Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)

MLS playoff madness on Monday, there were three consecutive games with New Zealanders potentially involved and it began with Winston Reid and Sporting Kansas City. They hosted San Jose Earthquakes and with Reid starting at CB he became the ninth New Zealander to start an MLS playoff game. Got a way to go to catch Simon Elliott’s record 27 playoff appearances but it’s a start. And speaking of starts, SKC made a perfect one as they went down and won an early corner which they took a fourth minute lead from as Roger Espinoza flicked in a header from the delivery.

86 minutes is a long time to defend though. San Jose snapped back to attention after a nervous opening and they were level on 22 mins in the most unusual way. A switch over the top found some space on the edge of SKC’s defence with the left back Amadou Dia caught marking Reid’s dude for some reason. The cross came in low and Reid stretched a foot out to block it but it fell to Carlos Fierro whose shot was miles off target, completely shanked, but shanked into the face of Roberto Punčec and as everyone spun around trying to figure out what happened the ball settled in the net. The goal was credited to Fierro despite the shot being off target... some weird MLS interpretation of rules. Scores even once more.

Then in the 34th minute they were behind. SKC had won an interception and committed forwards to try and take advantage but it came to nothing and all of a sudden they’re caught short of numbers at the back and a ball through for Christian Espinoza put him in a foot race with Winston Reid. Reidy still has many, many tools in his toolkit but pace is not one of them. Espinoza got to the byline and cut it back to Shea Salinas who stroked it home. San Jose have a reputation for being involved in a heap of mental games. This was fast shaping as another of them.

About five minutes later Reid went into the book. He’d misplaced a pass into the next line but rushed up to win it back, only for the San Jose fella to go down in a heap and Reid was right in his face like: what are you up to, mate? But the ref blew for a free kick and whipped out a yellow card – in fairness, Reid did seem to follow through with his knee in the tackle. The biffo continued as about two minutes later Chris Wondolowski (and then Espinoza) got up in Reid’s face for some reason. You already know the geezer didn’t back down. A very chippy game, mate. Still 2-1 down as the half came to a close.

Then this happened...

Winston Reid at the far post with the tiniest of touches, aye? No New Zealander has ever scored in the MLS postseason before... and still no New Zealander has because Reid’s tiny touch was so tiny that they awarded the goal to Ilie Sanchez for the flick-on. In fact the MLS website claims he “was at the back post for a tap-in finish, but let the initial shot bounce in” which clearly isn’t true, just watch the clip again, he obviously stuck a leg out at it. But he didn’t exactly catch it clean and it didn’t matter anyway. SKC had scored from a corner in the fourth minute of the first half and then scored from a corner in the third minute of the second half.

The game went on and on in that fashion until stoppage time when Sporting seemingly won it in stunning fashion. Johnny Russell chipped it down the line for Gerso Fernandes who whipped it into the box and it fell for Gianluca Busio who put it away. Insanity. But you remember that thing about the chaos of San Jose games? Well there were still a few minutes of time added on to time added on to go and we were seven minutes deep into four minutes it when Wondolowski slipped in behind Roberto Punčec and popped in a sneaky header at the far post. Somehow Sporting couldn’t close it out. More insanity.

Thus it was off to extra time, where this bad boy went end to end with all sorts of nervous tension infiltrating proceedings but you can watch the highlights for that because what mattered was that at the end of 120 minutes it was still 3-3 and we were off to penalties. SKC having done well to steady things despite the heartbreaking equaliser they conceded... plus their goalie Tim Meilia is one of the league’s absolute best at penalties, having only conceded 14 goals in 26 attempts against him.

Turns out that’s a helpful thing in a shootout. Penalties are supposed to be as suspenseful as it gets but not this time. Sporting scored their first three, Melia saved all three he faced. Like, save and then save and then save. Three outta three. That’ll clinch it. Sporting Kansas City advance to the Western Conference semis.

Sweet as. Also just a couple days before this game there emerged tabloid talk of Winston Reid staying with SKC on a permanent basis. Quite what his accountant would say about voiding the last three years of his West Ham contract is another matter but this does at least reflect well on his impact in the MLS so far...

90mins.com: “After looking a bit rusty during his first few weeks in Major League Soccer, Reid has managed to find his footing and has looked comfortable, starting five of the team's last eight games. According to MLS Soccer, he's done enough to convince Kansas that a permanent deal could be of interest. The situation isn't advanced at all just yet. It's more a case of the MLS side liking what they've seen from Reid. There's no option to buy in their loan deal, which expires at the end of December, so things would have to be agreed between them, West Ham and Reid himself.”

Up Next: Sporting KC vs Minnesota, Western Conference Semi-Finals, TBD

Michael Boxall, James Musa & Noah Billingsley – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

There was some bad timing for Minnesota’s playoff game against Colorado Rapids. International call-ups had caused havoc with who was gonna be available with the concern that they could be without several starters stuck in quarantine. As it happens, only one missed out (Robin Lod and Jan Gregus took chartered flights to get back on time, sponsored by the MLS itself). Romain Metanire was the unlucky bloke, the right back unable to get back from Madagascar in time. Sneaky chance for Noah Billingsley to make his first ever MLS start in the playoffs? Nah, they picked Hassani Dotson there instead but Billingsley did make the bench. Elsewhere there were zero surprises that Michael Boxall was back after being rested for the last two regular season games. In fact he wore the captain’s armband for this one. No sign of James Musa though who was unexpectedly left out of the matchday squad.

Both these teams entered the playoffs in good form but you know what? There was only one team ever gonna win it. Kevin Molino gave the Loons the lead in the 22nd minute with an opportunistic strike taking the ball away from teammate Emmanuel Reynoso as he was busy taking a big swan dive on the edge of the area. This after Colorado had made a sharp start... but failed to put a goal away to show for it whereas the Loons did exactly that first chance they got. Minnesota had been disappointed to go out at the first hurdle last playoffs (against Zlatan and the LA Galaxy). This time they weren’t taking any prisoners. Reynoso shoulda made it 2-0 on half an hour but he hit the post with most of an open goal to aim for.

The Rapids lived up to their name with another quick start to the second half but Bakaye Dibassy made an outrageous block on the line and that was basically the way this game was going. Minny were getting all the breaks. Well, apart from when Michael Boxall picked up a yellow card on 52 minutes. He’d mashed a dude in a challenge but play continued as the ref played advantage (coming back to book him after the phase) and that one should really have been an equaliser as well but two players ran to the far post where the ball was, one attacker and one defender, and not entirely sure what happened but the ball ended up over the crossbar.

Two minutes later Minnesota scored again. Robin Lod this time, picking out the bottom corner fresh from getting off his chartered flight. Kevin Molino then dinked in his second on 79 minutes to make it 3-0 and in the end the Loons got their first ever playoff win rather comfortably. They owned the big moments, that’s how you do it. Learning the lessons of 2019. They’ll face Winston Reid’s Sporting KC in the next round. No Noah Billingsley off the bench but Cap’n Boxall was influential as always.

Michael Boxall: “It means a lot. Walking off the field, I was just thinking back to where we were at when I first came to the club. It just stinks there was no one in the stands. We’ve had the best support, even through those rough years, and there was no one there to really celebrate it. I think everybody knows the supporters made this place what it is.”

As for the knee injury that kept him out of a couple games late in the regular season...

MB: “Yeah, the leg was fine. But yes, I think that time off, just felt a little bit rusty tonight. I felt like I couldn’t get the second wind until the 70th or 80th minute. Plus, a little bit chilly tonight, I think it’s one of those games where you don’t really sweat. But then we obviously have got Jan and Robin [Lod] who, what, flew in two days ago, didn’t train with us yesterday and played massive-massive roles for us. Now we’ve got the whole team here, obviously Romain [Metanire] will come back, and we’ve got a little time to prepare for the big one next weekend, next week. I think there’s no reason why we aren’t looking to win that one too.”

Up Next: Sporting KC vs Minnesota, Western Conference Semi-Finals, TBD

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

She doesn’t score often... but when she does it’s probably a Conti Cup game. Ria Percival has never scored in the WSL in 37 matches however with a cheeky strike against North London rivals Arsenal in the cup she’s now scored twice in three games in those EFL Cup group stages.

Despite the midweek nature of the game, it was also the last match before the international window so it was a pretty strong Arsenal squad that played. Vivianne Miedema, queen of goals, needed only 12 minutes before she’d put the Gunners in front after a sumptuous flick over the top by Kim Little. This after Jill Roord had almost scored already, Becky Spencer with a sharp save there. But Spurs found their feet after that and almost levelled through Rosella Ayane only Aussie keeper Lydia Williams pushed it to safety. Arsenal continued to threaten yet they weren’t putting them away which allowed for this...

Great run, tidy finish, all level in the North London Derby.

Angela Addison hit the crossbar for Spurs with a long ranger. At this point it felt like there might be an upset on the cards but then Caitlyn Foord slipped in an equaliser at the near post from Leah Williamson’s cross and suddenly that upset felt a long way away. However there was still time for Spurs to throw some numbers forward in chase of a draw. Percival nearly got through but she dragged her shot wide... however in the 88th minute with almost everybody forward to attack a corner kick somehow Shelina Zadorsky managed to manoeuvre amongst the crowd and put the ball over the line for the 2-2 draw.

The way the Conti Cup works, if there’s a draw they share a point each as with league play but then they also go to a penalty shootout for a bonus point. Unfortunately that didn’t go so well. Ria Percival took the second spottie for Tottenham and sent the keeper the wrong way as she opened her foot up and chipped it to the right side of the goal. No worries there. Both teams scored all four of their penalties before Lia Walti made it 5-4 to Arsenal but then Alex Morgan, who had missed a great chance to win it one on one in stoppage time, blasted her attempt over the bar. Hasn’t been the smoothest of times for her at Tottenham yet, oh well. A 2-2 draw in regular time and a 5-4 win on penalties for the bonus point to Arsenal.

The FA.com: “Spurs were more than a match for their North London rivals in this one, and the quality of their equaliser was testament to a fighting performance at Meadow Park. Siri Worm’s ball was a thing of beauty, and laid the chance on a plate for Ria Percival, who duly obliged with the finish”

What do ya reckon, Ria?

There was some more big drama in the days to follow. Spurs, who are still winless after seven WSL games, made the decision to sack co-managers Karen Hills and Juan Amoros with Rehane Skinner hired to take their place. Skinner had been the England assistant but leaves that role to take up this one. Hills and Amoros had been in charge together since 2011 and had guided this team up the divisions (Hills was there two years before Amoros too). Top flight footy is a ruthless thing but Spurs clearly haven’t lived up to expectations yet.

Up Next: Spurs vs Brighton, Monday 7 Dec at 3am (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

Hey, hey, hey. A bit of midweek Conti Cup action might not seem like the most furious of fixtures but there’s no such thing as a casual Merseyside Derby so for Meikayla Moore to start was a nice little development. She’s actually been quite common in this comp, getting 20 minutes off the bench in the win over Man Utd and then playing the whole game against Man City in a 3-0 loss (tough group, aye?). Here she lined up in the same defensive midfield role that she came of the bench to play in their last league game.

Crap start for the Reds. They were behind after only five minutes as Izzy Christensen passed one into an empty net after a defender and the keeper both had gone in half-heartedly for the ball and had it poked away from both of them. That was kinda the way of the early stages of this one, Everton looked very much like a team a division up on their rivals and they were usually that wee bit sharper to the ball. However as the half dragged on Liverpool did find a few outlets. Meikayla Moore even had a chance or two, one time trying to pass when she could have shot and getting caught in between the two, whilst also getting targetted from set pieces as she ought to be. Nothing concrete though. Rachel Furness had LFC’s best chance but she stabbed wide at the far post.

Problem was they couldn’t break down a strong Everton defence and the second half didn’t offer a whole lot more opportunities. It was Everton who came closest, Niamh Fahey having to clear a Hayley Raso attempt off the line with twelve minutes remaining. Raso also had a shot saved later on. It ended 1-0 to Everton which was about right on the surface of the game but Liverpool might easily have taken something had they started quicker and had a little more luck.

Meikayla Moore was subbed off after what was a pretty impressive 70 minutes from her. First half she was very defensive but managed to step up and win quite a few tackles/interceptions and her distribution when she did was great. Second half she clearly had more of a remit to press forward as an extra option, once or twice standing in a centre forward’s role after making a run, though eventually she was replaced by a more naturally attacking option in Amy Rodgers. Still, it’s starting to feel like she’s really embedding herself in this squad now. You love to see it.

Up Next: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at 3am on Monday 7 December (NZT)

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

Enough was enough for Burnley and for Chris Wood. Still winless this deep into the season, it was time to do something about that. Sean Dyche made the decision to bring Jay Rodriguez into the starting line-up in place of Ashley Barnes while it was pleasing to see the top CB pairing of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee once again. All the ingredients for success, particularly with Jay Rod looking fired up and desperate to contribute. Which is exactly what he did eight minutes into the game against Crystal Palace. It had been a positive but aimless start by Burnley when a loose ball found its way to Rodriguez who cleverly flicked it in behind the defence trusting that his mate Woodsy would be running onto it. And guess what? He was. From that angle there was no stopping him.

Burnley had held a lead for a total of ten minutes all season prior to that goal. This was their first goal scored at home this Premier League campaign and it was The Woodsman’s first since the opening game of the campaign. He’d gone eight games in all competitions without scoring. Very out of character. But now they had something to defend and a platform to get back to their usual identity of football.

That maybe wasn’t the best thing for the spectators watching on telly. Palace were without their talisman Wilfried Zaha for the first time in ages (he’s self-isolating) and it took them a while to get into their stride but by the end of the half they were forcing the issue through Andros Townsend and Michy Batshuayi in particular. These were the two oldest average starting XIs in the league by the way. And by the time the second half got going it was clear that this was not gonna be a big cathartic 4-0 victory to get Burnley up and rolling. They were gonna have to win it ugly if they were gonna win it at all.

For example, when Dwight McNeil gifted a back pass to Batshuayi and had his goalkeeper Nick Pope to thank for that not being the equaliser. Pope had already shown sharp hands to deny shots from distance by both Townsend and Nathaniel Clyne. Burnley did have a couple moments to put this game away. One fell to Johann Berg Gudmundsson after some nice interplay outside the area, Wood involved earlier in the build up, but Guddo chose to shoot first time on his left foot rather than taking it closer with a better angle on his non-preferred right and he pummelled it into the crossbar.

Then soon afterwards Wood had another shot where the ball was sent back into his path after a lil give and go but a touch from a defender put him off balance and he wasn’t able to get any power in his header. Robbie Brady came on for Burnley and lasted twenty minutes before going off injured again. Then right at the end Christian Benteke seemed to have tied it but Pope pulled off a miracle save to preserve the lead. Popey needed a concussion check afterwards which used up heaps of time and that break allowed Burnley to catch their breaths and close it out for a sloppy but desperately needed three points. Chris Wood’s early goal all they needed in the end.

Chris Wood: “Every goal is very nice so it’s nice to be on the board tonight, but it’s even more important to get three points again. It’s been a bit of time coming but it was nice to get off the mark in that sense as a group and the defence has done well to see out the game really well. It was a fantastic performance from them. We’ve been working hard trying to put it right and thankfully tonight we did.

It’s a big one. It’s one we’ve been waiting a while for, but we knew it was coming because the performances have started adding up, so it was nice to actually get it over the line. The last few games are starting to show what we’re truly about. The first three or four games weren’t us and it’s nice to show the work we’re doing is coming to the fore and getting us what we deserve, I think. We played well and nullified them when they had the chance.”

Nice.

Up Next: Man City away on Sunday at 4am (NZT)

CJ Bott - Vålerenga / Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

Norwegian Cup semi-final. Vålerenga vs Avaldsnes. CJ Bott vs Vic Esson... although CJ Bott didn’t start which was disappointing but expected. Speaking of expectations, according to the local media this game was expected to be a close one after the two teams drew 0-0 in the league a couple months back but that’s not quite how it happened.

Esson had to be sharp to tip one of those accidental crosses over the bar but then a seven minute splash ruined everything. Sherida Spitse scored first on 25 minutes with a rocket that Esson got a hand to but couldn’t stop. Five minutes later she scored again with a low curler that Esson wasn’t able to reach. And two minutes after that Synne Jensen tapped in on the end of a long ball over the top. Blown out of the water in a short spell. Dejana Stefanovic bagged a fourth with a header from a corner early in the second half and there was no coming back from that. 4-0 to Vålerenga, who advance to the final to face LSK Kvinner and in two weeks will have the chance to wrap up the league title when the rescheduled final round takes place.

Oh and there’s Champions League coming up too. This after they cruised past Lithuanian club Gintra in the final qualifying round. Even having to play away they still cruised to a 7-0 win. CJ Bott was on the bench to begin with but came on in the 67th minute with the game long since wrapped up, some handy minutes in the legs there. The win takes them through to the competition proper for the first time ever. They’ll find out who they’re playing tomorrow when the draw takes place.

Up Next: 1am on Monday 7 December in the final round of the league against Arna-Bjørnar (NZT)

Marko Stamenic – FC Kobenhavn (Danish Superliga)

What’s that you say? Marko Stamenic included in his first proper first team squad for FC Copenhagen? Yeah you’d better believe it. Stamenic signed with FCK back in September and went into the U19s squad where he scored in the final of the youth cup as Copenhagen lifted the trophy. He recently scored for the first team against the U19s in an intra-squad friendly. That was a 3x30min game in which a number of players switched teams as it went along – Stamenic actually started for what was classed as a ‘reinforced’ U19s team and then later on scored against that same group (well, not the ‘same’ group exactly with all the subs but you know what’s up). That one ended 4-4.

This promotion came after the international break which is no coincidence as Carlos Zeca and Viktor Fischer were stuck in quarantine. They also had a dude out with coronavirus and three other injuries hence Stamenic cracked the 19-man travelling squad to face Randers. One player had to miss out on the bench from that group... but it wasn’t Marko. No way. Not only was he in the squad but they gave him a bloody starting debut in midfield!

(And his picture on the tweeted team sheet).

It hasn’t been the best season for FCK so far. However in a game without an abundance of shooting opportunities they did settle into more of the possession, a slight edge in that midfield battle. Stamenic didn’t have much to do at the beginning as his midfield partner, a block called Jonas Wind, took on more of the ball-playing responsibilities... so Stamenic asserted himself with a few defensive interventions instead. Getting into the rough work in a deeper role, giving away a few free kicks in the process but letting Randers know he wasn’t there to be intimidated. He’s a big fella for an 18 year old, no worries there. Then as the game progressed he began to get more touches of the ball, knocking it around and looking very tidy. By no means flawless but also by no means out of his depth. A really assured debut from a bloke who was coming off the bench for Team Wellington a year ago.

But despite having the better of the first half, FCK went into the sheds down 1-0. They’d already started showing some shaky signs and five minutes before the break they broke. A snapshot volley from the edge of the area seemed to come almost from nowhere but it pinged off the crossbar and way up into the air. Both goalkeeper and defender were there to cover it as it came down but somehow striker Marvin Egho slipped around the both of them to tap it in from close range instead. Not a good one to concede and they were a tad fortunate they didn’t concede again before the half was out.

FCK improved in the second half and would level the game up through a side-footer from Mikkel Kaufmann on 54 minutes and then Zanka nearly gave them the lead when he whacked one off the frame of the goal. Meanwhile Marko Stamenic kept chucking himself about... he picked up a long-overdue yellow card in the 66th minute for dragging down an attacker to stop a break from eventuating. That was about his fifth or sixth foul of the day. He’d be replaced five minutes later with the risk of a red rather high and with Randers, sorry to say it, having just retaken the lead via Alhaji Kamara on the counter attack. Always something Copenhagen were vulnerable to. It ended 2-1 to Randers and FCK tumble to tenth on the ladder with only three wins from nine games.

Looks like the fans rated what Marko offered up though...

Up Next: SonderjyskE vs FCK, Monday at 4am (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

One more MLS bloke to talk about but it’ll be the last time we talk about him for a little while because he was an unused sub for Portland Timbers’ playoff game against FC Dallas and they bloody lost. It was a game lacking in fun as an empty stadium and a pair of nervous teams added up to some attritional football. Portland had a lot of ball in good areas but couldn’t find a way through the low block from Dallas, too often hesitating to shoot when they had the openings. Probably playing the occasion rather than the opposition... the cold and rain didn’t help either. Nor did Eryck Williamson having to go off injured in the first half or top striker Jeremy Ebobisse only being able to play off the bench having been out with concussion. Safe to say there were troubles.

But despite all that Jorge Villafaña seemed to have won it when he put Portland in front in the 82nd minute. Only drama there was that this team has made a habit of conceding late goals and with Bill Tuiloma still with his tracksuit on, no sign of getting called upon as a defensive closer with the narrow lead, 17 year old FCD sub Ricardo Pepi snuck in behind the defence and equalised in stoppage time. Absolutely horrid goal to be conceding with your season on the line. That took the game into a very boring extra time period and then penalties after that, where the first fifteen takers all scored before Villafaña who had so nearly been the hero instead became the villain when he missed the sixteenth and Portland were out. 1-1 after extras, 8-7 on penalties.

Should. Have. Played. Billy.

Thus the Timbers’ 2020 season ends with a first round playoff exit after a third place conference finish. They did win the MLS Is Back Tournament so it was a positive season overall but there’ll be disappointment at being upset like they were in the playoffs. Bill Tuiloma spent the season as the next choice alternate central defender which had him on the bench in a full strength team but he did get plenty of starts as line-ups were rotated around amidst a condensed schedule. 14 appearances for Bill Tuiloma. 9 of them starts, 5 as a sub, 823 minutes in total. He scored one goal and had one assist and impressively earned zero bookings. He’s under contract for next season so should be back for another swing in 2021.

Up Next: Offseason blues

Olivia Chance – Brisbane Roar (Australian W-League)

Woah hold on a second. Didn’t see this one coming with Livvy Chance having only signed with Sheffield United a few months back but okay, why not? Chance wasn’t in the squad either time as Sheffield United won 4-0 against Coventry in the WSL Cup and then 1-0 in the Championship against Charlton earlier this week so that probably explains that. She’d played 90 combined Championship minutes for the Blades across two appearances, sitting on the bench unused on four occasions, and also started one Conti Cup game but was an unused sub in the other. It was early days in her Blades career but not a huge amount of opportunities for her there and that might have played a part in this move... though that warm Aussie summer (compared to a Yorkshire winter) doesn’t go unconsidered either.

Olivia Chance: “I haven’t had the chance to play in the W-League during my career and the opportunity do so in the current climate was one I couldn’t turn down. I’ve spent eight years outside of New Zealand and to have the opportunity to play so close to home is something I always wanted to do. With a few Kiwis in the league, I’ve always had a look at how it’s going. It’s great to have seen the growth of the league and it will be nice to experience it myself. I’ve spent the last four years in England and haven’t seen a whole lot of sun. I am very excited to meet the team, the staff and see Australia as a whole.”

BR Coach Jake Goodship: “Olivia is another terrific addition to our squad to the upcoming season. She has plenty of experience at clubs across Europe and she’s been to the pinnacle of our sport internationally at the World Cup in 2019. It’s great to be able to introduce another player to the W-League and hopefully it’s the first season of many in Brisbane for Olivia.”

So there you go. Chance joins Claudia Bunge (Melbourne Victory) and Paige Satchell (Canberra United) as the kiwis confirmed for the W-League next season, with Annalie Longo having also let the cat out of the bag that she’s planning to sign for the Victory again. One or two other names have been bandied about with the season kicking off the day after Boxing Day.

Up Next: Preseason vibes

Liberato Cacace – Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League)

Out of the international break having had heaps of time to dwell on the loss they had before it and STVV were away to OH Leuven seeking to get back into the winner’s lounge and maybe to save Kevin Muscat’s job while they’re at it. Liberato Cacace named to start at left back as has become the custom. Away we go then.

Libby got himself involved early, almost setting up a goal for Duckens Nazon with a driven ball across the six yard box after a lung-busting run down the wing on the counter... but the keeper got there first and pushed it away. However Nazon scored one for real in the 27th minute as he found just enough space to pick out the bottom corner from 20 yards out. Then he got booked for celebrating in front of the OHL manager, Marc Brys, who used to be the STVV gaffer and had dropped Nazon to the reserves, lol. Smooth little finish there and STVV were holding the ball pretty well in this one. Defs had the better chances in the first half.

Kevin Muscat had reverted to a back four coming out of the international break presumably in order to get more numbers forward to score some damn goals. So far so good as they reached first half stoppage time... but then Ibrahima Sankhon got a bit too close to an attacker and next thing the ref was pointing to the spot. Thomas Henry converted the penalty to bring the half to a close with events even at onesies.

When you’re desperate for a win it doesn’t really help when you’ve got Yuma Suzuki putting one on a platter for Oleksandr Filippov and he somehow stabs it wide when it looked easier to score than to miss. That was 54 mins into the match, golden chance gone begging. STVV were made to regret that one twenty minutes later when OHL took the lead. For some reason the middle of their defence was wide open as a ball came across and Josh Eppiah’s shot was partially blocked but not enough to keep it from dribbling over the line.

Luckily with seven minutes left Nazon appeared again and saved them. He stepped in between a pair of hesitating defenders with STVV on attack and then finished well to make it 2-2. Cacace hadn’t been as prominent going forward because of the change in formation but jeez he’d been on top of things defensively. Multiple times he shouldered fellas off the ball as wingers tried to get around him – credited with eight interceptions, far and away the most in the game, and also getting more touches of the ball than anyone else on his team. He was looking quick too, that fitness getting up to speed in the faster style of play already. He did get a yellow card in stoppage time though. Very much deserved, dragging a dude back by the shoulder and conceding a free kick in a dangerous area... thankfully the cross was dealt with by the first defender and eventually they got it cleared. Game ended in a 2-2 draw which doesn’t help the Canaries too much but it also doesn’t make things any worse in the meantime.

Up Next: Sunday at 4.15am against Waasland-Beveren (NZT)

Joel Stevens & Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Ettan Södra)

Once again Värnamo failed to win. A couple of months ago they were absolutely cruising towards promotion but with a 1-1 draw against Lindome it became six consecutive games without a win. A potentially disastrous collapse right at the business end of the season, incredible to see this formerly free-scoring team suddenly forget where the goal is entirely. They fell behind early against Lindome in some shocking weather conditions though managed to equalise in the 29th minute thanks to Michael Kargbo. Both NZers started this match with FDV at left back and Stevens ahead of him on the wing... Stevens going close in the second half with a shot that the keeper closed down. Stevens was later replaced on 77 minutes. As you can see from the highlights, the Varnies were a lot better in the second half but ultimately they lacked that finishing touch and had to settle for more dropped points.

But wouldn’t ya know it, it turned out a draw was all they needed. Landskrona went and lost their own game which leaves IFK Värnamo four points clear with only one round remaining... automatic promotion, baby! The Varnies are going to the Ettan. You know what that means...

IFKV’s game was on before the Landskrona game so apparently they were following it on the team bus heading back. Then the bus arrived home and it was still only half-time when when everyone went their separate ways. They made it pretty difficult on themselves with that rotten late season form but, like the bus, they got there in the end.

Up Next: Assyriska Turabdin at home at 2am on Sunday... then the Superettan in 2021 (NZT)

Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)

Valour FC Head Coach & GM Rob Gale: “Dyer showed a lot of potential on a daily basis in training as he adapted to a new country and new environment. He’s versatile, physically strong and showed he can be an attacking threat as he settled into The Island Games. We’re delighted to have him back and I think there’s a lot more to come from him in a full season in 2021.”

There ya go. Dyer played six times scoring one goal in the previous CPL season. That season ended weirdly (in keeping with the nature of 2020) and Dyer had spoken back then about reluctantly having to explore other options in order to play an actual decent number of football games but nothing happened there and now he’s talking about never even considering ever leaving so dunno what’s up with that. He’s in a good place with Valour though, having played well earlier in the year and hopefully he’ll build on that even more now.

Moses Dyer: “The way the season finished… everything just felt so rushed. We only had seven games and when it finished it felt like it was just getting started. That’s why I decided straight away I wanted to come back. The group of boys were top notch, I felt comfortable and was enjoying it and then, just like that, it finished. I didn’t think about anything else, any other options. Straight away I knew I wanted to come back. Obviously we all knew how long this off-season was going to be so it’s not like I didn’t think about a loan deal but I knew I was going to come back. That’s why I talked to the coach about that right after the last game.”

That article reckons he’s in Norway at the moment which was where he played pro before moving to Canada. Doesn’t exactly add up with the immediate re-signing thing but that must be what he means about thinking of a loan deal. The next CPL season doesn’t start until March so he’s even got time to come back to Aotearoa for Christmas too.

Up Next: Quarantining

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

A 1-1 draw away to Mansfield Town. Nicky Maynard had given the home team the lead midway through the second half but Luke Norris struck with five minutes to go to sneak a point for CU. Keeps the points ticking over with Colchester in seventh. Full game for Tommy Smith as per.

Tommy Smith: “We’re in the play-off positions and that’s where we want to be. We also have a game in hand, so if we win that we can go even higher. I came here to win promotion and that’s got to be the goal. We’ve started quite well and our home form has been really impressive. We just need to kick on now and if we win our game in hand, we go even higher in the table.

I’m enjoying it and I don’t want to be a League Two footballer for very long, so hopefully we can get promoted this season. If you look at the facilities here and the training ground, it’s definitely up there with the very best among League Two clubs. Everything is there for us to be a League One club and the goal is to go beyond that but we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Up Next: Wednesday at 8am away to Exeter City (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

No sign of Ryan Thomas this week. He missed their last game before the break with injury and it had been suggested he was still in a little bit of doubt and sure enough he wasn’t in the squad as PSV lined up against FC Twente. Bit of a crap game too. Donyell Malen scored early but Eran Zahavi missed a penalty and then Danlio scored one for FCT in the second half for a 1-1 draw. PSV drop to fourth with this result. Thomas should be good for next week. He wasn’t necessarily expected to even miss this game but they were a bit cautious with him given they’ve got a fair few midfielders in town.

Up Next: Europa League action against PAOK on Friday at 9am (NZT)

Michael Woud – Almere City (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

That’s more like it. After the chaos of that 7-2 defeat last week Almere City returned to form instantaneously with a 3-0 win over Go Ahead Eagles. Frederik Helstrup (40’), Oussama Bouyaghlafen (68’), and Xian Emmers (76’) with the goals. Yet another clean sheet for Woud – that’s seven in 13 games now as Almere have gone top of the table, two points clear of Cambuur although that lot do have a game in hand.

Up Next: FC Volendam vs Almere, Saturday at 9am (NZT)

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