeen. Pop on back to his time at Birmingham and he scored twice in 2011-12 for them in two starts and four subs appearances. Old mate knows where the goal is, even in Greece or Belgium.
On this occasion it was a gently struck penalty that beat a slow dive from the oppo keeper. Wood stepping up to take the spottie he had already earned, chucking a shoulder between himself and the defender and both fellas took a tumble after the collision. Perhaps a little soft from the ref, if we’re honest. Also soft from the ref was letting half the players on the part charge into the box before he’d struck it but then they never call those.
Funny story, Burnley didn’t get a single penalty in the Premier League last season, the only team not to do so, but this was already their second in the Europa League this campaign.
The Clarets had started this one real direct and were looking much better than against Watford with Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood playing off of each other. But Olympiacos still had the more incisive attacking edge and once they settled in front of their home crowd they took the early lead. 19th minute and Kostas Fortounis swerved a free kick past the returning Tom Heaton. Woody’s leveller came fifteen minute later and with Burnley’s extra physicality they were always in with a chance, though the offside flag was getting in the way.
At 1-1 going into the break, Sean Dyche’s team should’ve been feeling good but the second 45 were a shocker. They conceded early on from a header off a free kick, Andreas Bouchalakis with the goal, too many fouls on the edge of the area getting BFC in trouble for both goals. Then ten minutes after that things really took a turn as Ben Gibson was dismissed for a handball in the box and Olympiacos went 3-1 up from the spot, Fortounis with his second. Definitely a penalty but the second yellow was super harsh.
Chris Wood was subbed off for defender James Tarkowski straight away but Burnley couldn’t create anything to get back into it without him. They had just three shots in total and every one of them were from Chris Wood (the other two headers sliced off target). A 3-1 defeat puts their chances of making the group stage in big danger but that away goal keeps it alive.
The Woodsman: “We're not too disappointed because I thought we played well and the away goal is a big positive. We've just got to build on that. It's always nice to score but it would have been better if the result had been closer or if we'd have drawn. It was a bit of a weird one. I don't think it was handball [for their third goal] because Ben's arms were down by his side but it is what it is, he gave it and now we need to move on and we'll go again.”
It’s going to be a very big week then, with that second leg on Friday and then a few days later they’ve got Manchester United and that game’s pretty crucial too after the Clarets went down 4-2 to Fulham on Monday morning. A stunner from Jean Michaël Seri had them down early but Jeff Hendrick levelled up in the tenth minute. Chris Wood started but struggled to get involved, not even getting a shot off. It’s been a theme this season that he doesn’t link up especially well with Hendrick yet, though he did help the ball on towards him for the goal.
His counterpart Aleksandar Mitrovic didn’t have the same issues. A three-minute brace late in the first half blew this one open before James Tarkowski beat the offside trap to make it 3-2 at HT. Burnley aren’t so great at creating chances right now and technically they never really have been. So with their defensive fortress suddenly vulnerable (Nick Pope’s injury hasn’t helped things), that’s how they’ve ended up where they are at the moment, with one point from three games so far this Premier League season. Burnley couldn’t find a way back into this and the more they tried, the more open they left themselves at the back. Woody was subbed off as part of double sub in the middle of the second half and André Schürrle put away a fourth to secure the points for the promoted team.
There’s not even much to say about Chris Wood here. You barely knew he was playing… which usually means he’ll be in the goals next week.
Up Next: A couple home games, Olympiacos on Friday at 6.45am and Manchester United on Monday at 3am (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Yeah so things haven’t quite gone as planned for Thommo after his big move. A reportedly minor injury kept him out of the first couple games, including a trip to Belarus where they beat BATE Borisov 3-2 in the first leg of their final Champions League qualifier – Thomas didn’t even travel for that one - and it turns out that minor injury was actually quite a serious knee issue. Passed his medical all good then got munted at training, guts. But at least he didn’t injure it before the transfer.
Ryan Thomas: “During the medical you have to undergo for a transfer, I was completely screened, everything looked good. When I blocked a ball in training, I suffered this injury. At first, it did not seem serious, but to be safe we had a scan done. And it did not look good. It’s not fun, but this also belongs to the life of a top athlete. In the coming days we will look at the best plan and then I will get to work.”
Mark van Bommel: “It is incredibly sad for Ryan. In a situation where you normally just continue playing, things went wrong.”
Thommo won’t be back for several months now, he may potentially not even play all season. Quite devastating that but Ryan Thomas is nothing if not resilient. And the first game after his injury news was announced, which would have shaped as a perfect debut, was away against his old team PEC Zwolle. PSV went on to win the game 2-1 thanks to a double from Luuk de Jong but the real heartwarmer for the Flying Kiwis was seeing his both teams emerge in jerseys bearing the words: Get Well Soon, Ryan!
The lad himself was in the stands (sitting with Trent Sainsbury, another injured recent signing, and their partners) and if that wasn’t nice enough of that lot, half an hour into the game the entire stadium, fans of both sides, rose in applause for Ryan Thomas. Both in solidarity for his injury and also as a thanks from PEC fans for all he did at their club. Thomas wears the #30 jersey, of course – both at PEC and PSV. Pretty beautiful to see the impact he’s had. Te Puke Power indeed.
Up Next: Not much for a while…
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The best teams tend to find a way and the Courage, down 1-0 deep into stoppage time of a game away to Seattle in which they’d pretty thoroughly dominated from start to finish, did exactly that.
NCC could’ve been two or three up by half-time but the in-form Lydia Williams had yet another blinder in goal for Seattle. Meanwhile three quarters of the way through this thing, the Courage’s own keeper Katelyn Rowland came out for a looping header and had a bit of a nightmare and the league leaders were behind. But the Courage didn’t give up. Abby Erceg beat three defenders to win a header from a corner at the far post in the 88th minute but her attempt was cleared off the line.
Early in stoppage time Abby Dahlkemper was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty for handball as her trailing arm blocked a cross. A penalty there and Seattle surely would have won it. But the ref let it slide and in the fifth minute of six stoppage time minutes, they again had a dangerous corner, again Abby Erceg got up for it… though this time could only glance it, coming down awkwardly on her foot too – perhaps getting it trod on in the process. The ball was chipped back in and Sam Mewis’ header was tipped over for another corner. Once again Erceg won the attacking header – seriously, just time after time – and this one led to a full on goal-mouth scramble. One header blocked, another saved, a stab from the far post deflected and then finally Lynn Williams turned it in off the inside of the post. Incredible.
A 1-1 draw doesn’t quite break all those records they’re gunning for, that’ll come down to their final game next week against Houston. But it does guarantee an unbeaten league season in away games and it ties the record for most points in a season (to go with the record for wins in a season which they tied last week).
Hey and how’s this for a little kiwi DIY…
Up Next: NC Courage vs Houston Dash, Sunday at 11.30am (NZT)
Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
The Caps dug themselves into a bit of a hole against the San Jose Earthquakes, down 2-0 inside twenty minutes with Marinovic beaten twice in the exact same spot of the goal, diving low to his right. One was from a volley on the edge of the area by a suspiciously unmarked Jahmir Hyka and the other Magnus Eriksson from the penalty spot. Yet when Stef launched the ball long from a free kick after six minutes of stoppage time and the final whistle blew, it was for a 3-2 Whitecaps victory.
It started with a goalkeeping error to get them back in the game and nine minutes later they’d scored three. The Caps held on for a memorable victory and those playoff dreams look a lot better now than they might have. All in all a much quieter game than we’re used to from Stef, he only made the one save here, but you get the feeling he’ll take that.
Eighty-Six Forever Player Grades: “Stefan Marinovic: 6.5 The New Zealander had very little to do for most of the match, only having to make one save, while also registering one punch and two clearances. If not for the triple screen on Hyka’s opening goal, Marinovic may have had a better chance of getting across to it, but really can’t be blamed for either of the goals - especially with the good jump he got on the penalty kick, almost getting a finger on it.”
And here’s to the four-legged friends out there.
Up Next: Vancouver vs San Jose (again), Sunday at 2pm (NZT)
Tyler Boyd – Vitória de Guimarães (Portuguese Primeira Liga)
A famous victory was had by VSC this week. Came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 away against Porto, despite having only a third of possession and scoring with their only three shots on target (Porto, on the other hand, had ten of them). Only drama here is that Boyd, having started on the right wing, was subbed off a little before the hour mark and missed the whole comeback.
Porto had started the better team and finally got their reward after 36 mins with a remarkable goal from Yacine Brahimi. There was a question of offside about their second goal, scored by Andre Pereira, but that was the state of it at the half. The game changed early in the second when Brahimi was replaced and suddenly, without their best attacking threat, Porto got sloppy. A silly challenge on Ola John earned a penalty (OJ being the dude who replaced Boyd – he had a near-immediate impact) which André buried. Tozé then made it 2-2 with quarter of an hour left when he picked up the ball in the exact area Boyd usually lurks in.
And the comeback was completed by Davidson with three minutes to play. Dropped into a pocket of space in the box, Welthon was able to knock it back to him, and bang. Porto brought the heat for the rest of it, so nearly getting back into it, but VSC keeper Douglas made a late run at man of the match with three superb saves in injury time. Vitória get their first win of the season while Porto suffer their first defeat.
Up Next: Home to Tondela (Boyd’s old loan club) on Saturday at 8.15am (NZT)
Katie Rood – Bristol City (English Super League)
First home game of the season, WSL Cup against Sheffield United, bit of a drenched day but whatever. Sounds like a fine time for a club debut. Katie Rood missed the first game with a minor injury but was back to take her place wearing the #11 for this one.
Bristol City went down 1-0 in the 11th minute, Jade Pennock rocking one in off the bar. But Bristol City responded well, Roodie drawing a good save out of the keeper before Lucy Graham curled one in. Katie again went close to scoring late in the half with the keeper getting a hand to that too, then she looped a header off the crossbar. Early in the second she dropped another header off the post… though this time Loren Dykes reacted quickly to smash in the second goal for the home side. Eventually Jess Woolley killed it off with a third and City won it 3-1.
All that was missing was a goal for Katie Rood and she was pretty fiercely unlucky not to get one – though if this is any indication of the season to come then there’ll be plenty on the way.
Up Next: International break first, then home to Man City at 2am on Sep 17 (NZT)
Jeremy Brockie – Mamelodi Sundowns (South African Premier Soccer League)
Nope, no end to the goal drought this week. Brockie didn’t actually play in the MTN8 quarter-final first leg away to Cape Town City, which the Sundowns lost 1-0 thanks to a Taariq Fielies goal in the 76th minute, but he did get a good run in a frustrating 0-0 league draw at home to Highlands Park.
His first touch let him down in the first minute of that one after being picked out by Jose Ali Meza, then a defensive header kept him from converting Gaston Sirino’s cross. Quick start but a deceiving start. The Sundowns never really got going and their chances of that became even slimmer in the 50th minute when Ricardo Nascimento had a yap at a ref and upgraded his impending yellow card to a red one. Brockie was replaced by Motjeka Madisha soon after. There was some controversy late on with a header from Wayne Arendse cleared off the line with the home fans chanting that it had crossed but a scoreless draw was the result of it.
SportsClub.za: “Jeremy Brockie’s goal drought continues - The New Zealand striker is yet to replicate his serial goalscoring form from his SuperSport United days. Coming into the encounter, the 30-year-old striker made 17 appearances for the club without finding the back of the net in all domestic competitions since October 2017. Brockie is struggling to find the form which was him contrastingly plundered 54 goals during his three-year spell at SuperSport.”
It’s not like he isn’t getting in good positions though. Plus he’s been starting most games this new season. There’s every chance that he scores a hatty next week and if he does then the floodgates should open, but as it is he just has to deal with the pressure… because even other clubs are having a laugh at the mo’. Little harsh, to be honest.
Hey and everyone’s gotta have some extra interests…
Up Next: Sundowns vs Hoyora, CAF Champions League, Wednesday at 4am (NZT)
Aimee Phillips – USV Jena (German Bundesliga 2)
Another stamp on the passport for Aimee Phillips. Having failed to qualify for the Champions League proper with Cardiff Met, Phillips’ contract ran down and she’s made the move to Germany and USV Jena – where she’ll follow in the footsteps of Abby Erceg, Ria Percival, most famously Amber Hearn and most recently CJ Bott in representing Aotearoa at USV Jena. Of course, they did get relegated last season so we’re talking Bundesliga 2 but all goods. Looking forward to plenty of goals.
Torsten Rödiger (USV Jena Board Member): “We are glad that Aimee decided to transfer to Jena. We are confident she can help us with her offensive qualities this season.”
So it’ll be Aimee Phillips and Jana Radosavljević in the Frauen-Bundesliga 2, Rado playing for Cloppenburg and getting ninety minutes in their season opener, a 3-1 defeat against Saarbrücken, before playing 79 minutes in a 3-0 win over Gütersloh (battling through with a facemask on after copping a whack in the noggin). Jana also scored ten times in 22 games for them in the same competition last season. As for Jena, they could really use the goals from Aimee, they’ve lost their opening two games 5-0 and 4-0.
Up Next: Tricky DFB Pokal tie against Bayern Munich on Saturday (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Not a good one from Boxy this week. He’s had a fantastic season in the MLS but this particular game, vs Sporting Kansas City, was kinda stink. They took it scoreless into the break did Minnesota but were overcome in the second to lose 2-0 in a rather tame performance.
To be fair, Boxall nearly set up a goal in first half stoppage time. His leaping header could have been turned in by Mason Toye only for the rookie’s shot to be saved and a follow up from one of the other buggers cleared away. Straight after the 2H kickoff they were 1-0 down. Boxall was slow to react to a burst of pace from Yohan Croizet then Francisco Calvo came running over but didn’t get a challenge in and Bobby Shutleworth was beaten at his near post. Nice goal but preventable. Toye missed a golden chance to level and then Diego Rubio doubled the lead instead and that was the way it went.
What’s more is that Boxall picked up a yellow card early in the second half which means he’ll miss the next game through accumulation. Won’t get to drop an elbow into Wayne Rooney’s ribs is what that means. Also doesn’t help that Minnesota doesn’t have another game for more than two weeks.
Zone Coverage Player Ratings: “CB Michael Boxall, 3 — Was the man turned inside out for Sporting KC’s opening goal. He too picked up a caution, which will see him suspended due to yellow card accumulation for the team’s next match.”
Up Next: Wazza and DC United at 11.30am on September 13 (NZT)
James McGarry & Michael Woud – Willem II (Dutch Eredivisie)
So here’s one for you then. Mike Woud, fresh from making his All Whites debut in the friendly tournament in India a few months ago, was called up for an extended Dutch U20 squad. You’re allowed to change your national allegiance under FIFA once and Woud, who has represented NZ at U17 and U20 World Cups, is eligible for Holland thanks to his Dutch passport, which is in turn thanks to his Dutch father. There is paperwork that has to be filed before he is allowed to play but if he switches he can’t switch back.
Don’t panic – Woudy chose not to accept the call-up. It was only an extended squad that he was unexpectedly picked in anyway and there’s no guarantee he’d have made the team. Woudy’s yet to play for Willem II in a competitive fixture but they still refused to release him for the U19 Oceanian champs, which the kiwis qualified from. Netherlands, by the way, missed out on qualifying for the 2019 U20 World Cup. One more reason to stick with the All Whites (granted, a short-sighted one). At this point if doesn’t even matter. Dude’s committed to Aotearoa.
His agent initially told kiwi media that Michael was undecided on the switch but would inform NZF when he did come to a conclusion, which a few days later he did. Meanwhile on the Dutch side of things they suggested that the club shielded him from making a firm decision one way or the other at this preliminary stage so as not to offend anyone. We shall wait and we shall see.
Unnamed MW Spokesperson: “A reaction could damage his relationship with the New Zealand Football Association or the KNVB. He must first be aware of exactly what consequences his choices entail.”
All sorted. Woud remains injured so no part played by him in Willem’s latest fixture. No part for James McGarry either who dropped back to the bench after a couple of starting spots and this was not the game to miss either, Willem II absolutely pumping Heracles 5-0. Fran Sol got a hatty and Donis Avijaj, the guy who replaced McGarry in the starting XI, got the other two. Rightio then.
Up Next: PSV vs Willem II, Sunday at 5.45am (NZT)
Hannah Wilkinson & CJ Bott – Vittsjö GIK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
The remarkable run of form had to come to an end eventually and after six games without defeat, including seven points from the three games CJ Bott had played in since transferring from Germany, Vittsjö finally tasted defeat again as they went down 2-1 to Växjö. They had taken the lead through Clara Markstedt just before the break but then Nellie Carlsson equalised soon into the second and Anna Anvegard snatched the points in the 88th. Gutting way to lose it but to be fair Vittsjö had done the same thing last week and even later. Still sitting safe outside the relegation zone for now. Wilko played 68 minutes and Bott got the full ninety.
Up Next: Home to Kristianstad on September 10 at 1am (NZT)
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Rosie White’s Chicago look likely for the final playoff spot but Katie Bowen’s Utah are keeping it alive, sitting two points back with Chicago to play in their final game. Chicago has a game in hand but if they lose or draw that then the hopes remain. By the way, whoever advances is gonna have to play Abby Erceg’s North Carolina Courage in their semi-final.
The reason Utah cling in there is a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit. Washington had just two total shots all game and neither on target while Utah had chance after chance after chance… but after Amy Rodriguez gave them the lead with her follow-up shot in the 12th minute they struggled to put the game to bed. Even Katie Bowen had a dig getting forward from right back with five minutes left, dashing in behind the defence but seeing her shot charged down by the advancing keeper. But 1-0 proved to be enough in the end.
As for Rebekah Stott and her Sky Blue lot, that elusive first win of the season remains about as rare as a five-legged dog. A 2-1 defeat against Portland wasn’t ideal but at least they put up a fight. Losing 6-1 to Houston a few days later was not so flash. Obviously missing the influence of Stotty, who missed ‘em both with a lower back strain. It’s been an injury plagued season, unfortunately.
Up Next: Utah vs Chicago, Sunday 9 September at 7.30am (NZT)
Tommy Smith & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
You know what’s a bad way to start a game? Letting a fella dribble through your midfield, play a ball in behind your fullback, have another bloke cut that ball back then then have Damir Kreilach poke it in for 1-0 in the sixth minute while your defence stands off is a pretty bad way, no doubt about it. What’s even worse is when one of your forwards goes and gets himself sent off soon after. All within ten minutes of the kick off, bloody hell.
To make it even worse than worse is that Niki Jackson was making his first MLS start and it was also his birthday. And he got a ninth minute red card. Insanely soft - he might have headbutted a dude in a kerfuffle before a set piece, but it was as soft as a headbutt can possibly be. Wouldn’t have woken a sleeping baby. But you still don’t lean in on players like that or you’re only ever going to get in trouble for it.
No, no, no but it gets worse. Opponents Real Salt Lake pounced on some more messy football at the back from Colorado to make it 2-0 thanks to Jefferson Savarino in the 33rd minute. Hudson immediately went to his bench but then Boateng was given a straight red on VAR referral for a late lunge after the ball had gone right before half-time. The highlight reel of this one should just be recurring looks of disappointment on Tommy Smith’s face after his teammates do stupid things. The second goal and this red both came with classics.
Skip straight to the end now because it didn’t get any better. The Rapids lost 6-0. Deklan Wynne did get subbed on again for the last twenty minutes, which is some consolation, but this was a disaster. There were Hudson Out chants that got pretty loud by the end of it and apparently Tommy Smith confronted a few of those fans and used a naughty word or two. All is not well in Rapidsville.
Up Next: Portland vs Colorado, Sunday at 2.30pm (NZT)
Ali Riley – Chelsea FC (English Super League)
Ali’s not quite back on the park, however. Her own club debut will have to wait until after the upcoming international break after Chelsea comfortably breezed past London Bees with a 6-1 WSL Cup win this weekend. In fact her first game for her new club could well be the Champions League R32 first leg away to Sarajevo.
Up Next: That one, Sarajevo vs Chelsea on Sept 13, 2am (NZT)
Ria Percival – West Ham United (English Super League)
One more from the Conti Cup, Ria Percival got the last 25 minutes of West Ham’s straightforward 4-1 win over Lewes. Jane Ross got a double, Leanne Kiernan and Julia Simic added one more each and they did it fairly easy. Nice way to bounce back from their initial defeat against Arsenal with the international break coming up now and nice to see Ria getting a few more minutes for her new team this time.
Up Next: Home to Millwall on Sept 17 at 2am (NZT)
Rosie White – Chicago Red Stars (American National Women’s Soccer League)
What the Red Stars need now is maximum points from their last few games to book a spot in the top four and a semi-final. Three draws in a row kept them in it but they really needed to beat Orlando Pride.
A good way to get that done is to get the ball to Sam Kerr as much as possible. Which they did. And Aussie Sam responded with a quickfire couple goals late in the first half, scoring the first and assisting the second for Vanessa DiBernardo. Kerr then got her 14th goal of the season later on and Alex Morgan’s goal was just a consolation. 3-1 win for Chicago and a massive result that gives them control over that fourth spot. Speaking of fourths, there were four minutes of injury time in this one, during which we finally saw Rosie White introduced for a hobbling Di Bernardo.
Up Next: Wednesday at 11.30am against Sky Blue, then it’s season over away to Utah Royals on Sunday at 7.30am (NZT)
Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)
Good on ya, Nikko.
Been an excellent start to the season for Viborg, who have lost only once and that was to first-placed HB Køge and even then only a 1-0 defeat. They’re otherwise unbeaten and Nikko’s playing every game and they’re looking good to make a run at promotion this campaign. Didn’t win this one, however. Boxall’s goal made it 2-0 inside quarter of an hour against Fredericia but went on to concede a couple and draw 2-2.
Up Next: Away to Lyngby on Saturday at 11.30pm (NZT)
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
Well, they were supposed to begin the season this weekend… but opponents Metz had a number of players competing at the U20 World Cup (remember when New Zealand drew 0-0 with them?) and requested the fixture be postponed, which the French federation agreed with. Next week it is, then.
Up Next: FCGB vs Montpellier, 12.30am on Sunday (NZT)
The USL Crew
Cory Brown (Fresno FC) – Subbed on for the last twenty minutes after another centre back had been sent off as Fresno conceded in the 86th minute but scored in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw away to Las Vegas Lights.
Kyle Adams (RGV Toros) – A solid ninety minutes in the heart of the defence, his 17th start of the year but his first for four weeks, as the Toros kept a clean sheet on their way to their first away win of the campaign against Orange County FC.
Elliot Collier (Indy Eleven) – Subbed on for the last ten minutes or so of a 3-2 win over Toronto FC 2 before leaving his loan to hang out with the Chicago Fire again. He’s with the travelling squad that’s gone to Germany for a Bastian Schweinsteiger tribute game this week, sweet as.
James Musa (Phoenix Rising) – Still playing like an absolute champion after his team withstood a red card to beat San Antonio 4-0 and then kept that up with another 4-0 win, this time against Colorado Springs. The Moose is right up there with the best defensive midfielders in that competition.