Flying Kiwis – August 7
Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)
The European dream lives on after Burnley managed to squeeze past Aberdeen in the second leg of their Europa League qualifier. It was tied 1-1 after the first leg up in Scotland but jeez it didn’t take long before Christopher Grant Wood went boom and the Clarets were up early in this one.
Nice finish there and hopefully the first of many this season. Woody was engaged in a right old battle with the Aberdeen defence, looking to hold the ball up and really throw his weight around. It was enjoyable stuff. Burnley had a lot of the ball and they were whipping in crosses but Aberdeen didn’t get here by accident either and they were up to the task. Although Woody was unlucky not to sneak through near the end of the half when he appeared to be held back by Scott McKenna and was unlucky to see the call go against him.
Not so unlucky was his part played in the Aberdeen equaliser though. Rewind to the 27th minute and Woody’s back on defence for a set piece. He wins the header comfortably but directs it back across goal into danger where teenaged midfielder Lewis Ferguson (nephew of Duncan!) scored a remarkable overhead kick to level us up. Safe to say Sean Dyche was not happy at his big striker for the contribution there.
But then that was it for The Woodsman. He was replaced at half-time by Ashley Barnes with a hip injury, an abductor problem to be specific, and with the Premier League a week away he wasn’t risked any further. 45 minutes played and a goal.
Burnley continued to control the game but at 1-1 they were in a precarious position. Concede and they’d need to score twice. Anders Lindegaard made a couple nice saves as the third choice keeper had been thrust into this one with injuries to Nick Pope and Tom Heaton although it was the Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis who was the best on the park, making several great stops and only upping his game as things progressed into extra time, superbly denying both Barnes and Sam Vokes.
But the pressure eventually tolled and Turf Moor was absolutely rocking when Jack Cork, who played every minute in the PL last season to get them here, rose up to nod in the goal that put them ahead late in the first period of ET. Then a penalty for a handball was converted by Barnes with six minutes left and it was all over. Burnley win 3-1 and advance to the second to last qualifying round before the group stages. Where they’ll face İstanbul Başakşehir over in Turkey.
Up Next: İstanbul Başakşehir vs Burnley, Friday at 6am, then it’s Southampton on Monday morning at 12.30am as the league season begins (NZT)
Ria Percival – West Ham United (English Super League)
One more in an increasingly long list of exciting recent transfers. Ria Percival’s been doing impressive things with FC Basel for the last couple years but she’s trading that now for a shot with West Ham in the WSL. The Hammers successfully bid for the last licence when the league was revamped again recently in order to align all the divisions… which is great for them but it also meant that a team which came seventh in what’s now the third tier last season needed some serious reinforcements.
Which is where Ria Percival comes along. Percy was actually born in Essex so this is a bit of a homecoming of sorts. The century-capped kiwi should get to be a key player for this team, probably at right back rather than the midfield position we’ve seen her in for the national team recently. She’s now the fourth NZer confirmed for the English top flight this upcoming season, with Ali Riley at Chelsea, Olivia Chance at Everton and Katie Rood at Bristol City. Anna Green was at Reading last season too but haven’t seen confirmation that she’s re-signed yet. Fingers crossed.
RP: “I think I’m an attacking player who likes to get forward,” she added. “Obviously, I see myself as a good defender as well, but I like to create chances and give ourselves as many chances as we can in every game. I like to try and be a leader on the pitch and to really help the younger players. I think that’s one of my responsibilities as well, to help the younger players, and leading by example. I’m really looking forward to getting going and showing the fans what I can do.”
So Winston Reid may be about to miss the first two months of the season but there’ll still be a New Zealander kitting up for the Hammers on the regular. And not the first either, with Rosie Missen a common face for the West Ham Women up until not that long ago.
Up Next: West Ham vs Reading, 5.45am on Thursday 20 September (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
The Dutch season begins in a week but, mate, we’ve got updates. Thomas continues to feature in preseason games, starting in the midfield three of what’s obviously their best XI at this stage. But that doesn’t make him any guarantee to stay, in fact the manager John van’t Schip has admitted that there could yet be one or two more departures from his squad, with Younes Namli and Kingsley Ehizibue also rumoured away.
It’s tricky for Zwolle because they had sorta promised to sell the bloke but Thommo hasn’t made that easy for himself by limiting his options to a club that’s a noticeable step up but also where he’d play regularly. And Zwolle have lost a good chunk of last season’s squad already so any continuity would be huge. There’s no bad blood at all here. If Ryan Thomas has to stay until January then he’d probably be fine with that, supposing nothing better eventuated. His contract expires in 12 months and the Dutch transfer window runs until early September.
Up Next: Zwolle vs Heerenveen, Saturday at 6am (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Continuing to lead by absolute example is Abby Erceg, the Queen of all the Flying Kiwis, and that’s been recognised by the NWSL media with selection in the July Team of the Month. What’s more is that this is the third straight month in which Erceg has been selected. May, June and July. Ever-present this season and the captain of the runaway best team in the league. Here’s the official word…
“With her July recognition, North Carolina center back and captain Abby Erceg makes her third straight appearance in the Team of the Month. Erceg remains the only Courage player to have played every minute of the season after logging another 360 minutes in North Carolina’s four games in July. Erceg maintained an 82.33% passing accuracy in that time, the highest pass completion percentage of any player in this lineup. Erceg additionally won 24 total duels, made 23 clearances in the month, and recorded 243 touches on the month.”
And then as if that wasn’t enough, Erceg then helped her side beat Portland 2-1 to guarantee their second straight NWSL Shield. Nobody can catch them at the top of the table now. Lynn Williams scored both goals as she tends to do and this team is just too good right now. Abby Erceg’s captaining the best team in America and you really can’t understate that. Too bloody good.
Up Next: Away to Chicago Red Stars (and Rosie White) on Saturday at 12pm (NZT)
Stefan Marinovic & Myer Bevan – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
There was no rest for Big Stef despite a busy set of fixtures on the horizon with Vancouver about to juggle an away trip to in-form Portland with a double legged Canadian Championship final against Toronto FC. No rest at all, with Marinovic lining up in goal as the Caps travelled to New York City to face NYCFC in a real battler.
Just 27% of possession with 14 fewer shots than their opponents (though one more on target, oddly) and more than 300 fewer passes but, despite a few of their outfielders getting the rest that Marinovic didn’t need, they still came outta there with a 2-2 draw. An excellent solo goal from Nicolas Mezquida had given them the lead against the run of play in the first half however they conceded on each side of the half-time break to be trailing 2-1 late in this contest.
Marinovic had looked sharp with one earlier save but he missed the first goal through his legs (with a crowded view, to be fair). The second was then more a case of sloppy defending, Mari committed to closing the dude down at his near post only for a ball back across goal to set up the goal. But then Valentin Castellanos got free at the far post to volley in with his side-foot and salvage an unlikely draw for the Cappies right near the end.
The Province: “The fact Stefan Marinovic ranked second in Vancouver’s total passes with 30, behind only Felipe’s 32, showed just how much trouble they had moving the ball, as the Caps finished the game with 63 per cent passing accuracy.”
As for old mate Myer Bevan, it’s been disappointing not to see him sneak onto the bench other than once in a Canadian Cup game since he returned to the Whitecaps but he did travel with the team to NYC even if he didn’t make the matchday squad. And we know that because of this…
Right on.
Up Next: Vancouver vs Toronto, Canadian Championship, Thursday at 2pm (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Few things are more gutting than a last minute defeat and that’s what the Loons had to deal with this week against Seattle. They took the lead in the 19th minute thanks to Darwin Quintero doing what Darwin Quintero does, a few shimmies and bang, goal. Minnesota then held that lead for the next seventy minutes but this was the opposite of a team in control. Although Ángelo Rodríguez and then Quintero both hit the post late in the first half, Seattle were the team making most of the play.
But Minny sat deeper and deeper in the second half, inviting more pressure and eventually they paid the price. Seattle had been swinging crosses in all day and one of those managed to catch Ibarra’s arm. Minny counter attacked as the ref allowed play on and it took an incredible save and a botched three on one attack to stop Minnesota killing it off… only for VAR to bring it back anyway and award the penalty. Nic Lodeiro equalised from the spot, then in the seventh minute of injury time Mike Boxall didn’t challenge a long ball and Will Bruin snuck in behind the rest of the defence, all standing there watching, Bruin chipped the keeper on the volley and Minnesota’s playoff hopes took a near fatal hit.
Zone Coverage Player Ratings: “CB Michael Boxall, 5 — Minimally involved in the match but usually played his cards right.”
Up Next: Away to LA Galaxy on Sunday at 2.30pm (NZT)
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
It’s weird watching Katie Bowen play as an attacking right back these days but she’s still dancing so it’s all good.
Bit of a crazy story to this game too as Christen Press made her debut for Utah having been traded to Houston at the start of the season but deciding she’d rather play in Sweden. Now she’s back in the US of A and her first game is against the team she refused to play for. Wild. Safe to say she was thoroughly booed.
But guess who got the last laugh? In a battle between two teams who desperately needed the points to keep their semi-finals chances alive, Utah came from a goal down to win this thing 2-1. Bowen nearly smashed one into the top corner half an hour in but her effort curled into the side-netting and Veronica Latsko headed Houston in front right at the end of the half. Utah were practically clinging on with twenty minutes left until an absolute mess-up at the back let Press in and she was way too good to waste that one. Then Katie Stengel pulled out some finesse to finish off a glorious flipped ball over the top from Erika Tymrak and how about it? Royals win 2-1.
Meanwhile there was a cracker of a game over in Orlando as the Pride drew 2-2 with Sky Blue, almost winning it at the end when Carli Lloyd was sent off in the sixth minute of injury time for a handball in the box but Marta missed the spottie, massive dramatics. Except Rebekah Stott was an unused sub so forget about it.
Up Next: Thursday at 2pm it’s Utah vs Washington (NZT)
Jeremy Brockie – Mamelodi Sundowns (South African Premier Soccer League)
The sale of Percy Tau to Brighton and a full offseason to get the hang of things has allowed Brockie to finally crack that starting XI for Sundowns. Looks like he’ll get a few more opportunities from now on. Brockie played the whole thing, picking up a yellow card, as the Brazilians began their league season with a slightly disappointing 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs. Ramahlwe Mphahlele had given the Chiefs the lead but Ricardo Nascimento levelled from the spot. That was the way it stayed.
Coulda given the penalty to Brockie given that he won the damn thing, drawing the foul from Daniel Cardoso, but oh well. He then thwacked one off the crossbar on the half-volley from the edge of the box later on which would been an amazing way to score his first official goal for the club. He had another great chance in the second half but the keeper denied him after he’d slipped his defender.
MS coach Pitso Mosimane: “He’s getting there and I am happy with him. Jeremy is a different kind of player - obviously he is not Percy or Khama. We need to play to his strengths and that is what we are doing. He is good and he is waiting for the chance. He probably could have scored with the ball that hit the crossbar, but he gives us a good outlet, brings the team out. I think he is going to come good. I thought he played very well against Chiefs and I am happy with his progression. I think we obviously need to leave him a bit longer on the pitch to give him a chance to score but I think he also played well against the Togolese team [in the Champions League]. He had a chance to score and the goalkeeper blocked the ball. So far so good.”
Tell you what, this looked like a bit of fun too…
Up Next: Wednesday morning, 5.30, away to Polokwane City (NZT)
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
Up Next: Season begins away to Metz on Saturday 25 August (NZT)
Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)
It was a battle to avoid relegation last season but Morecambe came through to remain in the Football League. Then they did the clever thing and re-signed Steven Old for two more years. But the new campaign began in sketchy fashion, Old’s CB partner Sam Lavelle ruled out with injury and midfielder Alex Kenyon forced to fill in at the back. Why they don’t have a third available centre-back is one question. The other is when Lavelle might be back because without him the Shrimps got off to a worst case scenario start with a 6-0 defeat against Crewe Alexandra.
Kind of a wake-up call after new owners and some exciting new signings had the Shrimps dreaming of a finish at the other end of the table. But, ah, maybe next week then. It’s a long season after all.
Steven Old: “From a defensive point of view, last season was alright and we did a decent job in most matches apart from maybe three or four. Personally, it was OK but results-wise, it wasn’t the best towards the end of last season but we managed to stay up. I wouldn’t say it was a successful season but it was one we could reflect upon and say the job was done.”
Morecambe manager Jim Bentley: “We have obviously dismantled the squad quite a bit. We have got replacements for each position virtually but we are still in need of probably another attacking option and certainly a centre-half. That has been seen all through pre-season with Steven Old and Sam Lavelle being our only senior centre-halves. Oldy missed last Tuesday night with an Achilles injury and then Sam came off in that game. We have been a little bit disjointed in our backline in that respect and we certainly need a centre-half through the door.”
Elsewhere in the Football League, Clayton Lewis was left out of the matchday squad as Scunthorpe opened up with a 2-1 win at Coventry City. Same goes for Nik Tzanev as AFC Wimbledon beat Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town 1-0, also away from home.
Up Next: Morecambe vs Exeter on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Hannah Wilkinson & CJ Bott – Vittsjö GIK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
CJ Bott’s debut for her new club didn’t go too bad then. Both she and Hannah Wilkinson were named to start for Vittsjö as they took on defending league champs Linköping away from home and, check it out, came away with a 1-1 draw which gives them one more point of difference between them and the relegation zone. Four games in a row without defeat now. Slowly figuring it out.
Vittsjö had gone in front in the fifteenth minute thanks to Michelle De Jongh but that only lasted three rotations of the clock before Kosovare Asllani tied it up again. Hannah Wilkinson had played a big role in the set up for the first goal. Wilko was replaced with 19 minutes left for a bit of extra defensive cover while Botty played the full thing. Pretty good start to things together then.
Up Next: Sunday at 1am away to Kalmar (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
Huh, okay then. Bugger off Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Anthony Hudson’s Colorado Rapids waited until the last minute to make it happen but they beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 thanks to Sam Nicholson’s 90th minute winner. Zlatan didn’t actually play because of his All Star selection. But he pulled out of the All Star game (against Juventus) because he couldn’t really be bothered, fair enough, except the MLS rules meant he had to miss the club game too since all the other All Stars were missing. Weird rule but it might’ve saved Colorado three points.
No Kip Colvey here as he’s still in the concussion protocol after a US Open Cup game injury, which you may recall. Also Deklan Wynne was on the bench here, an unused substitute. He might move up the list again now though after Axel Sjöberg went off injured in the first half. By then he’d already seen his side go behind 1-0. Tommy Smith with the poor clearance and Romain Alessandrini stroked it into the bottom corner past Tim Howard. Not the best there, Tom.
Yet the Rapids came surging back. Nicholson had already gone close a couple times however it was Kellyn Acosta with a ripper from distance to make it 1-1 in the 50th minute. From there it was a wild game. Chances at both ends with some excellent defending involved and it wasn’t until the last minute of the regulation ninety when Edgar Castillo’s cut-back found Nicholson and despite a strong hand from the keeper it still snuck in for the winner. Huddo looked chuffed.
Up Next: Home to San Jose on Sunday at 1pm (NZT)
Greg Draper – The New Saints (Welsh Premier League)
Yo, Chris Wood wasn’t the only kiwi in those Europa League playoffs. Greg Draper’s side got back into action a couple weeks ago trying to make the Champions League but that got off to a shocker with a 5-0 defeat away to KF Shkëndija (Macedonia). Draper was an unused sub in that one and a used sub in the next as they won 4-0, though it wasn’t quite enough for a dramatic salvaging of the tie. So they dropped into the Europa stuff.
Up against Lincoln Red Imps, Draper was subbed on for goal scorer Dean Ebbe in the first half and helped his side win it at home. 2-1 thanks to Blaine Hudson’s 83rd minute strike. A draw would do it in the next leg over in Gibraltar and again Draper came off the bench. 79th minute he was introduced with his side down 1-0 and facing an exit on away goals. Three minutes later Ebbe scored and TNS advanced with a 1-1 draw. They’ll face FC Midtjylland next up – former club of none other than Winston Reid. Then a few days later the Welsh season begins with a home game against Barry Town. Draper’s coming off a golden boot with 22 goals last season and TNS are coming off a league title. Should be fun.
Up Next: TNS vs Midtjylland on Firady at 6.45am (NZT)
Monty Patterson - Oklahoma City Energy (American United Soccer League)
Fire up the grill because there’s now two kiwis in Oklahoma City. Not sure what Steven Adams’ attendance is like at the home games of the local USL team but Monty Python Patterson’s is going to be pretty good after he signed with the OKC Energy.
Coach Steve Cook: “We are delighted to have added a player of such excellent attacking quality to our roster. Monty has valuable experience of playing with and against players of the highest international quality and has performed well at that level. Once again, we are happy to bring in a player that has the talent to succeed at a high level and possesses the work ethic necessary to move our team forward. We look forward to welcoming Monty to Energy FC and the Oklahoma City community.”
This obviously follows his release from Ipswich where he’d risen the youth ranks, playing in a League Cup game last season, and then his relatively eventless return to NZ with the Wellington Phoenix, where he never really got to do much. Now the Python’s back chasing the dream overseas, this time in America. He joins James Musa, Kyle Adams and Cory Brown in the USL, with Kip Colvey and Bill Tuiloma also having played games at this level this season and Elliot Collier likely to spend some time on loan in the USL too.
Up Next: Away to Tulsa on Thursday at 12.30pm (NZT)
Aimee Phillips – Cardiff Met WFC (Welsh Premier League)
Aimee Phillips: “When I reflect on my football journey, it actually makes me feel quite humble. You meet people that you will never forget, and I can't even explain how much it means to be able to have that opportunity. Growing up in New Zealand there weren't many opportunities for women. I'm 27 now, and I know so many players who could and should have been playing professionally, but had to give it up for other careers and couldn't live their dream. When I talk to them now it's really nice because they're so happy to see what I'm doing, and sometimes I forget that. The reality is that the women's game is still on the increase. You’re not going to get rich playing women's football right now, but to experience playing in places like Serbia, Thailand, America, you can't put a price on it. I feel really grateful that I've been able to do that.”
It’ll all start with Cardiff in a day’s time when Cardiff takes on Olimpia Cluj (Romania), followed by Birkakara (Malta) and then hosts Kharkiv (Ukraine) all in the space of a week with the winner of the group advancing to the Champions League and a slim chance of getting one of the two (out of ten) best runners-up spots.
Up Next: A bunch of Champions League qualifiers which you’ll know all about if you’re back here in a week.
Grace Jale - AC Sparta Praha (Czech First Division)
Shout out to Sparta Prague for the vision because they’re about to sign up one of NZ’s best up and coming attacking talents in Grace Jale. Grace is currently off with the NZ U20s at the World Cup and the former Mount Albert Grammar student’s old school has already dropped the scoop on this one, with Jale to put pen to paper with the Czech Republic powerhouse club after this tournament. Jale, of course, has also been a standout with the Football Ferns Development Programme and was a goal scorer in the National League final for victorious Auckland Football last season.
Heck of a club to be joining too. Sparta Prague have won 19 of the 25 league titles in the Czech women’s top division, with local rivals Slavia Prague winning the other six. Bit of a duopoly there.
Up Next: More U20 WWC, with the Czech season starting on August 20 (NZT)
Sam Brotherton – Blyth Spartans (National League North)
Wondering what was up with Sam Brotherton? You weren’t alone but now you’ve got an answer. It’s been a frustrating time at Sunderland recently with back to back relegations since he signed meaning the academy team was pretty shackled by the first team’s struggles. Hard to rise up the ranks while players and managers and coming and going on the regular. Brotherton’s been in and out of the U23s himself but more out than in, unfortunately.
His name was pretty absent during preseason and then his kiwi teammate Michael Woud went and left for Willem II in Holland, raising questions over whether Brotherton would do the same. He sort of did. He’s gone on a season long loan with National League North club Blyth Spartans (shout out on the unveiling vid too).
Sam Brotherton: “I like a battle and a challenge, the fans can expect me to be vocal at the back and look to lead by example. It’s the dream of any boy across the world to play in the FA Cup, as a youngster in New Zealand you see it on TV and think I want to be part of that, I’m really excited for the season ahead with Spartans.”
It’s a curious move for sure. Max Crocombe was part of the Salford team that won this division a few months back (more on him later) but we’re talking sixth tier here, not exactly the usual platform for a future Premier League player to announce themselves. But the trade-off is that you move to a team in a higher division and you might not get the games. Brotherton’s never played for the Sunderland first team but he remains contracted until the end of this season so if he impresses then he might be back, if not then he’s out on his own. He wasn’t going anywhere sitting on the bench for the U23s there.
SAFC.com: “Sam Brotherton has completed his switch to Blyth Spartans today. The New Zealand international, who joined Sunderland in January 2017, has joined the Vanarama National League North club on a season-long loan. Brotherton, 21, has been a regular in Elliott Dickman’s under-23s since joining from the Wisconsin Badgers of the University of Wisconsin last year. Best of luck, Sam!”
And he was straight into the team for their first game despite only just signing a couple days earlier. Could’ve gone a lot better though. The Spartans lost 3-0 to Hereford. To be fair they had to leave at 7am to be there by kickoff of what’ll be their longest away trip of the season (cup comps notwithstanding). They conceded half an hour in and then again in first half stoppage time. Then Brotherton, who had already been booked, was subbed off at the break.
Up Next: Blyth Spartans vs Bradford (Park Avenue), 6.45am on Weds (NZT)
Katie Rood – Bristol City (English Super League)
Up Next: Bristol City start away to Brighton on Monday 10 September (NZT)
Max Crocombe – Salford City (English National League)
It was a curious offseason for Salford City. The club, whose ownership group famously features a bunch of Manchester United legends (Scholes, Giggs, Butt and Neville x2), earned their third promotion in four years last season as champions of the National League North. That lifted them up to the fifth tier of English footy. With promotion came a chunk of new transfers and with that came criticism that the owners (who also include Singapore billionaire Peter Lim) have been trying to buy their way into the Football League.
The system’s the system though, if Adam Rooney is willing to sacrifice the Scottish Premiership for non-league footy and Danny Lloyd doesn’t mind dropping down from League One then that’s their business. Salford are favourites now to be promoted again. They’re doing it with a new manager too, Graham Alexander coming in to replace joint-gaffers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley after irreconcilable differences that seem to have arisen in contract negotiations. Alexander’s the guy who signed Clayton Lewis at Scunthorpe, by the way.
We don’t particularly care about the new signings in midfield and up front but after starting 31 games last season Max Crocombe was given the number 12 jersey when those were unveiled ahead of the opening week, the number 1 instead going to new veteran signing Chris Neal, who joins after playing backup for Fleetwood Town last season. And sure enough Crocombe was on the bench for the season opener at home to Leyton Orient. That looks to be the likelihood for the time being. Crocombe will be the backup but with only two keepers in the senior squad he’s right there laying down the challenge. The National League is too far down to bother updating FKs every time he sits on the bench but if he gets a game then you’ll hear about it.
Salford looked the goods in the first half and it was swiftly after the break that they deservedly took the advantage when new fella Rory Gaffney scored on the volley from Danny Lloyd’s cross. They seemed like they were headed for three points but Leyton Orient brought some late pressure and snatched a draw when Craig Clay’s shot took a deflection off of Liam Hogan for an own goal.
Up Next: Wednesday at 6.45am away to Gateshead (NZT)
The USL Crew
Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers 2) vs James Musa (Phoenix Rising) – Funky one here as Tui and the Moose went head to head. Tuiloma (along with Jake Gleeson) was an unused sub for the Timbers as they beat Philly 3-0 so he played 90 minutes for the ressies instead, his fifth USL game this season and his first for nearly a month. Played at centre-back too. Wasn’t a happy day though as Portland were beaten 4-1 by Phoenix, who surprisingly left James Musa on the bench to start, however he did come on with twenty minutes left, picked up a yellow card, and was out there as Phoenix scored a couple late ones to be sure of the result. Tuiloma put a header onto the post in injury time but it was too late by then anyway.
Monty Patterson (OKC Energy) – Got his debut with a 25-minute run around in a 2-0 defeat away to Colorado Springs. Straight into it after signing earlier in the week.
Cory Brown (Fresno FC) – It was a 1-0 defeat to Sacramento here but the notable thing is that Brown did sneak back onto the bench, albeit as an unused sub, after five weeks out of the team injured. He’d just been establishing himself when he went off injured at half-time in a defeat to Real Monarchs in late June but he’s on the comeback trail now.
Kyle Adams (RGV Toros) – Also an unused sub in a 1-0 loss away to Las Vegas Lights. The Toros have still only won three of their 21 games.
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