Michael Boxall, James Musa & Noah Billingsley – Minnesota United / Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)

There was a bit of a wait between playoff games for both these teams – a wait that was made even longer when the match was delayed another 24 hours a few days out after an NFL game was postponed, clearing a timeslot for the broadcasters – but here it finally was. Sporting Kansas City against Minnesota United with the winner advancing to the Western Conference Final and thus carrying the last remaining hopes of the Flying Kiwis brethren. Winston Reid was named to start for SKC. Michael Boxall was named to start for Minny Utd with Noah Billingsley on the bench (though again no James Musa). Showtime.

Sporting KC were the favoured team, the higher seed and the hosts, and it took them all of ninety seconds before they were threatening to score as Johnny Russell worked a one-two into the box and tried to lob the MU keeper but who other than Michael Boxall should find himself in position to clear that bad boy off the line?

As per from Boxy.

This was playoff footy, mate. If you didn’t understand the stakes at first then you soon got a handle on it with some of the ruthless challenges flying in. Blokes not wanting to give an inch (and the ref letting a few of them slide too). Minnesota might have copped that scare but they moved the ball quickly and had a couple sights at goal themselves in the early stages. However Johnny Russell snuck in again in the 14th minute after some nice work from Khiry Shelton and it was a very good stop from Dayne St Clair that kept the game even. Then Reid’s CB partner Robert Puncec had a header at the far post which he claimed had crossed the line before St Clair got a touch on it but the referee and VAR both disagreed. Quarter of an hour gone and it was incredible that SKC weren’t already leading.

But for all that early pressure it was Minnesota who struck first. Emanuel Reynoso with the through ball to Kevin Molino who slotted it one on one like Russell wasn’t able to do earlier, Minny up 1-0 after 27 minutes. Then in the 35th minute they did it again. Reynoso was getting involved in so much nice combination play, Romain Metanire as well (the right back who Noah Billingsley replaced for his MLS debut a few weeks back returning after missing the first playoff game in quarantine after international duty). And it was Metanire who dished to Reynoso who chipped it over the top for Molino who ran onto it and slotted a diving volley (if that makes sense). A wonderful goal to make it 2-0.

And they weren’t done there. 39th minute they had a corner kick, Reynoso whipped it in and Bakaye Dibassy got in front of Winston Reid to head it home. You’d never have guessed it from the first fifteen minutes but here were the Loons up 3-0 at the half... sheer madness.

From there all the Loons had to do was be clever about it. Which they were, consolidating the game to ensure they didn’t leak anything silly that’d give SKC a lifeline. Minutes ticked away and SKC made a few desperate subs but the score remained the same. SKC couldn’t find a way through the white wall. They never even looked close to scoring in that second half and it all ended 3-0.

Michael Boxall: “I don’t think we started off too badly, I think we kind of moved the ball well in the game, but obviously they have dangerous plays. I think the first, what is it, 10 or 15 minutes, Dayne [St. Clair] comes up huge for us, twice, and mine was just being in the right place at the right time. That kind of really got us into the game, allowed us to get the ball to [Kevin] Molino and [Emanuel] Reynoso up higher, and I mean those guys are just so much fun to watch, they are class, and what they did in the first half was pretty special.”

Remarkable win from Minnesota United who in their fourth season of existence are now in the final four of the MLS Cup. They’re on a 10 game unbeaten run and had Seattle Sounders on the cards for a place in the final – a few kiwis have sat on the bench for MLS Cup finals since but you have to go all the way back to Ryan Nelsen in 2004 for a kiwi who actually played in one.

On the other side... not a bad season from Sporting KC at all. They clearly missed striker Alan Pulido who was injured for this game but so it goes. There’ll be questions now about whether they can retain Winston Reid or not, either on loan or on a permanent basis. Or if he might even go back to West Ham (unlikely if he wants to play footy). Whatever happens he’s had a great run with them, playing in big games and getting regular matches. He had to overcome a few knocks along the way but 10 regular season games and another couple playoff ones is definitely a success. We shall see what happens.

Up Next: Keep reading, friend...

Michael Boxall, Again – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Minnesota had ten days in between their first round game and their conference semis. They had just three days off in between the semis and the conference finals, travelling northwest to face Seattle Sounders. No Noah Billingsley on the bench this time and James Musa was still absent but Michael Boxall was there at the back as always – hoping not to need to clear anything off the line in the first two minutes this time.

He didn’t, so that was a good start. He did have to reach in to pick off a dangerous low cross but otherwise it was a much tighter contest as Seattle made a point of keeping Emanuel Reynoso and Kevin Molino from linking up and Boxall and buddies were able to hold their own against a few Seattle set pieces. It took about 25 minutes before Seattle had the first clear sight at goal, an effort which St Clair was able to save comfortably. Soon after there was a bit of a break in play as Ethan Finlay got mashed in a tackle and a few tempers flared up. A yellow card was handed out. Eventually the free kick was taken... and Manny Reynoso did this...

Loons strike first.

Seattle turned up the heat after that yet the Minnesota defence kept their shape. No drastic Boxy moments like that header off the line but he was involved in plenty of sharp little moments. Getting a foot in on a cross, securing possession of a loose ball, keeping the ball moving at the back against the press, winning headers. This was a stacked Seattle forward line and they were keeping them frustrated... though there was a frustrating moment of their own as Minnesota had to replace right back Romain Metanire with an injury late in the first half. Hasani Dotson replaced him... wonder if Noah Billingsley might’ve gotten that tap on the shoulder had he been on the bench? You could understand if he wasn’t trusted in an occasion like this as a rookie with one game of MLS experience but that is his position after all. Oh well. Minnesota Utd still up 1-0 as the referee brought the half to a close... but only just as Raul Ruidiaz volleyed one over the top.

Minny Utd started the second half promisingly with a few corner kicks but then Seattle picked up the pace again and it was on that Loons backline to keep scrapping away. It’s a dangerous game to play with such tiny margins for error... and on 53 minutes they finally cracked. Raul Ruidiaz forcing his way past Boxall to get on the end of a through ball and he buried it as the keeper rushed out on him. Damn... but wait, hold the phone. Because it certainly looked in real time like Boxall had been fouled and as the teams lined up for kickoff the ref ducked away to look at the VAR screen and quickly decided to overturn it. To be fair it looked like a clear shove in the back. Michael Boxall doesn’t go tumbling very easily. 1-0 lead restored.

It had been good composed defending in the first half. It was now backs to the wall stuff as Jordan Morris crunched one off the post for Seattle, the echo reverberating around the stadium. When Jan Gregus managed to turn into space and carry the ball over halfway it felt like the first time in ages they’d even been out of their own half. But the Loons managed to win a free kick from that sortie... and you know who loves a free kick. Reynoso curled it into the mixer where Bikaye Dibassy beat his marker and a lovely header and made it 2-0. Maaaaate, it was all happening.

Seattle went back on the attack. One shot flew past the post. Bodies were flying in the way of shots. Subs were rolling on and on. Then with quarter of an hour to go Seattle got back within range. Ruidiaz showed a great touch to bring in a heavy pass but his shot was blocked by Boxall. However the ball fell to Will Bruin who turned and picked out the bottom corner as Boxall tried to spin and prevent him. No VAR to help on this occasion but we were getting closer and closer to the finish line.

There was a terrifying moment with ten minutes left when Chase Gasper slid in on Cristian Roldan in the corner of the box and both players went down clutching their legs in agony (no doubt in order to paint a certain picture of the challenge). The replay suggested Gasper might have slid through Roldan to win the ball but the ref wasn’t bothered and the VAR neither. Play restarted with a drop ball as Seattle continued to throw everything they could at Minnesota (whose defensive midfielders Gregus and Alonso were having blinders).

Then this happened...

Unmarked at the far post from the corner. 89 minutes played. Damn.

The same joker nearly scored in stoppage time as the Sounders kept on where they left off, his shot deflected into the post and out for a corner. Then they won another corner. Then this happened...

Gustav Svensson in the third minute of injury time. Seattle Sounders advance to the MLS Cup Final after coming from two goals down with 16 minutes remaining to win 3-2. Heartbreaking.

Up Next: Reminiscing on an excellent season, tbh

CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)

While Boxall and mates are out there trying to win a championship, CJ Bott’s actually gone and done it. Vålerenga also had to wait longer than expected... two weeks longer as some covid-related delays meant the league season had to finish after the international break rather than before it. But the task remained the same. Basically just had to win at home against Arna-Bjørnar – the only way they could win and be caught was if Rosenborg won by five goals more than VIF did.

Slight problem... Vålerenga were without three Danish internationals who were quarantining after international duty. But that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it meant CJ Bott was chucked in for her first league start (and fourth appearance). And honestly this one was never in doubt once Sherida Spitse put them in the lead after only four minutes. Fantastic free kick, perfect way to start. Arna-Bjørnar did go close to levelling soon after but then it was all VIF as Bott got into the box and set up Sigrid Hansen only for her shot to come back off the crossbar. No dramas, Ingibjörg Sigurdardottir made it 2-0 with a back-post header from a corner in the 17th minute and with Rosenborg still level with Klepp at that stage it was all looking golden.

The game ebbed and flowed with VIF hitting the crossbar again though they wouldn’t score a third until the 63rd minute when Celin Bizet Ildhusøy buried one on the follow up after she and Ajara Nchout Njoya had picked off the ball in the penalty area. Rosenborg were winning by now but not by anything even close to making a difference (they ended up winning 2-1) so all that remained was to put a little icing on the cake...

Yeah, that’ll do it.

Trophy up. Vålerenga now have the small matter of two Champions League round of 32 ties against Brøndby (Denmark) to get through with a Norwegian Cup final against Lillestrøm to play in between them. Including the last round of the league, that’s two winnable trophies and a first ever UCL appearance in the space of 11 days. The opportunities players and fans dream of.

Up Next: Vålerenga vs Brøndby, UCL R32 first leg, Friday at 6am (NZT)

Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

As for the other kiwi in the Toppserien... best not to dwell on it. Avaldsnes lost 4-0 to Sandviken in their final game. Wouldn’t say any of the goals were her fault, maybe the second one when she came off her line but got caught in no-man’s-land, and Avaldsnes did have chances throughout which they failed to take. They were 1-0 down inside ten minutes but it wasn’t until the 68th min that they conceded the second.

Then obviously a couple more clinched it (the fourth was a screamer). No matter, Avaldsnes were destined to finish third regardless of what happened in their game if the top two teams both won (which they did). Still an excellent campaign from them and Vic Esson was ever-present. Played every minute of all 18 league games, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just 21 goals. Plus another couple clean sheets in three games as they made the Cup semi-finals.

Up Next: Cheeky offseason yarns

Liberato Cacace – Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League)

STVV: “STVV ends the collaboration with head coach Kevin Muscat and his technical staff. The Australian coach arrived as a sports advisor last season. On June 5, he was appointed head coach. This was his first experience as a coach on European soil. In the opening game at home against KAA Gent, he kept the three points at home. After this, however, the results were not forthcoming. The board has therefore decided to end the cooperation with Muscat and its technical staff. Jurgen De Braekeleer will remain on board as goalkeeper coach.”

Well... you can’t say it wasn’t coming. After last weeks debacle where they conceded an injury time equaliser to draw against one of the only two teams below them on the ladder, they then took on R. Excel Mouscron who are the bottom team in Belgium and they somehow managed to lose 3-2. They were clearly the stronger team, they had miles more possession, they created more chances, but their finishing remained a bit crap and they have this habit of conceding at terrible times. Cacace himself had heaps of touches and took a team-high four shots (though they were all off target/blocked). Best passing percentage for his team (93%), won a couple tackles and three interceptions. You could tell he was desperate to try and make things happen for his struggling team... but it wasn’t to be.

Thus we bid adieu to Kevin Muscat. The U23s coach has taken over in the interim, Stef van Winckel. And guts to him because Muscat left him having to take the team away to face defending champs Club Brugge. STVV made a few changes for the match. Went to a back three again, swapped out the right back, swapped a midfielder, brought in a second striker and benched the two wingers. But Libby Cacace still started at left wingback... not really too much to worry about there. He’s started very well albeit for a bad team and those performances had already long insured him beyond the Kevin Muscat connection.

There seemed to be more of a push to get Cacace going forward. He played higher up than he has even when they’ve had a back three in the past and it was notable that Pol Garcia (the LCB) was taking most of the throw ins with his deep hurlers. But... Club Brugge are pretty good (even had Simon Mignolet in goal, ha!). STVV did a few things on the break yet they struggled to turn them into clear shots at goal whereas their defence always looked a little vulnerable. Vulnerable but focussed, to be fair. It was to their credit that this was a scoreless game at the break without too many chances to speak of at either end.

However David Okereke bundled one in on 57 minutes (having only just come on off the bench) and just as it was starting to feel like Brugge might be on the verge of panicking they had their goal and despite some hopeful stuff near the end it never felt like STVV were gonna equalise. Brugge had a few shots narrowly wide. It ended 1-0. A more solid and structured performance than we’ve seen from STVV in recent weeks but that also came at the expense of any attacking threat. This wasn’t really a game to judge them by though. Still chilling in 17th out of 18 teams. Sad Libby alert.

Here’s the new gaffer…

Up Next: STVV vs Sporting Charleroi on Sunday at 8.45am (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

It took a while. It also cost them a couple co-managers in getting there. But finally Spurs have won their first game of the season.

They were on the board swiftly as Kerys Harrop curled in a free kick directly from out on the right edge but Inessa Kangman levelled for Brighton after half an hour as Alanna Kennedy tried to scissor kick a clearance and only managed to whack a Brighton striker instead. Ria Percival then came close to putting Tottenham back in the lead as she ran in behind the defence to pick up the ball but ran out of space (and maybe a bit of speed) to hold off her marker the on-rushing keeper made it tough too, Percy poking the ball wide.

That took us into the second half with the game very much in the balance where another good run, this time to the far post for a cross, saw Percival acrobatically flick the ball with her heel but not to where she could direct it on target and Alex Morgan couldn’t recover it at the far post. Not used to so much attacking prominence from Percy but the third time was the charm. 63rd minute and she ran in behind once more alongside Angela Addison... but Addison didn’t pass, instead rounding the keeper to score and put Spurs up 2-1. Okay, fair enough.

Brighton made the beautiful decision to sub on Rebekah Stott with 13 minutes remaining, bit annoying that she isn’t playing more often at her new club but gotta earn those reps, s’pose. Albion came so close to equalising again when a shot from distance came back off the crossbar... but Spurs clinched it with a few minutes to go as Percival, involved yet again, was bowled over in the box waiting for a deep cross to find its way to her. Alex Morgan scored the penalty, her first goal for the club.

Percival then got a very late yellow card for a big shove in the back of Danielle Bowman as Brighton tried one last counter attack. Percy wasn’t having it... but she did stand nicely so the ref could see the number on her back as she booked her. Classic no-nonsense Ria Percival.

Up Next: Home against Aston Villa on Monday at 3am (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

Oh hell yeah. He did say they’d bounce back strong after last week’s disaster and he meant it, leading by example by scoring the first goal against Grimsby Town in a 2-1 victory (there was also a midweek game against Crawley Town which they drew 1-1 but Smithy didn’t play that – rested for the first time this league season). The goal was pure Tommy Smith, attacking a corner kick. The only surprise was that he bundled it in with his feet and not his head.

Grimsby then drew level from a corner of their own via Luke Hendrie, that goal coming after a decent spell of pressure of their own in response to conceding. But Callum Harriott scored a fantastic/determined winner in the 56th minute. Dribbling through everyone in sight but also winning the ball back a couple times after seemingly being tackled. Doubt Smithy gets credited with an assist but it was technically his raking switch of play out to the right wing that got Harriott the ball in the first place. Colchester with the 2-1 win and they currently sit ninth in League Two after 15 games (with a game in hand on several teams around them).

Some slight oddness at the start of the game however. You’ll notice that point made by Smithy about a few fans letting themselves down during the kneel. That’s in regards to some of the home supporters booing during the Black Lives Matter gestures before kickoff. Several players have expressed disappointment in that and the club has put out a statement condemning those who’d attempt to disrupt what is effectively a showing of solidarity against racism. Just remember children, if you’re against being against racism, then what does that make you? A racist!

Up Next: Away to Scunthorpe on Wednesday at 8am (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

Well now, look who’s really starting to integrate herself in this team. And in central defence no less. Moore had started the previous game before the international break, a Conti Cup defeat against Everton where she played in a defensive midfield role, but her previous four league appearances had all come off the bench. Here she was picked at CB next to the captain Niamh Fahey with Leigh Anne Robe dropping to the pine instead. Robe had played every minute of the first eight league games so there you go.

Crystal Palace were the opposition and Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 win. Rinsola Babajide put them in the lead in just the second minute after a nice one-two with Rachael Furness, then on half an hour Amy Rodgers bagged a second on her return from injury. Moore had a diving header from a corner in the middle of that but couldn’t get it on target amongst a heap of other chances for Liverpool – it was sheer dominance by the Reds. Eventually they got a third when Amalie Thestrup came off the bench to strike one home with quarter of an hour to go and Babajide got herself a second in stoppage time. Palace had been better in the second half but also didn’t look like scoring. Quite a few moments where Moore’s long range passing ability from the back led directly to chances too. The clean sheet on starting debut was rather routine but there was plenty more to enjoy about what Moore did here.

Great result for Liverpool. The win takes them up to third on the ladder, only two points off top after nine games. Plus it does wonders for their goal difference.

Up Next: London City vs Liverpool, Monday at 3am (NZT)

Katie Rood - Lewes FC (English Championship)

Staying in the Champo and Lewes had a rough spell before the international break losing four in a row in all competitions (and going winless in seven). But the break must’ve done them good because they got back to winning ways against Charlton this weekend. Katie Rood started on the left wing as Lewes began on the front foot, getting a few early shots away. Yet it wasn’t until late in the half that Lewes finally made it count as Megan Mackey volleyed in from the edge of the area.... then right before the break they scored again as Roodie ran onto a big switch of play on the counter attack and chopped it back to Sammy Quayle who ran directly at the defence, beat a couple players, almost got tackles, recovered the ball, and slotted it. Two goals in six minutes, sweet as.

Lewes had chances to make it 3-0 but couldn’t put them away while they were on top. Naturally Charlton then went down the other end and Lois Heuchan got them back in it as she beat the offside trap and scored after a short corner routine. 64 minutes gone. Seven minutes later Rood was one of a couple players subbed off as Lewes tried to steady things with Charlton rallying. A couple late free kicks made things extremely nervous but they got there in the end, holding on for that 2-1 win. Just what they needed.

Up Next: Lewes vs Crystal Palace, 3am on Monday (NZT)

Myer Bevan - TS Galaxy FC (South African Premier Soccer League)

Good to hear from the lad, though we’re still waiting for that debut. Bevan wasn’t in the squad as TS Galaxy lost to an 83rd minute Stellenbosch goal – their first defeat of the season but they’ve also only won once, drawing four times. A striker with an eye for goal will turn those draws into wins, just saying...

Up Next: Weds 16 December, 6.30am, away to Mamelodi Sundowns (NZT)

Dan Morgan – Maritzburg United (South African Premier Soccer League)

SowetanLive: “Sundowns opened the scoring after 32 minutes when Zwane tapped home a cross from Lebohang Maboe as the Bafana Bafana continued with his rich vein of early season form. Maritzburg equalised through defender Mngonyama who rose above everyone and unmarked in the box to head home a well-taken corner kick from Dan Morgan to earn Maritzburg a crucial point.”

Nice. First point of the season after five straight defeats and it was against the defending champs with Dan Morgan serving up the corner kick that led to the second half equaliser.

Up Next: Wednesday 16 December at 6.30am away to Moroka Swallows (NZT)

Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)

They needed to win against Mjallby on the final day and even if they did that they still needed other results to go their way. As it happens they conceded a late goal to lose 3-2 (chasing the game, fair enough, a draw was no use to them) and that didn’t matter anyway because Kalmar FF drew so they couldn’t have caught them no matter what they did. Thus Falkenbergs have been relegated to the second tier in Sweden.

Matt Garbett was subbed on in the 82nd minute with things looking desperate. After a good run of games off the bench (and two cheeky starts) back around August he was used far more sporadically as relegation because a serious threat, only playing three times for 35 combined minutes across the team’s final eight matches, including this one. Exciting game... just not the result that FFF needed.

Garbett played 13 total Allsvenskan matches (2 starts, 9 subs, 264 total mins). He also played four cup games including one start in September in which he scored. A reminder that this dude is only 18 years old and he has another couple of years on his initial contract. Which... makes this relegation a curious situation as obviously it’s a huge blow to the entire club, but also Garbett didn’t play as much down the stretch because of those struggles and the drop down a tier might mean more opportunities. Winston Reid’s breakthrough for West Ham came in the same circumstance. There have also been plenty of cases where the opposite was true but something to pay attention to either way.

What’s weird is that there’s now this magnetic draw for kiwi footy players to the Superettan (the second tier in Sweden). Matt Garbett’s been relegated to that level with Falkenbergs while Francis De Vries and Joel Stevens were just promoted to that level with Värnamo. Meeting in the middle.

However the one dude who was already in that division, Cameron Hogg at Umeå FC, only played three games as the backup goalkeeper (conceded 12 goals in those three games) and saw his team relegated to division one. Jesse Edge and Matt Conroy’s IFK Berga also got relegated from division one. Meanwhile the FC Torslanda x Ole Academy project finished second in their regional conference in division three and after winning their playoff semi-final, the playoff final was then cancelled amidst coronavirus restrictions so the Swedish FA just decided to promote everybody that was left – expanding Div2 by six teams in 2021. Dom Woolridge, Owen Parker-Price & Harry Edge were all playing there this year, along with Declan Edge and Dan Keat amongst the key staff. So... everybody either got promoted or relegated. Huh.

Up Next: Waiting for 2021...

Ryan De Vries – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

No sooner does one season end than the next one begins and RDV’s gonna be a part of it as Sligo Rovers embark on a little Europa League qualifying excursion. He missed the first three games of 2019 having signed late and still managed to play 17 out of 21 league matches, scoring a couple goals and setting up a few more. He was a big part of what they achieved down the stretch, making the semis of the FAI Cup and finishing fourth in the league... enough to qualify for the continental stuff.

Manager Liam Buckley: “Ryan is technically excellent and has shown he’s a very good footballer. He can play in three or four positions and he’s made a valuable contribution to our year. I’m delighted to have him with us. I think a second season will see Ryan get better as he will be more experienced in the league and settled. It was tough for Ryan being away from his family and we valued him commitment as we do for all our players in the squad. We’ve made good progress this week, we still have more to do and we are making changes to the squad as happens every year. We’ve got more to do as the budget becomes clearer, and I think we can be pleased so far.”

Ryan De Vries: “I’m delighted to have signed back with Rovers, we’ve done well over the year and obviously the league finish was good. I’ve enjoyed my time here so signing back was something I wanted to do. It’s a different country and I had to settle in. With the pandemic I was only here for less than two weeks and then had to make that 38-hour trip a couple of times! It’s hard being away from home and my wife and child and she is due our second next year. Football keep me going and the two lads (housemates Lewis Banks and Darragh Noone) kept me company and made it easier. I think we made it easier for each other and the group and people around the club are very good.

I had a knee injury late in the season which meant I missed some minutes or had to play through but that will recover now and my aim is to come back next year and start firing. I’m definitely excited for Europe. To come from the bottom to finish where we did was a good achievement and the FAI Cup run was unbelievable because I could see what it means to do well in the Cup here. Losing the semi-final gives us something to Improve on and look forward to next year to try to get to a final. If we could do that I can imagine what it would be like for the fans and people around the club. Europe will be a great experience and we have to target winning games in that. I’m excited to be part of next chapter here. We have to be competitive in the league and give the fans here something to shout about when they do come back, I want to be here for that and improve on what’s been started. The environment around the club is something I like being part of so 2021 is one to look forward to.”

Up Next: All sorted for next season

Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Erm, okay then. So what’s happened here is that the Utah Royals are moving city. Their owner Dell Loy Hansen turned out to be a bit of a racist and there’d been pressure on him to sell his football teams. Now he has. They’ve been purchased by a Kansas City collective of investors (majority female, which is cool) that includes Brittany Matthews, a former pro soccer player herself as well as a fitness entrepreneur and the fiancee of NFL quarterback extraordinaire Patrick Mahomes (who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a 10yr/$503m contract earlier in the year).

They’re moving the club to Kansas City which is funky because this franchise actually began as FC Kansas City and it was they who drafted Katie Bowen with the 16th pick in the 2016 college draft. The franchise then moved to Utah in 2018 under new ownership so in a way it’s a cyclical thing for Bowen. All the Utah contracts will remain valid as the team moves so there’s no drama here as far as Bowen’s playing future goes... she’ll just be playing in a different city.

Also updating the NWSL situation... there’s some confusion as to how it’ll work around the rescheduled Olympics but one thing we know for sure is that they want to start the season with another incarnation of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Then they’ll launch into a proper 21-game season after that with the playoffs expanded to six teams, the top two of those getting a first round bye. That’s because there’s one new team being added for 2021 (Racing Louisville) and two more hopefully joining in 2022 (one being the Hollywood glitz of Angel City FC).

Up Next: The Challenge Cup is expected to start in April 2021

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

A draw against Everton. Not bad. Not bad at all given these two teams started this season in entirely contrasting fashions. Burnley took the lead early on as Robbie Brady let loose in the second minute of the game and dispatched his shot into the bottom corner. Only Burnley’s fifth goal of the season.

Nick Pope then made a brilliant stop to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin followed by a more routine save off Richarlison but there was no stopping those two in the final moments of the first half as Richarlison squared to DCL and the in-form English forward slid in to poke it over the line. Pope was good enough to get a hand to James Rodriguez’s second half attempt and again off Gylfi Sugurdsson right at the end of the game. Burnley doing pretty well to hold on for a point there, slowly turning things around.

But there were two golden chances for Chris Wood within it all that could have made the difference. The first was while it was still 1-0 and he was played in behind by Dwight McNeil, a clever run on the angle, but Jordan Pickford rushed out on him and Wood couldn’t squeeze the ball past him. Then there was a second half header from a corner which he did well to power into the ground but Pickford made a good diving stop with two hands. Neither were horrible misses or anything but as Jay Rodriguez was subbed off for Ashley Barnes there was some talk that Woodsy shoulda been hooked instead. Enough that the gaffer was asked about Wood not taking his chances afterwards... a look at the Premier League’s ‘Big Chances Missed’ stat has Wood second equal with Ollie McBurnie on 7 misses, behind only Patrick Bamford with 9 (and Bamford has 8 goals compared to Wood’s 2).

Sean Dyche: “I ask for my forwards to be in a position to score goals, scoring goals is the hardest job in the game for them. As long as they are getting in positions and the areas, and are producing the performances that allow them the chance to score, or assist others, then that is how I judge their performances. Goals will come for strikers here as long as we keep putting them in the right areas and give them chances. I thought we did today, there were a number of chances that just needed that final touch or moment of quality. I thought we asked a lot of questions in different ways and I was pleased with the attacking side of it.”

Up Next: Arsenal vs Burnley, Monday at 8.15am (NZT)

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

A couple games this week with the Norwegian Eliteserien racing to a close. Against Brann Joe Bell was on the bench as they took a 17th minute thanks to Veton Berisha. Might’ve fouled a defender in the lead up but also he might’ve just slipped in the pouring rain. Good finish either way.

It was a pretty even game with chances at both ends, the weather making things very slippery, and that second goal was gonna be crucial. Bell was subbed on pretty early, 54th minute. It was his winning a header in midfield that sparked the move that led to that second goal. Nodded it forward to Fredrik Torsteinbø who turned and whipped it to Ylldren Ibrahimaj who battled his way into the box and slipped it past the keeper to make it 2-0. Aaaaand that was the way it finished. A nice routine victory for the lads, nothing pretty but they took care of business.

Bell was then back in the starting line-up for the trip to Sandefjord on the weekend and would play the full game, out there for all the drama. And there was plenty of that in the Norwegian rain. Sandefjord took the lead in the 25th minute when Rufo snuck in at the far post to thump in. That scoreline held into the second spell where Viking managed to hit the post twice in the same move, one bloke hitting one post and the other following up by hitting the other one. Bloody hell. Instead they went down by two as Rufo got his brace running in at the far post again. This time on the break after some miscommunication between goalkeeper and defender who both let a ball they could have cleared roll past them. Down 2-0 with quarter of an hour remaining.

But Veton Berisha scored soon afterwards to get his team back into it and then with just two minutes remaining old mate Joe Bell pushed a low pass through into the run of Berisha who scored sharply on the angle. Bit of a slip by the defender but still a lovely assist from Joe Bell for the 88th minute leveller. Viking drawing the game 2-2 and with two games left they’ll finish somewhere between fourth and seventh. Much better than their early season form suggested, that’s for sure.

Up Next: Viking vs Vålerenga, Friday at 6am (NZT)

Greg Draper – The New Saints (Welsh Premier League)

Hahaha, unbelievable! Having thought he had a hat-trick last game (despite playing off the bench) only to have the first goal ruled as an own goal, the man Drapes got rewarded with a start in their next match and this time he wasn’t taking any chances.

11th minute of the game and he sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot...

28th minute and he put a defender on his arse before emphatically striking home...

53rd minute and it was the penalty spot again, same corner, same result...

Cefn Druids didn’t have a clue. Draper with three goals in a 4-0 win. Five goals in his last two. The man is entirely insatiable.

TNSFC.co.uk: “Apart from the events of the game itself, it was a special one for the popular New Zealand international, as he made his 150th league start for The New Saints. The icing on the cake was yet another hat-trick, as his 11th minute penalty was followed by goals in the 28th and 53rd minute. For the second game on the bounce, Greg was the player we chose for the post-match interview.”

Up Next: Sunday at 5.30am away to Connah’s Quay (NZT)

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