Flying Kiwis – September 11
Rosie White – Chicago Red Stars & Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The Red Stars came into the final week of the regular season knowing that they had two games, thus two chances, to book their place in the semis with a fourth-place finish. The second game was away to Utah Royals, Katie Bowen’s team. A draw there away from home would do the trick but the easier gig was always going to be at home against Sky Blue earlier in the week. Rebekah Stott’s lot, although Stotty was an unused sub after only just coming back from her back injury.
It was also Sky Blue’s second to last chance to win a game this season. But by the time Alyssa Mautz looped a header in over the keeper in the 18th minute the Chicago side had already long since made their dominance known. It certainly didn’t help that a weather delay had meant Sky Blue had played Washington just 48 hours earlier and they barely had the energy. Both teams were also still affected by the international window.
Rosie White was on the bench again, by the way. So she had a pretty good view as Sam Kerr tore things up as usual and Mautz finally added a second in the 46th minute. Kerr got one of her own in the 64th and this thing was all over as a contest. But not all over as a spectacle.
First this happened…
Then this happened…
On comes Rosie White and she scores with her first touch of the ball, smashing it past the keeper after the deft assist from Aussie Sam Kerr, dropping it right at her feet. Bit of a trans-tasman connection over the in the dirty states, also Rosie’s first goal for Chicago after joining from the disbanded Boston Breakers in the offseason. She wasn’t done there either, in the seventh minute of stoppage time Rosie got involved in a slick one-two with Michele Vasconcelos, sliding in a through ball from halfway to set up Vascconcelos’ first ever NWSL goal and a 5-0 victory, booking a place in the semis to play away to… Abby Erceg’s North Carolina Courage.
Unfortunately that did mean the game on the weekend against Utah wasn’t going to be the all or nothing belter it almost could have been. Still, we did get a rare proper Flying Kiwis derby as both Rosie White and Katie Bowen were picked to start and would go head to head until White was subbed off with quarter of an hour left.
Good game too. There were chances all over the show and Rosie had three of them, three shots on target. The keeper sure knew about her. It was Sam Kerr who scored the opener though. Rising high to head in her 16th goal of the season, just one short of her record of 17 from 2017. 1-0 to Chicago at the break… but ten minutes after it we were all level again and it was a lovely cross from Katie Bowen that made it happen, putting one on a tee for Amy Rodriguez who guided it in off the post. Fantastic assist. Katie Stengel then bagged a winner and that was that, 2-1 to Utah.
No playoffs for Katie and the Royals in their first season then… but they ended in fine style. It might have gone differently had Rosie White been able to finish a little after the hour mark. Picking the ball up in midfield, she laid it off and carried on her run, getting onto a through ball two passes later but a slightly heavy touch and some excellent goalkeeping kept the score at 1-1. Rosie collided with the keeper and a defender in the process and all three stayed down a sec. So of course over trots Katie to lend an arm, have a laugh and say how are ya?
It’s all love between the Flying Kiwis.
Especially for these two…
Hey and it’d be remiss not to mention this wee dram from the top shelf, a little joga bonito, as they once said. A bit of wax on, wax off. Too bloody good... Katie Stengel shoulda scored and then we’d have a highlight for years.
Up Next: North Carolina Courage vs Chicago Red Stars, Monday at 7am (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
There was nothing left to play for except history as the Courage entered their final regular season game, at home to Houston Dash, with the opportunity to break several league records. And being the team that they are, the Courage only went and broke almost every one single of them. Didn’t take long to get the party started either, with no more fitting player to initiate it than Abby Erceg stepping up in possession and feeding a sharp ball forwards to Jess McDonald and the attacker dutifully did the rest. 1-0 after twelve minutes and change.
What followed? More of the same. Crystal Dunn made it 2-0 in the 25th and then Lynn Raenie made it three on the brink of half-time, a goal that broke the record team tally for a single season. Raenie added another and Kristen Hamilton made it 5-0 by the end of it. Five nil. That was their eleventh clean sheet of the campaign, just one shy of their own record from last season, and it’s defending like this that made it happen…
Rightio then, about all those records they broke… let’s defer to NWSL Soccer dot com:
- Most wins: 17
- Most points: 57
- Fewest losses: 1
- Most goals scored: 53
- Fewest goals allowed: 17
- Lowest goals against average: .71
- Largest goal differential: +36
Now for the business end of the season with a semi-final at home against Rosie White’s Chicago Red Stars coming up on Monday morning. Put it in the calendars.
Up Next: North Carolina Courage vs Chicago Red Stars, Monday at 7am (NZT)
Jesse Edge – Podbrezová (Slovakian Super Liga)
A bit of visual evidence after last week’s news. Jesse slipped straight into the Podbrezová starting team for his debut in a 2-0 defeat away to Zemplín Michalovce but he had much better rewards in his second game where the side beat Kechnec 2-0 on the road in a cup game. A game they were always favoured to win and sure enough they did with a couple second half goals. JE helping contribute to a clean sheet too in his ninety minutes of action.
Up Next: Home to Nitra on Sunday at 5am (NZT)
Rebekah Stott – Sky Blue FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Hold up, one more trip back to the NWSL this week. Rebekah Stott didn’t play but Sky Blue did actually win their final game of the season. A beauty of a strike from Carli Lloyd in the 74th minute against Orlando Pride and the duck was broken at the final opportunity. First win of the season. Last game of the season. That’ll make things slightly more palatable.
Up Next: End of the line
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Up Next: DC United vs Minnesota United – although Boxy’s suspended - Thursday at 11.30am (NZT)
Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)
Good on ya, Stevo. Unfortunately it was more of the same for the Shrimps as they lost in the EFL Trophy away to Carlisle, twice taking the lead but losing 3-2 in the end. The first two Carlisle goals were top notch. Oldie was an unused sub there, the midweek fixture allowing them a little rotation as they prioritise not getting relegated in the league – a task which took another blow with a 1-0 loss to ten-man Swindon a few days later. This one Steven Old did play and he played the whole thing Yet despite having a man advantage for 55 minutes they couldn’t create enough open chances to make use of it. That’s a sixth defeat in seven league games.
Up Next: Away to Crawley Town on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Hannah Wilkinson & CJ Bott – Vittsjö GIK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Rough one here as Vittsjö dropped a second consecutive game, going down 2-1 at home against fourth-placed Kristianstad. An early penalty converted by Therese Ivarsson and then a Rita Chikwelu goal before half-time had the hole dug relatively deep. Clara Marktedt pulled one back with twenty to play but there’d be no equaliser. CJ Bott played the full thing, getting booked in the first half. Hannah Wilkinson started and was replaced after 61 minutes. The result keeps VGIK in eighth, five points clear of the drop zone.
Up Next: Away to Göteborg at 1am on Monday (NZT)
Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)
Up Next: Burnley are away to Wolveson Monday at 12.30am (NZT)
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
A 1-0 win away to Montpellier is a fine old way to start the new season. Even came with a clean sheet for Erin, fast on her way to matching the five she kept last league season. And this was a legitimate result. Montpellier finished third last time, losing just twice along the way – to PSG and to Lyon, the two top sides – while going all the way to the Champions League quarterfinals where they were beaten by Chelsea. So, safe to say this was a remarkable result for any time, let alone the first game of the new term.
Up Next: Bordeaux vs Rodez, Sunday at 12.30am (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
It was only Smithy this week and there wasn’t much to say. Deklan Wynne was an unused sub, Kip Colvey appears to have gone back on loan to Colorado Springs (who didn’t have a game this week). Being away to Portland Timbers also mean this game could’ve included a couple other kiwis but Bill Tuiloma sat on the bench – getting his compensation the following day with an impressive performance for the reserves – while Jake Gleeson is out injured for the rest of the season. So it was only Smithy.
Colorado lost 2-0. No point in dragging it out, they played a better team and goals for Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri were the difference, getting Portland back in good position to make the playoffs – potentially at the expense of Stefan Marinovic’s Vancouver Whitecaps but there’s a fair way to go yet.
Up Next: Colorado vs Atlanta, Sunday at 7.30am (NZT)
Ali Riley – Chelsea FC (English Super League)
Bit of a bummer that Ali wasn’t able to take part, still working her way back from injury, but Chelsea got their title defence under way in the Super League with a battling 0-0 draw against Manchester City – who are likely to be their closest rivals for the trophy. It was a high quality match from both sides but neither could find the breakthrough, a draw being the fairest compromise.
Not sure how long Ali’s out for, at least she still had IG duties. Hopefully she’s close to fitness because Chelsea begin their Champions League campaign this week with a trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina on Thursday morning NZT to play SFK 2000. They should win this R32 clash but you never know at this level.
Also, here’s an interview which you can’t read without signing up to something.
And here’s a podcast you can listen to immediately, rumour is that even the gaffer’s a fan…
Up Next: SFK 2000 vs Chelsea, Thursday at 2am (NZT)
Katie Rood – Bristol City (English Super League)
Silverware was commonplace for Katie at Juventus last season but minutes were tougher to come by. Hence the move to Bristol City where the opposite will probably be true. Bristol City finished eighth last time but a new manager (Aussie Tanya Oxtoby) and a few new signings will hopefully invigorate things.
They sure started well, taking all three points against Brighton thanks to a stunner from Lucy Graham. A strong performance from keeper Sophie Baggaley helped out plenty before Grahams fourth in three games since signing in the summer proved the difference. Katie Rood began things on the bench but was introduced soon after the goal, Bristol’s third and final change.
Katie was the only one of the kiwi quartet to take the field in the opening round of the WSL. No game for West Ham and Ria Percival this week, they began the league season with a bye. Elsewhere Olivia Chance’s Everton fell 1-0 to an early goal against Birmingham though Livvy’s a fair way off playing yet as she recovers from the knee operation that ended her last season. This shapes to be the biggest WSL season yet and by a long way and, oh look, we’ve got four New Zealanders there.
Up Next: Tough game home to Manchester City in the WSL Cup on Monday at 2am (NZT)
Joel Stevens – Husqvarna FF (Swedish Division 1 Södra)
Here’s a goal for ya, last strike in a 4-2 victory, wrapping up the points for Husqvarna. Not a bad effort from JS.
The last few weeks Stevens has dropped back to the bench after being a starter most of the way but this was his third goal of the season and the win over Ängelholm broke a streak of just a single point from five games. With nine more left in the season, Husqvarna have their work cut out to get off the bottom of the ladder, though they’re still only two points from safety.
Up in the north half of the first division (which is the third tier in Sweden) Nyköping are in danger of also slipping into those relegation spots after five league games without a win. Francis De Vries is in town there but has only played two games so far, settling for a spot on the bench in their 2-0 defeat to Karlslund this weekend. Up a division in the Superettan at least Värnamo have put together a good run of form, taking 14 points from their last available 18 and also progressing in the cup since the Swedish league resumed, which is a massive change in fortunes for Tyler Lissette’s fellas. Lissette’s been playing most games for them too, same as usual.
Up Next: Husqvarna vs Kristianstad, Monday at 2am (NZT)
Emma Rolston & Meikayla Moore – MSV Duisburg (German Frauen-Bundesliga)
The women’s Bundesliga begins next week for Emma and Meikayla, the former embarking on her first season in Germany and the latter her second, though both are new to MSV. Their campaign begins at home to SGS Essen which should go good – SGS Essen finished fifth last season while MSV Duisburg were the one of the ones that survived the four-team pile-on for the relegation spots that claimed CJ Bott, Amber Hearn and Meikayla Moore’s clubs, causing all three to transfer elsewhere.
So it’s possible that it might be a tricky season, MSVD lost 16 of their 22 games last time, but they damn sure started with a bang. Moore got a full game in defence and Rolston subbed on at half-time as they travelled to FC Neubrandenburg in a cup game and fair smoked them 14-0. Yeah, no typo. In fact Emma Rolston bagged a double off the bench, scoring the twelfth and fourteenth goals.
Funnily enough, SGS Essen also won 14-0 away from home in their cup tie. File that under: Can’t make this stuff up.
Elsewhere in that cup competition things weren’t so great for Jana Radosavljevic as she started for Cloppenburg but had to be replaced with injury just twelve minutes into it, immediately after they’d taken the lead against Borussia Munchengladbach. Rado set up the goal with a ball through for Agnieszka Winczo but hurt her knee in the process. BVC even made it 2-0 but then ended up losing 4-3 to a 90th minute winner.
Also Aimee Phillips didn’t feature for USV Jena, having only just arrived in Germany.
Up Next: Saturday at 11pm, Duisburg vs Essen (NZT)
Aimee Phillips – USV Jena (German Bundesliga 2)
Mate, if you’re reading this then you’ve gotta do yourself a favour and pop on over to Aimee Phillips’ Instagram for the real deal. She’s been dropping a bit of a diary recap of her last year on the footy rollercoaster and it’s rather excellent… and not only because she name drops Flying Kiwis in there either (cheers, Aimee!).
Up Next: Whatever Germany’s got to offer
The USL Crew
Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers 2) – Keeping up the reps by appearing with the reserves and making it count from centre back with a trademark bit of Tui, scoring first from a set piece, using his head of course, in a 4-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks. He hit the crossbar from another corner a little while after. This was Tuiloma’s sixth game for the ressies in 2018 and his first goal, having scored three times in 11 games for the in 2017. He’s also got a goal in 11 MLS appearances this year.
Elliot Collier (Indy Eleven) – Back in business on the right wing, playing 83 minutes in a 3-0 win over NY Red Bulls 2. Just his second start for Indy though there’ll be a few more as he closes out the 2018 season with them.
James Musa (Phoenix Rising) – Took on Kyle Adams’ RGV and helped keep a clean sheet from defensive mid in a 1-0 win for Phoenix. Both kiwis got full games. Not such a fun time on the weekend however as San Antonio scored with all three shots on target to win 3-2. The Moose was replaced ten minutes into the second half.
Kyle Adams (Rio Grande Valley) – Bounced back from defeat against James Musa’s side with a 2-1 home win over Real Monarchs, again getting ninety mins at centre back.
Cory Brown & Myer Bevan (Fresno FC) – Slightly weird one as a friendly game against MLS affiliate club Vancouver Whitecaps midweek saw Cory Brown kitting up for the Caps while Myer Bevan, who is actually on loan from VW, started for Fresno. Only a friendly but a funky set up. In the real stuff, Fresno were beaten 1-0 by an early Swope Park goal with Brown starting in a back three but getting subbed off at the break for a change of formation while Bevan was introduced after the hour mark but couldn’t find the goal to equalise things.
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