Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

First game back after the winter break and this is what we wanna see. Ryan Thomas in the heart of things for PSV Eindhoven. They were away to VVV-Venlo wearing some striking dark green away jerseys and looking to get back to their imperial ways after an extended stretch of time to work with their caretaker boss since they last played in mid-December.

Didn’t quite go as planned though. They needed a late goal from Denzel Dumfries to salvage a 1-1 draw. It didn’t help that injuries meant they were without a recognised centre forward, with Steven Bergwijn playing through the middle although he might have put them in front in the second minute after he picked off a horrid back pass but as he rounded the keeper he slipped over. An omen of things to come for PSV.

Eindhoven had piled on the pressure in the opening stages, with Thommo sitting at the base of midfield and keeping the ball moving around. But they were their own worst enemies too from bad shooting to cheap giveaways and they were lucky not to be behind as a goal-line clearance came to the rescue. Thommo’s best moment on attack was a lovely forward run into the box after a gorgeous long ball from PSV’s own half picked him out but the ball wouldn’t sit up and he didn’t get any decent contact on the volley with a defender breathing down his neck.

It went on that way with each goalkeeper adding to their to their personal highlight reels and Thomas almost getting an assist with a beauty of a cross to Bruma at the far post but his header was straight at the keeper... right up until the 67th minute when PSV conceded a clumsy penalty which Johnatan Opoku converted and an annoying game became an infuriating game for PSV.

Although they did fight back for the draw. With twenty seconds remaining in stoppage time, Thomas made a sprinting run towards the left wing where he picked up the ball and whipped in another excellent cross on his left foot... and this time Dumfries was there and made no mistake. A 1-1 draw ain’t flash but it’s better than a loss and Ryan Thomas played a huge part in that with the assist. It’s taken a long time for him to settle into a prominent role at PSV but we might finally be there now. Hopefully that means people realise what a massive thing it is to have a player like Ryan Thomas at a club like PSV Eindhoven.

Up Next: NAC vs PSV in the KNVB Cup R16 on Friday at 8.45am (NZT)

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

The plan was clear for Burnley as they faced high-flying Leicester City: if they were gonna get out of their concerning little slump then they were gonna do it the old fashioned way. Committed defence, a hard-working midfield, and plenty of aerial stuff to Chris Wood against one of his (many) former clubs. No sneaky new tactics from Sean Dyche, no flashy new signings. That much was obvious early on as Jay Rodriguez had a crack just wide on the volley after a 50+ yard long ball to The Woodsman had seen Woody suck in two defenders and cause a poor clearance to where Jay Rod could almost get onto it.

But Leicester are pretty good under Brendan Rodgers. They had the pace of Jamie Vardy causing all sorts of trouble on the occasions that he could get free and if it wasn’t him or James Maddison then it was Harvey Barnes, who opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after a controversial moment near halfway where Jack Cork was dispossessed and Burnley wanted a free kick, but Barnes charged forward into the area and struck past Nick Pope who might have done better with his attempted save. But all good, he’d make up for it soon enough.

1-0 down at half-time, it wasn’t looking great for the Clarets. And it would have been worse had Pope not pulled off a fantastic save diving low across the goal to deny Dennis Praet. But Burnley stuck at it and Chris Wood headed a deep Charlie Taylor cross over the bar, doing great to dominate the challenge but not quite directing it where he wanted. His chance in the 53rd minute was a tad easier. Corner kick from Dwight McNeil. Powerful header from Ben Mee. Quality save from Kasper Schmeichel. Goal on the rebound from Chris Wood.

That’s his ninth for the season in 21 games. He’s only one behind the 10 goals he scored for Burnley in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons. Nine goals is tied for 13th on the Golden Boot standings alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Gabriel Jesus and of teams in the bottom half of the table only Teemu Pukki (10) and Danny Ings (14) have more. And in case you’re wondering, yes he’s still way out in front on the offside tallies. His 26 offsides are well clear of Tammy Abraham and Callum Wilson’s 20 each in second place.

Anyway, plenty more drama in this one. Ben Mee hauled down Jamie Vardy for a no-doubter penalty pretty much straight after Wood scored but Nick Pope managed to save Vardy’s attempt to keep things nice and even. He also badassly denied Vardy later on with his chest, standing up tall as the Premier League’s top scorer got through to strike. Then soon after that one Ashley Westwood capitalised on a failed clearance from a cross to score what proved to be the winner. A first league win for Burnley since before Christmas, it had been four losses on the trot coming in. The Clarets now move five points clear of the drop zone.

By the way, you may have noticed in the goal video up there that El Woodo happened to be sporting something of a black eye? A little bruising around his nose for sure. That’s actually from last week when if you remember he copped one from Antonio Rüdiger and needed a fair bit of treatment before eventually carrying on. He was fit and raring to go for this clash but not without some complications as it turned out he broke his nose in that clash. Jay Rodriguez was also coming back from illness in this game so lucky they were both available because Ashley Barnes has had to have a hernia operation which will probably keep him out for a number of weeks, though no timetable has been given yet. Not great news for the Barnes/Wood duo so it looks like Chris Wood might have to break off and make a couple solo records instead, broken nose or not.

Up Next: Away to Manchester United on Thursday at 9.15am (NZT)

Hannah Wilkinson - Sporting CP (Portuguese 1a Divisão)

Back in the starting lineup and scoring a couple goals. One early and one late on, helping lead her team to a 5-0 win over A-dos-Francos... a match that they were always going to win but gotta take care of business all the same. Wilkie was hovering at the far post as Joana Marchão curled one inside the near post from a free kick to open the scoring in the sixth minute but Wilkie was right in the action in the eleventh minute. First was a ball cut back low to her which she couldn’t direct on target under pressure but the play stayed alive and another cross came in from the same right wing and this time it was on her head. You already know what that means. 2-0 to Sporting.

A-dos-Francos are last in the standings for a reason and Sporting beat them 17-0 when they played them back in round two. Obviously they’ve improved since that hiding but Sporting still must’ve been stunned how it was only 2-0 at the break. They’d had so many chances, including Wilkie striking one into the side netting, but nah that third goal was elusive. Until the second half started that is, then it only took 32 more seconds and it was Wilkinson holding it up on the edge of the area and then feeding in a wonderful ball into the run of Ana Capeta who did the rest.

Wilkinson then had a couple half chances she might have wished she’d done better with thirty minutes after that third she scored their fourth, taking full advantage of a mistake in defence and rounding the keeper to slot it home. Aaaand we weren’t done there either. Five minutes later Wilkie was clattered by the keeper to earn a penalty and Marchão stepped up to complete the scoring. Two goals and two assists for Hannah Wilkinson in a 5-0 win. A little rough they didn’t give her the penalty kick she won to get that hat-trick but then she already has two of those this season. That’s 13 goals in 15 games this season for her, most of those coming off the bench.

Up Next: 4am on Sunday vs Sporting Braga in the League Cup (NZT)

James Musa – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Alright, here’s some good news! The Moose was let loose by Phoenix Rising FC at the end of the 2019 season having been in and out of the starting team there depending on who else was available... often it was a case of him being a defensive midfielder used off the bench to protect their many leads, although with a couple international players in the side and the usual run of injuries and suspensions meant he still started 20 of their 36 games. But it made sense to explore other options, particularly with multiple MLS teams reported to be interested in his services – a chance to add to his lone MLS appearance for Sporting Kansas City back in 2017.

And what do ya know, Minnesota United do rate themselves a New Zealander or two and James Musa will join Michael Boxall and Noah Billingsley (yet to be officially signed, though they drafted him with high praise so it should be inevitable) at the club. The Moose is expected to add some midfield depth plus of course he can cover most positions in the backline if things get desperate. A very useful option to have on the bench and having gained his green card while at Phoenix he’s also got the crucial added benefit of not requiring an international roster spot.

MNUFC head coach Adrian Heath: “James is one of them players who’s been in and out of the league and he’s been on that cusp of being in the league. We had a good long chat with James because we’ve got the likes of Hassani Dotson, Jan Gregus, Ozzie Alonso in front of him — a really competitive area of the field — and he’s up for the challenge. Physically, he’s very imposing, very athletic. Really good personality, he’s very strong-willed and we think he’s going to come in and try to compete. He knows it’s going to be tough but he’s prepared to embrace the challenge and compete for a starting spot. He’s got the opportunity, so it’s up to him to take it.”

It was a solid week for the Loons recruitment drive. They also added a goalkeeper with Tyler Miller traded for from LAFC to replace the departed Vito Mannone as well as extending the contract of the head coach Adrian Heath for two more years. After a first ever playoff appearance last year, Minnesota United is going hundies to make sure they got even further in 2020.

Up Next: New season starts in March

Katie Rood - Lewes FC (English Championship)

Crossbars, aye? Never liked ‘em.

That was about as close as Lewes came to scoring when they hosted London Bees in their first game of the new year. It was also their first game with new manager Simon Parker. Roodie also flicked a header just wide and set up a couple other chances for teammates in what was their best attacking performance in ages and although they didn’t get the reward they should have for that, they also didn’t concede and a 0-0 draw snaps a run of 11 straight defeats for the Rooks including six straight losses in the Championship. It’s shaping to be a tight battle at the bottom here with Lewes one of three teams within three points of relegation zoned Charlton (only one team gets relegated)... but also only six points behind London Bees who are fifth and have played an extra game compared to Lewes. Could go either way.

Up Next: FA Cup fourth round at home to Billericay Town, Monday at 2am (NZT)

Olivia Chance – Bristol City (English Super League)

Not another one.

That oversized crossbar (or did it just feel that way?) might end up being a defining moment in Bristol City’s season too. They were at home to Liverpool this week, the two bottom teams battling for the second and final time this season with that wooden spoon carrying relegation with it. This was following a 1-1 draw back in October when a second half penalty from Melissa Lawley (LIV) cancelled out an early Ebony Salmon goal (BC).

Here it was almost the other way around as Lawley had a shot from out on the left which Sophie Baggaley saved but BCFC never cleared and Rachel Furness put it in, 14 minutes gone, a huge moment in the relegation arm-wrestle. City came in three points clear of Liverpool thanks to that win over Man Utd a couple weeks back so a draw would have been fine for them. The might have got it too had Liv Chance’s shot been just an inch lower to the ground but after finding some space in midfield and charging forward to shoot she unleashed one which had the keeper well beaten when it splattered off the underside of the bar and was cleared. Shades of the World Cup there. No wonder Livvy ain’t on speaking terms with goal frames these days.

But Bristol City had a much better opportunity in the second half as they earned a penalty after a goal mouth scramble in the 65th minute. Charlie Wellings stepped up to take it having also won the spottie but her attempt was saved by Anke Preuss. It could have been the mirror image of the first time these two teams played but alas. Liverpool thus climb off the bottom ahead of Bristol City on goal difference and BCFC are gonna have to pull off another upset if they’re gonna survive. Bloody crossbars.

Up Next: FA Cup fourth round against Durham at 2am on Monday (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

At least Ria Percival didn’t hit the crossbar. She didn’t even really have a chance, as Spurs were beaten by Manchester United... although two of her teammates did rattle the frame of the goal along the way. Conditions were pretty shocking in Manchester as a thick fog descended upon the pitch and Spurs, having survived a close attempt from Jane Ross in the first half, hung on nicely in a tentative first half, probably in part prompted by the weather. Just how bad was the fog? This bad…

But into the second half and United took control. A penalty was awarded for a drag back off the ball and Katie Zelem scored that in the 58th minute before Jess Sigsworth stabbed one in from a corner kick as the fog got even worse, this just seven minutes after they took the lead. Tottenham did have a couple chances to get back into the game as Emma Mitchell and Rianna Dean both caught the framework (told ya so) and then Zelem scored a lovely little free kick to book the points.

There was one last bit of drama though, as Ella Toone came off the bench for United and was sent off deep into stoppage time. She’d taken offence to a late challenge, a hack from behind as her team tried to counter, and she lashed out beyond the view of the cameras. The ref called play back as a few Spurs players started a kerfuffle which included a Ho-ho-hold Me Back moment from Ria Percival... and then after a discussion with the lino, the ref went to the back pocket and gave Toone her marching orders. Of course, you can probably already guess that it was Ria Percival who chopped her down in the first place.

Percy got a yellow for her initial challenge. Which... you can’t really argue about and she didn’t. Marvellous shithousery though. Catch the full thing on the FA Player app, it all happened around the 93rd minute. 3-0 was the final score.

Up Next: FA Cup fourth round at home to Barnsley at 2am on Monday (NZT)

Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)

A remarkable result for Bordeaux as they were able to hold the best team in women’s football to a 0-0 draw. Olympic Lyon were stacked with stars, from Ada Hegerberg to Lucy Bronze to Nikita Parris to Dzsenifer Marozsán to Wendie Renard... and they were held scoreless by a team that they beat 4-0 back in October.

Only problem there was that Romane Bruneau was in goal for FCGB and not Erin Nayler, who was wrapped up warm on the bench. This was only the second game all season that the undefeated Lyon failed to win and it puts Bordeaux four points clear in third place now, the same distance ahead of Montpellier in fourth as they are behind PSG in second (which would mean a Champions League spot if they managed to overhaul them). So, yeah, a massive scalp for Bordeaux and still gotta mention it but it would’ve been better if Erin Nayler had been playing. Bruneau seems to have snuck ahead in the coach’s eyes, starting the last five league games (and only conceding once, incredibly) although Nayler did play the cup game last week.

Up Next: 3.30am on Monday vs Dijon (NZT)

Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)

Get. In. My. Son.

Sixth minute of the game and Morecambe were one up against Port Vale thanks to the man himself. Steven Old with his third goal of the season and first in the league. A glancing touch at the near post from a corner kick, no matter about the driving rain, and there you go. It got even better in the 12th minute as the Shrimps hit fast on the break and Cole Stockton tapped in to double the lead. Morecambe have gotten used to propping up the table from underneath this season but here they were in control against a top half team.

And they held on to win it. Port Vale did pull one back in the 71st minute through James Gibbons but then it was Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead’s time to shine as he made a couple massive interventions to keep his side in the lead and secure a vital victory. 2-1 the final score. Just their fifth win in 27 League Two matches although it does keep up what has been a trend of more competitive performances under new gaffer Derek Adams who has added some new blood to the squad (although note that Stevie Old’s kept his place) and given them a bit of a chance. They needed this win badly.

Not so much to celebrate on the weekend as Morecambe travelled to Northampton and lost 4-1, the stats were all pretty well even but the home side were just way more clinical with theirs, better chances leading to more goals and all that. Even worse was that Oldie had to be replaced in the first half a little after Northampton took the lead. He was down for treatment for an extended period of time but wasn’t able to continue which is not a good look having been playing some quality football lately.

The win got the Shrimps off the bottom of the table but that defeat coupled with Stevenage winning means they’re back there on goal difference again. However suddenly they’re just two points away from safety with 16 games still remaining in the campaign.

Up Next: Morecambe vs Cambridge United, Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Dylan De Jong - Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israeli Premier League)

Can’t remember the last time we had a Flying Kiwi in Israel, how about it? Well we’ve got one now as Dylan de Jong has signed with Israeli Premier League club Hapel Ironi Kiryat Shmona. DDJ has been really impressive down that left flank for Eastern Suburbs over the first half of the Premiership season, the fullback contributing one goal and a handful of assists in his seven appearances building off of his performances for the New Zealand U23s after finishing up with Missouri State in the USA.

He had been with HIKS on a trial basis but impressed enough for the coach to demand the club sign him up and not only did they do that but they gave him a four and a half year contract too. The club saying that they consider the “talented defender” de Jong to be a “diamond” who could even develop enough to be sold at a profit down the line – borrowing the new Wellington Phoenix approach, it seems. Those are some very big raps for a 22 year old kiwi signed on a free from the NZ Prem.

Kiryat Shmona are 11th out of 14 teams in the IPL at the moment. DDJ is their third January signing. And in case you were wondering, yes he does have Jewish heritage. Beautiful stuff.

Up Next: H. Kiryat Shmona vs H. Beer-Sheva, Sunday at 4.30am (NZT)

Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City (Australian W-League)

You’re doing alright when you’re getting praise like that, especially from a player walks into every starting team for Australia. It’s a funny twist of fate that had Stotty stuck with Australia, who she played for at youth level, then she might have been competing for selection with her MCI teammate Catley but thankfully that ain’t what happened.

Just gonna assume that you’ve been reading Flying Kiwis every week in which case you already know that Stotty is having an incredible season. That season’s only getting better after she added another one of these to the tally. This is her fifth selection in the W-League Team of the Week. Fifth out of ten and she didn’t even play in week one.

W-League: “Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City) - The Kiwi international was irrepressible in defence for City as they notched a fifth straight clean sheet in their win over Newcastle Jets. The 26-year-old led the match returns both on the ball - notching 116 touches and 94 passes – and off the ball, winning four tackles and 13 duels in her 90 minute performance. She capped off her performance by laying on the assist for Emily van Egmond’s second-half goal.”

So just another week of complete and utter dominance, basically.

Melbourne City beat Newcastle Jets 2-0, doing what they’ve been doing for months now in looking in control at the back and knowing how to nurse a lead. They scored nice and early in the seventh minute as Serbian striker Milica Mijatovic cut inside and curled one past the keeper and then pretty much bossed it from there. The second goal came within five minutes of the start of the second half and it was some prime Stotty work that got her that assist.

Stott’s often seen in the attacking half with a licence to step all the way forward out of the back three and here she had herself hovering in the penalty area when she picked up the ball on the turn and carried it across goal before laying it off to Emily van Egmond. With Stott’s run drawing two defenders, EVE had room to shoot and she placed it right in the bottom corner. Newcastle had one or two chances but nothing serious. City’s win was pretty inevitable once they got two up and that meant we got to see a bit of the fun stuff later on, with backheels and such. Even got Stotty throwing in stepovers and beating defenders. It ended 2-0 though. A fifth straight clean sheet for City who have now gone exactly 500 minutes since they last conceded, with Stott playing every one of those minutes. Eight wins in a row.

Up Next: A couple weeks off now before the Melbourne Derby, Victory vs City, 13 February at 9.30pm (NZT)

Annalie Longo – Melbourne Victory (Australian W-League)

Possibly the Victory’s best performance of the season away to Adelaide. Possibly Annalie Longo’s best performance too as she was a little bit of everywhere in that midfield. Natasha Dowie scored after quarter of an hour to put the Victory on top and they continued to create the bulk of the scoring opportunities although it took quite a while to find that second. Longo had a shot wide on the turn-and-shoot and another one cleared off the line. Eventually Rosie Sutton smacked one home though and then Dowie added another three minutes later to make it 3-0. Longo was subbed off straight after the third goal in the 82nd minute. A big win for MVC, who are only out of the top four on goal difference now and that’s with a game in hand over Brisbane Roar. Very much in the race for the semis if they keep on playing like that.

Up Next: Victory vs Canberra on Sunday at 6pm (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)

Hell yeah. The German season resumes in February, with Mouse on track to give Duisburg a big boost over the second half of the season. Like a new signing, as they say.

Up Next: More of that, please

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

Another spot on the bench for Winnie as he nears a West Ham return. This was the third time that he’d been in a matchday squad since Christmas after being out of them for more than twenty months prior. He didn’t play but the Hammers got themselves a very useful 1-1 draw against Everton in the David Moyes Derby. Fabian Balbuena and Dominic Calvert-Lewin each scoring late in the first half. Not sure if WHU are in a position to be rotating the squad too much but they do have two games this week, a tough trip to Leicester followed by an FA Cup home tie against West Brom so maybe this is Winston’s week coming up.

Up Next: Leicester City vs West Ham on Thursday at 8.30am (NZT)

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