Flying Kiwis – November 3
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
He’s the only kiwi bloke playing in the competition proper of either major European competition this season. No pressure or anything, even having one fella is pretty rare. Thommo also logged a trio of group stage games last season for PSV so when he walked out there to start against Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus – and proper stats are extremely tricky to gather because of the changing nature of this competition over the years – pretty sure that meant only Wynton Rufer had played more times in the Europa League/UEFA Cup as a New Zealander. Chris Wood is the only other kiwi to have scored in this competition (excluding qualifying).
However things remain stacked against PSV at the moment. Eight players were out after testing positive for coronavirus while two more were denied entry to Cyprus having only recently recovered. Add in a couple injuries and things were skint. They were coming off back to back 2-1 defeats as well – against Granada in the Europas and Vitesse in the league. Jorritt Hendrix had to slip from midfield into central defence to fill out a team. Little bit awkward... but it did mean Ryan Thomas sliding back into that holding midfield role after playing further forwards last game. Also in fairness while the virus has wrecked their depth, there were only two dudes who started the previous Europa game who were now unavailable.
This was an uneventful game right up until it wasn’t. For most of the first half hour both teams worked the ball around for wayward crosses and a few smart defensive interventions. Ryan Thomas was operating with class in the middle, allowed to be the deep-lying instigator next to Ibrahim Sangare who brings more power and directness in complement. But while PSV had more of the ball, there hadn’t really been any notable chances either way... until Jorritt Hendrix gave away a free kick just over halfway and Jordi Gómez rushed up to strike it first time from the free kick and absolutely brilliantly lifted it over the keeper and into the net from in his own half. Some genuine drama about it as it looked like the ball was still moving as it was struck but damn what a goal.
Luckily that sparked PSV into a bit of action and a slick move from Götze to Madueke to Malen had them level on 40 minutes. Back to evens then although Omonia asked a few more questions early in the second half, with Thommo in amongst it all. Fella picked up a yellow card in the first minute of the stanza for a late challenge and then not so long after that he almost had a howler as he under-hit a backpass thinking the keeper was stepping up. The keeper then didn’t step up and blushes were only spared by a shot over the crossbar.
The game settled into a pattern after a while and PSV began to turn the screws in the last half hour. Only problem was they were up against a very crowded defence by that point. Still, it ain’t like they didn’t have chances. Mario Gotze and Noni Madueke were involved in most things, but a few too many times they took a touch too many or were too precious with their build-ups. Madueke had a couple good shots, one blocked wide on the turn. Mo Ihattaren unleashed a couple. Philipp Max hit the side-netting. Ryan Thomas had a crack from distance too but it was blocked straight away. After going out in the group stages a year ago they couldn’t really afford to go winless from their first two games here but time was ticking away...
Ryan Thomas moved into a more attacking position as Adrian Fein came on off the bench – the only sub that Roger Schmidt would make (given the inexperience on his bench). That got Thommo in areas to link with Gotze and bring the fullbacks into the game on the overlap and PSV only turned the screws tighter from there. Malen had a great chance on 83 minutes but the keeper made a diving stop. Ihattaren couldn’t put one away after Gotze had picked him out with a brilliant ball. We were deep into the two minutes of stoppage time by now. Barely time for one more chance.
Then this happened...
91:42 on the clock when that bad boy went in, with the sneaky assist there from Ryan Thomas to make it happen. Donyell Malen with a double, PSV with a 2-1 win and a huge boost to the confidences. Decent little 87% passing completion for Thommo as well.
However the coronavirus doesn’t go away because you win a game of football and on Monday morning NZT the PSV folks had to play ADO Den Haag on the short turnaround still missing a chunk of their squad. As it happens the midfield is about the only position on the park where Roger Schimdt has spare players so that was where the rotation happened with Adrian Fein coming in for his first start... but that didn’t mean Ryan Thomas was dropped or nothing. It meant that for probably the only time in his entire career that he had to start a game at right back with the gaffer given no real option but to pick a makeshift option (the left back was a natural winger). Not the only time Thomas has ever played there as he did once sit in for half an hour at fullback in a game last season plus there was a defensive crisis back at PEC Zwolle another time which necessitated a fullback cameo. But still... very rare.
PSV had actually applied to the Dutch football federation to have the game postponed given the trip back from Cyprus and the 13 unavailable players... but that was denied. Which turned out to be a good thing because ADO were pretty crap and PSV were able to roll them for a valuable 4-0 win despite all the adversity.
Nothing much too it. Playing at fullback actually allowed Thommo to get further forward than he usually would, getting involved in some rapid-fire passing moves that PSV were ripping off on attack. He was heavily involved in a move that ended up with Eran Zahavi heading wide inside five minutes. That fella Zahavi soon earned himself a penalty which he also scored for a 16th minute lead that PSV would take into the half-time break. Still a close game despite some silky football - there was one bonkers move where Mo Ihattaren had consecutive shots blocked inside the six yard box then Ryan Thomas’ volley was likewise cleared off the line from the rebound. But in the 51st minute Noni Madueke swatted one into the bottom corner from outside the area and finally PSV had some room to breathe.
Then this happened...
Quite a strike that. It came after Mario Gotze had headed one off the post and the dude who knocked it back to him was a young American fella on for his debut. Silver linings of all the absentees. This was Thommo’s third goal for the club and his first of the season. Get in. Thomas was then subbed off for the last few minutes and Madueke scored a sharp second in injury time. 4-0 to PSV, how about that? Not a bad week despite all the drama.
Ryan Thomas: “I’ve never experienced a situation like this before, with so many players missing. So therefore I think we did a good job... To be honest, we always expected that we were going to play. The club still tried [to postpone the game] but ran into a wall at the KNVB. The federation didn’t want to help us. Everyone has little problems and aches and pains. That’s why the club tried to postpone it and give us a little more break. But we keep going.”
Up Next: PAOK vs PSV in the Europa League at 6.55am on Friday (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
There are two things we’re all watching Minnesota United for at the moment. One is the results, obviously, as we near the playoffs with seedings on the line and all that. The other is Michael Boxall’s ever-present status for the Loons, having played every single minute of the MLS season so far. Both of those two factors copped a real scare midweek against Colorado Rapids.
In keeping with recent games for Minnesota, who are very definitely in the late season grind these days, it wasn’t the prettiest match you’ll ever see. But the Loons did take the lead late in the first half, turning the ball over in a tricky area and flooding forward with numbers leading to Robin Lod banging in the goal. This was about a minute after Boxall had lashed a header over the crossbar from a corner kick.
Decent spot to be in... but Minnesota came out slack after the break and despite surviving that wobble they were always kinda on the edge and in the 69th minute Colorado drew level. Bit of space in the box, keeper dragged out, a clever pass onwards, and a sitter for Andre Shinyashiki. Michael Boxall did his best to scramble across and prevent it but not only was he too late... he also collided with the post and went down injured. Large intake of breath for a player who never gets injured. But true to form he was able to dust himself off and complete the game.
Taking inspiration from their captain for the day, the Loons dusted themselves off as a team and also finished the game. Kevin Molino hit the post almost immediately after the goal, with Lod’s shot tipped over on the follow up. Molino had another cut-back saved. Then in the 89th minute they won it thanks to a Lalas Abubakar own goal. Took his eye off the cross or something and it sorted bounced in off him with an unexpected grace. Whatever... Minnesota won it 2-1 and are now guaranteed a playoff spot. Next step is to get a home playoff.
Now here’s Brent Kallman, who started his first game of the season here at CB having spent the year to date on loan in the USL working his way back from injury, talking about Michael Boxall in some glowing terms...
Brent Kallman on the main man Boxy: “He’s a machine. I mean the guy never gets hurt … I was seeing him holding his leg there and for a second I was like ‘What? This isn’t supposed to happen. This can’t happen!’ But he’s just a guy that … he’s always gotten better. And that’s something that I’ve tried to do in my career, I feel like I’m still improving at, you know I just turned 30, and Boxy is the same way, but even more so. Ever since he’s got to the club, he has continually gotten better. Month after month after month … and it’s just showing off this year. He’s in great form, he’s super well-rounded. He gives the team a ton and his availability is massive. I mean, he’s available to play in this tight schedule, we play games midweek, weekend, midweek and he’s healthy to go … and not everyone can do that. It’s a special gift that he has, so he’s massive for the group.”
It ain’t only his teammates who love him either. The club have included Boxall as one of their two nominees for the MLS MVP award for 2020 (along with Kevin Molino – amongst 46 total nominees on the longlist). He’s not gonna win that one but perhaps there’s an outside chance he goes a bit further in the Defender of the Year stakes for which he’s also on the longlist. Winston Reid is on that DOY longlist too despite only playing part of the season. The voting for these awards is done by MLS players, clubs, and select media members and voting lasts for another week.
And that’s that for this FKs edition. They were supposed to play Sporting Kansas City on the weekend but that game ended up being cancelled after a couple positive corona tests in the Minnesota camp. Stink for Winston Reid who had missed the last two SKC games as a precaution after a muscle tweak in pre-game warm-ups. It had been hinted that he’d return for this one but s’pose he won’t argue with the extra break. There was another MLS game postponed for the same reason (LAFC with some positives too) and that game’s been rescheduled but Minnesota are too far behind to catch up in this last week of the regular season so they’ll only play 21 games instead of 23. That means that not all teams will end on the same games played therefore the league table will now be decided on a points per game basis. Which does no harm... the three Western Conference teams with NZers who’ve played this season are currently in the top four by that metric.
Up Next: Minnesota vs Chicago, Thursday at 2pm (NZT)
Katie Rood - Lewes FC (English Championship)
Yeah, get in. Great run and a really great finish from that angle with the ball drifting away from goal and Katie Rood is on the board for the new season. This in a very exciting game up against Liverpool (for whom Meikayla Moore was an unused sub). Both these two teams have started the season fantastically, which was expected from Liverpool but not so much from Lewes – but some top quality defence and a few timely goals have gotten them in the early running in what’s looking like an extremely competitive Championship.
Katie Rood was in amongst it from the very start, setting up Emily Donovan for an early chance... however it was Liverpool who’d break the deadlock midway through the first half as Amalie Thestrup slipped one in at the near post. The Reds proceeded to threaten a second but just before the break Roodie got her goal to even things up again. Might as well have another look at it, aye?
Liverpool took the lead again through a ripper of a volley from Rinsola Babajide on 58 minutes, which put Lewes in a tricky situation. They hadn’t conceded a goal since the first game of the Champo season – four clean sheets in a row – but now they were in a situation having to chase the game needing a goal. Quarter of an hour to go and they got it. Ellie Hack turning in a corner kick. Lewes then pushed on to try and win the thing but 2-2 was the way it ended.
Katie Rood: “I think we were really solid defensively but we knew if we could stay organised and defend well, then we could create chances up front as well. We proved our resilience having conceded twice before battling for a draw. As a team, we are super strong and defensively organised so we know that we can take on any team in this league. If we show up on the day by being organised and resilient then we can take a point. Liverpool are a very solid team and have scored 11 goals recently, we know that they will create clear-cut opportunities and I think as long as we are solid and doing our bit, we can create opportunities. Now we have to take it forward and keep building on from this performance.”
Up Next: London Bees vs Lewes, WSL Cup, Thursday at 8.45am (NZT)
Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)
The state of the Toppserien coming into this week was simple. Three games to go, three teams separated by a single point at the top of the ladder. Two of those teams were playing each other: Rosenborg against Avaldsnes. The other is Vålerenga who CJ Bott plays for. Two outta those three teams with Flying Kiwis.
It didn’t work for Avaldsnes. They’re the outsiders of the competing trio and they might have to settle for third after conceding three against Rosenborg. Both teams entered the match on unbeaten streaks and full of confidence yet it was Rosenborg who struck first, Lisa-Marie Utland giving them the lead in the 13th minute... just beating Vic Esson at the near post as she flicked on a cross. Esson got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. She was beaten again soon after but that goal was disallowed as the ball had gone out of play, no worries. Avaldsnes then rallied to level things up on 33 minutes as Aussie Clare Polkinghorne headed in from a corner kick and maybe coulda gone in front on a luckier day as Olaug Tvedten’s long range shot drew a good save.
But Rosenborg stepped it up in the second half. A powerful back-post header from Utland gave Esson no chance in goal on 61 minutes and for the final half an hour it was Avaldnses just trying to hold on to keep themselves in range in case that one big chance fell their way and that meant a whole lot of Vic Esson. Tipping a volley over the top in mid-air. Parrying away a low drive through traffic. Tipping a low shot around the post. Then when she finally did concede it had more than a little controversy about it. Coming out to punch a deep free kick swung into the mixer, Esson was absolutely clattered by a Rosengord attacker but the ref deemed it incidental and Ina Lundereng Vårhus was free to head into an empty net for the game-clinching goal in the 87th minute. Plenty of arguments over that but the goal was upheld after a chat with the assistant ref... somehow.
Up Next: Avaldsnes vs Klepp on Sunday at 1am (NZT)
CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)
As for this lot, they had no troubles in getting past LSK Kvinner. Vålerenga took a 28th minute lead then scored on either side of the half-time break to take a commanding 3-0 lead. A few late goals meant it ended up at 4-2 but Vålerenga were never in doubt for the win... which allowed for a nice little three minute cameo for CJ Bott. Her first season in Norway has been kinda ruined by injury and this was her first appearance for five weeks (with an international break in there, to be fair). Her third game overall.
This win means that LSK’s six year reign as champions has officially ended. They’re stuck in fourth too far behind. Thus with two rounds remaining Vålerenga are one point clear of Rosenborg, with Avaldsnes four points back and needing a bit of a miracle to win from here (although second place means Champions League qualification so heaps to play for). None of those top three sides play each other again so it’s all a matter of taking care of business. Speaking of Champions League... Vålerenga’s first round qualifier is this week. Rather significant few games coming up for them, then.
Up Next: Vålerenga vs KI, UCL qualifiers, Thursday at 6am (NZT)
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
Without a win yet this league season, still without the injured Ben Mee, and up against Chelsea this week who are so stacked for attacking players that when Christian Pulisic has a sneaky injury in warm-ups they can just bring in Timo Werner to replace him. Having said that, Chelsea’s defence isn’t nearly as stacked and with some absolutely swirling wins at Turf Moor there was a clear strategy from Sean Dyche’s fellas to pump the ball long in the air towards Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes at any opportunity.
But it didn’t quite work. Chelsea were mostly able to keep the ball on the deck and dominate possession, picking out their fullbacks in space over and over again. And with N’Golo Kante bossing the midfield behind Chelsea’s forward press it meant that service to The Woodsman was extremely limited and what did make it there was dealt with by Thiago Silva. Ash Barnes did have a semi-decent chance from a ball over the top which he lifted way above the crossbar. Wood’s only notable moment in the first half was a similar one where Kurt Zouma did enough physically to hold him off. Nah instead it was Chelsea setting the pace and they went into the sheds with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Hakim Ziyech, who sent Nick Pope the wrong way after a Tammy Abraham lay-off on half an hour.
Curiously Burnley came back out having made a sub with Jay Rodriguez replacing Josh Brownhill – a striker for a midfielder. Rodriguez and Dwight McNeil then moved from traditional wing roles to more roaming playmaker roles, allowing Rodriguez to support the two strikers and McNeil basically just to go wherever the ball was to get involved. And in fairness the first quarter of an hour of the second half was the best of the game for the Clarets, stabilising things with a lot more ball and even creating the odd mini chance.
But then Kurt Zouma thumped in a header from a corner in the 63rd min from Mason Mount’s delivery and it was 2-0. And about ten minutes later Werner scored a silky one. 3-0 was the final score and Burnley, with a fifth defeat from six games, sink to the bottom of the Premier League table. You’d hardly even know Chris Wood was playing either, just 23 touches of the ball in 90 minutes. He had practically nothing to work with.
Up Next: Away to Brighton on Saturday at 6.30am (NZT)
Jana Radosavljević - Werder Bremen (German Bundesliga)
Another week, another goal for Rado. Fresh off scoring her first for Werder Bremen in a 1-0 win over SC Sand before the international break, she’s now found the net in consecutive games after coming off the bench to bring the magic in a 2-0 win over Fortuna Köln in the second round of the DFP-Pokal. Radosavljević was subbed on at half-time with the game still scoreless and ten minutes after coming on she proceeded to serve up the assist for Ricarda Walkling to tap one in and then bagged one of her own in the last minute of the match (after Werder had missed a penalty).
Not the best performance but the win takes them into the round of sixteen... courtesy of that excellent pair of Jana Radosavljević moments. The assist was just as good as the goal, gliding past a defender then slipping it through the line. Then the goal itself she did something similar only inside the box this time and thumping her shot across the keeper to score. Hell yeah.
Up Next: Away to Freiburg at 2am on Monday (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
It was a sketchy one for a while there. 50-odd minutes and it was still goalless in a game that Rosengård desperately needed to win to stay in the mix for the league title, up against Uppsala. But then a penalty was won, Jelena Cankovic converted it, and they ran away with it from there. Ali Riley started on the bench but was subbed on straight after Mimmi Larsson’s goal to make it 2-0 on 59 minutes. That meant about the first thing she got to do was watch Uppsala score after a defensive giveaway to make it 2-1, slightly nervous, before Anna Anvegård and Nathalie Born scored back to back soon after to kill off the contest. Cankovic added another one right at the end and Rosengård won it 5-1. Highlights here.
Unfortunately Kopparbergs / Göteborg went and beat Växjö 3-0 so with two games remaining FCR are still four points back and it probably ain’t happening for them. On the other hand, Växjö losing is good news for Djurgården and Hannah Wilkinson, who lost 3-2 against Eskilstuna and remain one point behind those jokers but more importantly one point ahead of the final relegation spot. Pretty devastating loss for them this week too as they were 2-1 up when Hannah Wilkinson (making the start) was subbed off... in fact they were still 2-1 up after 86 minutes but two late goals doomed them, three misplaced points that they’ll be looking back on rather painfully if they don’t avoid the drop.
By the way, the Djurgården men’s team also lost 3-2... against Falkenbergs. Matt Garbett was an unused sub in that one so it won’t get the write-up treatment here but those three points lift them out of the automatic relegation spot and into the playoff and just one point short of safety. They’ve got four games left to save themselves.
Up Next: Piteå vs Rosengård on Monday at 2am & Umeå vs Djurgården on Monday at 3am (NZT)
Olivia Chance – Sheffield United (English Championship)
Mentioned the other two Ferns in the Champo but right now it’s Sheffield United who are leading the way. This after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, putting them first on goal difference (having kept four clean sheets in a row). It gets better because Olivia Chance got the start here too, picked as the attacking player in a midfield triangle – her first league start for the Blades and second start overall.
Didn’t quite go as planned though, Palace frustrated Sheff Utd in that first half (though an early shot from Liv Chance was about as close as they’d get) and with the game still level at the break Chance was one of two players subbed off in a wee tactical shift. Courtney Sweetman-Kirk came on for her and within seven minutes of the second half kick-off they were up 2-0 and CSK had scored the second. Jade Pennock with the first. And Katie Wilkinson added a third in the last quarter of an hour. Rolled them in the second stanza which in a pesky twist didn’t include their kiwi midfielder... but the games will come thick and fast for the next few weeks, there’ll be more opportunities.
Neil Redfearn, SUFC manager: “I thought we played well enough in the first half but just didn't look like scoring. We had to change it, so went from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2. I said to the girls at half-time, it was no slant on anyone who had to come off but we had to change it to get the three points. We have enough possession and we dominate games, but in the first half we were a bit lax, a bit loose with our conviction in the final third. It worked better for us going two up top and the changes just freshened things up. We scored three and had three disallowed, so it wasn't a bad day.”
Up Next: Conti Cup footy against Durham at 8.30am on Thursday (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
There was a little bit of a worry that Joe Bell might return to the bench once their midfield got back to full health but so far so good as the fella started both games this week coming out of the international break and a subsequent week off. The first was against Haugesund and Bell was involved from the start with two early sighters picking up the ball outside the area... but one was hit limply straight at the keeper and the other was blasted into the stands. Then Haugesund took a 24th minute lead through Ibrahima Wadji.
That goal proved to be the defining moment of an otherwise pretty even match. Joe Bell had a few nice moments whipping the ball around from the base of midfield but Viking couldn’t seem to create that open chance they needed and he was replaced by a striker on 66 minutes in order to throw another dude forward. But no dice. A 1-0 loss was the final score.
After which they went away to Stabæk and this was another tight game between two mid-table teams. Bell started in midfield alongside Fredrik Torsteinbø and Kristoffer Løkberg though it was Stabæk who deservedly scored first after half an hour following a bunch of threatening moments with their direct play. Finally Aketchi Luc-Martin Kassi made one count with a real banger from the edge of the area.
Yet VFK responded. Having not really created anything of note to this point, they drew level via Zymer Bytyqi with an even better goal than Kassi’s had been, looping it in from miles out. The same bloke had a direct free kick tipped wide soon after... then straight out of the break Joe Bell had himself a half chance on the volley which he scuffed safely wide. However his most notable moment was this, dropping a shoulder on a counter attacker and copping his third yellow card of the season...
No more goals here. Despite Viking playing much better after having conceded, they never did find a winner. Joe Bell lasted the ninety minutes and has played at least some part in all 22 league matches this season. Eight more left before the year is up... after a very slow start it’s looking like Viking will earn a nice, boring middle of the road finish.
Up Next: Odd vs Viking, Thursday at 7am (NZT)
Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild kvenna)
We haven’t heard from Betsy Hassett for a while. We won’t either, as a league which has been on hiatus because of the coronavirus for the past month has now officially been cancelled with Stjarnan sitting sixth out of ten teams with two games remaining. Breidablik were crowned champions with a two point lead over Valur and a game in hand. Probably fair enough. They had it locked in on a points per game basis.
The league was so close to finishing things... but with tighter social restrictions coming in over the past week there was no real choice but to blow the final whistle as it was. Hassett thus ends her season having started every single one of their 16 games, playing more league minutes than any other player in the squad. She scored three goals and picked up two yellow cards. Here’s one of those goals...
Up Next: The dreaded offseason
Michael McGlinchey – Queen’s Park FC (Scottish League Two)
Head Coach Ray McKinnon: “We are delighted to have Michael on board. He will add real quality and experience to the squad and that experience is reflected in the number of caps he has for New Zealand. Michael’s experience can only be of benefit to those around him in the squad. He has some work to do to get fully up to speed but we hope to have him available for selection sooner rather than later.”
Wee Mac himself: “It feels great to have joined the club and I’m very happy to be here. The boys have made me feel really welcome. It’s evident that we have some quality players here and have high ambitions. From my perspective I want to do my best for the club when given the opportunity.”
There ya go.
Up Next: Sunday at 4am away to Elgin City (NZT)
Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)
A couple games, a couple more late appearances for EC. He was subbed on for the last 18 minutes of a 2-1 loss away to Philadelphia Union – a game in which Chicago had to play 54 minutes with ten men after Francisco Calvo was sent off in the first half. Cory Burke’s 65th minute goal was the difference. Collier was chucked on to try and find an equaliser but he hasn’t technically scored all season and didn’t here.
Nor did he manage to net a goal in the seven minutes he got against Nashville, brought on with the score at 1-1 and chasing a winner that’d do wonders for their playoff hopes. Again, no luck... but jeez he came close. 88th minute of the game and a deep cross found him at the far post only his header came back off the post. Literally inches from a heroic winner. He had another chance in stoppage time as he picked up a return ball into the box and beat a defender but his shot was blocked and it deflected back off him for a goal kick.
The draw keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs but they’re on the outside looking in as we enter the final week of the regular season. As for Collier... it feels like he’s been on the brink of a breakout game for months now. He’s played 19 games this season without a goal (one assist), though with only two starts those 19 games add up to a mere 485 minutes (an average of 25 mins per game). On the one hand he should really have scored a couple goals by now with some of the chances he’s had, on the other hand it’s not like he’s got much wiggle room playing almost exclusively off the bench. Still got at least two games to break the drought though.
Up Next: Away to Minnesota, Thursday at 2pm (NZT)
Rosie White – OL Reign (American National Women’s Soccer League)
OL Reign: “OL Reign today announced the current contract status for its full roster following the completion of the 2020 Fall Series. OL Reign’s current roster is comprised of 25 players, including 17 players who are under contract for the 2021 season and eight players who have been extended contract offers for the 2021 season. Contracts for the 2021 season have been offered to defender Kristen McNabb, midfielder Shirley Cruz, midfielder Dani Weatherholt, forward Leah Pruitt, forward Jasmyne Spencer, midfielder Rosie White, defender Steph Cox, and midfielder Morgan Andrews.”
Lovely. New contract extended towards Rosie White. The Reign pretty much kept the entire band together, the only three players they’ve released were only on short term contracts anyway because of unavailabilities for the Fall Series.
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Utah Royals: “Utah Royals FC announced today that the club will retain the rights to 26 players from this year’s roster heading into the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League season... URFC exercised options for GK Nicole Barnhart, DF Elizabeth Ball, DF Katie Bowen, DF Kate Del Fava, DF Taylor Leach, DF Mallory Weber, MF Gunny Jónsdóttir, MF Lo’eau LaBonta, MF Taylor Lytle and FW Tziarra King.”
And another one. Skipping out the boring bits in that quote but yeah Katie Bowen’s had her contract option taken up by the club to keep her around in 2021. Only Abby Erceg has played more NWSL games amongst kiwis than Katie Bowen. Erceg’s at 117 games, Bowen is next up with 72 matches. Rosie White is third with 43 appearances (and 7 goals, edging Erceg’s 6). Note that neither the Challenge Cup nor Fall Series count towards official league stats.
Ali Riley - Orlando Pride (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Orlando Pride: “The Pride will retain the rights of 23 players by extending new contract offers to eight players and exercising options on six players, while four players are already under contract for the 2021 season.”
The Pride are a bit more complicated because they didn’t play in the Challenge Cup so therefore loaned out the majority of their squad, Ali Riley included. But basically all of them are coming back with Ali Riley amongst them having had the option in her contract exercised. So that looooong delayed NWSL debut should finally happen in 2021. Phew.
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
And finally... nothing much to add here because Abby Erceg was already under contract with the Courage, who have 26 players on lock (including nine contract offers). These contract details were the first step in the NWSL offseason as far as individual players go. The next step is the protected player list ahead of the expansion draft on Nov 12 (US Time) as Racing Louisville enter the league with the ability to pick players out of other teams. Those other teams can protect eleven players from their roster (including USA internationals who have centralised contracts) and we will find out which eleven players they pick in a couple days. Abby Erceg is a sitter to be protected. The other three are a bit up in the air for various reasons though the important thing is that all four are contracted so whether they stay where they are (most likely) or end up at Racing Louisville... they will be in the league next year.
Up Next: NWSL Expansion Draft, Friday 13 November at Midday (NZT)
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