Flying Kiwis - March 3
Noah Billingsley – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
No shocker here whatsoever, based on the yarns they were spinning about Noah Billingsley in Minnesota it was only ever a matter of time until their first round draft selection was officially signed. From the scouting reports brimming with hype to his dominating the preseason fitness testing all we had to do was wait... and now it’s done. No word on how long he’s signed for because MLS contracts are weird like that but it confirms him alongside Michael Boxall and James Musa in a Flying Kiwis Trio at Minny United. Now all they need is a snappy nickname.
MU Head Coach Adrian Heath: “We had high hopes for Noah when we drafted him and that’s been confirmed in the two weeks that we’ve had him. Good kid, tremendous athlete, wants to get better. We think there’s so much more room and scope for him to improve and we’re pleased with Noah. It was pretty evident from early on that we were going to sign him and now he’s got in his foot in the door and now he’s got to take it. It’s a bit like Chase and Hassani last year, they’ve taken opportunities that have come their way, now he’s going to have to do the same because there will be opportunities for him.”
Noah Billingsley: “It’s been a dream of mine for the last 18 years, so for it to finally have happened, it’s pretty amazing. I’m over the moon for myself and for my mum. Coming in, everyone has been so nice and I don’t think I could be in a better environment.”
Of course, this signing happened in the week before the opening weekend of the 2020 MLS which means it’s straight into the real footy now, finally. Thus without any further ado...
Up Next: See below
Michael Boxall, James Musa & Noah Billingsley – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
This is where the Kiwi x MLS yarn begins to take some context. We’ve got eight dudes in the MLS this season but having contracts and being influential players are very different things. Noah Billingsley and James Musa didn’t make the matchday squad for Minny’s opener against the Portland Timbers... who themselves had Bill Tuiloma on the injury list. Tui was the only of the kiwis listed on the league’s injury report prior to the first round and notably he was only ‘questionable’ despite initial reports saying he’d be out until the start of April with that calf strain. So one to keep the peepers on. But Michael Boxall was out there ready to run the show from the back for the Loons. Always one to count upon, ol’ Mike.
Boxall was named at CB alongside Ike Opara, no surprises there. And those two were great as well, limiting Portland to only a handful of half-chances throughout the first half and then allowing Kevin Molino to stab in a goal up the other end, right place right time after a challenge between an attacker and the Portland keeper, to give Minnesota the lead. The Timbers had dominated the ball for large portions of the first half but once Minny got a little more willing to disrupt things, with a few extra fouls as the price to pay, they blunted the Timbers even more.
Having said that, the lead only lasted five minutes before Opara chopped down Felipe Mora and Diego Valeri stepped up to equalise. The Loons responded well though. It took the fingertips of Steve Clark to deny them a second straight away but they got it in the 76th min instead as Luis Amarilla headed home after a lovely run and cross from Ethan Finlay. The just two minutes later Molino had his second with another timely volley and there it was. Minnesota with an impressive 3-1 win away at Portland Timbers. By the way, with Tuiloma missing the Timbers started Larrys Mabiala and new signing Dario Župarić at centreback. Julio Cascante was on the bench. We’ll see where Billy T fits into that mix when he returns to full fitness.
And now for your listening pleasure... here’s a Minny Utd podcast chatting with all three of the Minnesota All Whites. Quarter of an hour of Flying Kiwis perspective, get on it.
Up Next: Away to San Jose on Sunday at 2pm (NZT)
Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)
Chicago lost their 2020 opener. Took the lead very early in the second half through Robert Beric but even after Seattle Sounders had a goal ruled off for an offside, they still couldn’t deal with those balls across the box and in the 62nd min Jordan Morris levelled the game up. Seattle then botched a runaway in the 72nd minute but some disorganised defending from a corner kick in stoppage time saw Seattle steal it anyway with a 2-1 win.
So that’s all a bit dumb... but how about this?
Twenty minutes off the bench after an excellent preseason, he was actually the first sub used too. This was Collier’s 17th career game for the Chicago Fire but his first since 15 July 2018. A mixed bag for the Hamiltonian, he did have one shot on target and was able to keep himself involved, subbed on on the left wing, but then he was also one of the guys who slacked off in their marking for the winning goal. A frustrating one for Chicago all around.
But there’s more good news for EC than just that. He’s also done his chances of a sustained run in the top side a very large favour with this news...
Chicago Fire: “Chicago Fire FC announced today that forward Elliot Collier has received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the United States. With permanent resident status, Collier, 25, will no longer occupy an international slot on the Fire’s roster.”
Right on. For reference, other NZers in the MLS with green cards: Michael Boxall, James Musa, and Kyle Adams. Meanwhile Tuiloma, Wynne, Reid, Billingsley occupy international roster spots.
Up Next: New England vs Chicago, Sunday at 7.30am (NZT)
Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)
As for the rest of the MLS lads not yet mentioned, Winston Reid was the major talking point even though he was missing as SKC began their 2020 season with a 3-1 win away to Vancouver Whitecaps. Matt Besler and Roberto Punčec were the centrebacks. The plan had been for him to be ready for week one but he didn’t take part in any preseason so perhaps they’re just taking their time.
However there was a bit of a feature on Reidy in The Athletic which elucidates upon a few curiosities about his football lately. For one thing they confirm that he’s in Kansas City for the entirety of the 2020 and what’s more is that SKC have an option to buy in the loan deal. No idea how they’re supposed to afford that given how long and lucrative his contract is but then it’s no surprise that West Ham are willing to shed that salary. He also added that had Manuel Pellegrini not been sacked then he might well have been back in WHU’s first team plans...
Winnie: “I was on the schedule to play games under the previous manager [Pellegrini], but then he got fired, everything changed. But that’s part of football — sorry, soccer — and I’ve been in football long enough, so I understand the mechanisms. And it’s totally fine. West Ham has to do what’s best for the club and I have to do what’s best for me, and I feel really good about this opportunity.”
Reid never even made a matchday squad under Pellegrini. It was his successor David Moyes who finally put him back on the bench for an FA Cup game... but then apparently they had some “honest” discussions about Reid’s future. Within that it seems that Reid himself asked for the loan and when you couple that with the length of the deal it seems he’s in it for more than just half a season to get his match fitness up. It’s also added, fascinatingly, that Ryan Nelsen played a role in facilitating the move and convincing Reid that Kansas City was the right call. Always nice to hear from Ryan Nelsen every now and then.
Elsewhere we’ve already mentioned Noah Billingsley and James Musa having to work their way in at Minnesota and Bill Tuiloma being injured. Reid didn’t play. Deklan Wynne was an unused sub for Colorado who won 2-1 away at DC United, coming from a goal behind after an hour and scoring the winner via Jonathan Lewis in stoppage time. Kyle Adams was not in the squad as Houston Dynamo drew 1-1 with LA Galaxy. So it was just Boxall and Collier to begin things in the USA. We’ll get a better indication of where some of these fellas stand when the USL kicks off next week and some of them can be loaned down week on week for game time.
Up Next: Sunday at 2.30pm, SKC vs Houston Dynamo (NZT)
Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City (Australian W-League)
Wow would ya look at that? A 3-1 win over Brisbane took care of the final game of the regular season for the Citizens, who had already guaranteed top place but with this one they go through the entire campaign undefeated... just as they did in 2015-16 as well. Milica Mijatovic got one goal and Ally Watt scored the other two with Brisbane having briefly been level after the break thanks to a Hollie Palmer goal. Only thing here is that you know that Football Ferns squad that was named late last week? Yeah that squad announcement was extremely late in arriving and the Ferns actually play their first Algarve Cup game on Thursday morning against Belgium (7am NZT)... so the squad’s already assembling. Hence no Stotty in their final game which probably explains why they conceded a goal.
Stott played 10 of MCY’s matches this season, missing the first game (which was their only draw) and the last game. Her season debut saw them beat Canberra United 2-1... two games later they beat Sydney FC 2-1... they literally did not concede again with Stotty on the park. 10 games, 10 wins, 8 clean sheets. She also scored the winner in a 1-0 victory against Perth, her only goal of the term. By the way the goal conceded vs Brisbane means their clean sheet streak ended at 731 minutes... just two minutes shy of their own record from four years ago. Which, yeah of course Stott was a part of. Here’s a comparison...
Melbourne City will face Western Sydney Wanderers in the semi-final and with that taking place in two weeks that gives Stott plenty of time to get back from Ferns duty to partake.
Up Next: Melbourne City vs Western Sydney Wanderers, W-League semi-final, Sunday 15 March at 3.30pm (NZT)
Annalie Longo – Melbourne Victory (Australian W-League)
Melbourne Victory played on Saturday though which meant that Annalie Longo got to have her international and club cakes and eat them both, playing ninety minutes in a crucial placings decider against Sydney FC before jetting off for Portugal to meet up with the rest of the Ferns.
The Victory had an early scare when a shot caught a defender on the arm but it was ruled outside the penalty area. They then began to take over, with Natasha Dowie drawing a quality save with a header after an excellent move before some more sharp work from Dowie, this time in the build up, saw Amy Jackson poke in the first goal in the 25th min. She could have cut it back to Annalie Longo but okay, they scored regardless. Fair enough. This was basically a playoff for second place and a home semi so two very good teams with plenty on the line and MVC keeper Casey Dumont had to be sharp to make a couple saves and maintain that lead. Then a thumping goal from Darian Jenkins made it 2-0 just after the half-time break and Victory were looking good. Even better in the 79th minute when Jenkins scored a magnificent solo goal and a very late consolation from Sydney FC, Natalie Tobin with a blinder, didn’t make a difference.
A 3-1 win lifts the Victory ahead of Sydney by a single point and it means that these two teams will face off again after the international window in a semi-final in Melbourne. Annalie Longo spent most of this game playing in a more advanced role than she’s usually been seen in this season (though she finished deeper after the subs had been run) which was fun seeing her in more of the role we’re used to for the Footy Ferns. But nothing massive in terms of her contribution, the goals all came down other paths. Still, two kiwis in the W-League and their teams finished first and second. The Victory have won six of their last seven games... the only loss being that 4-0 hiding to Melbourne City.
Up Next: Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC, W-League semi-final, Saturday 14 March at 4pm (NZT)
Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Sweet, well there it is then. Second game of the Swedish Cup group stage thing that they do and Matty G’s already made his first senior appearance for the club he joined at the start of the year. He’d played some friendly games already but this is the real deal. Got the last ten minutes in a 1-0 win over Halmstad, Edi Sylisufa having scored the winner a few mins before Garbett was introduced. This was FFF’s second win in this competition so they’re well placed to advance in the comp.
And yeah as dad says there they had to do it with ten men for nearly two thirds of the game after Marcus Mathisen was dismissed for a pair of yellows within the space of two minutes... which the FFF website delightfully referred two as “two cheese slices” and if you don’t think that’s going into the regular Flying Kiwis vernacular then you’re sorely mistaken. There had already been a player subbed off injured by then plus another forced to play with a head bandage after a stray elbow so a choppy old game, this one. But FFF defended well with ten men, not allowing their opponents to break them, and then scored the winner. Then this happened...
FFF: “With ten minutes left of regular time, then goalkeeper Sylisufaj was replaced by New Zealander Matthew Garbett. The 17-year-old then showed strength when he held the ball in several attacks and fixed free-kicks to FFF on the offensive half. FFF held away without problems and won the cup match with 1-0.”
Cool cool cool.
Matt Garbett, for the record, doesn’t even turn 18 until April. He was at the U17 World Cup last year. A pretty outstanding prospect who is already miles ahead of schedule in his career.
Up Next: Away to Norrköping on Sunday at 4.30am (NZT)
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
A bit boring here. The last time that Burnley played Newcastle it was a Chris Wood winner that separated the two teams with the lowest possession averages in the Premier League and salvaged an otherwise awful game of football. This time The Woodsman was fit enough to feature after getting back into full training during the weak after that hammy worry but only fit enough to feature off the bench. He was subbed on ten minutes into the second half for Matej Vydra and, yeah he did add a bit of direction to the Clarets’ attack... but not much. Burnley had one shot on target all game (and even stats that’s debatable depending where you read), spent large chunks of it defending their own goal, and had those defenders to thank very much for a 0-0 draw that will live long in the memories of absolutely nobody.
That draw makes it six games unbeaten for Burnley who could still make a crack at European footy with a big finish... although after what happened last time they may not want to. That they’re adding to the points tally even when they were as disjointed as this is impressive. They were toothless until Wood came onto the park though so don’t expect to see him miss any more time in what’s already a stretched squad of limited depth (especially up front with Ashley Barnes still absent). Not with Spurs and Man City the next two teams on the cards. Here’s the gaffer explaining his decision making...
Sean Dyche: “He [Wood] is a very good player for us. Matej has done really well, scored two very important goals and not just scored goals but delivered performances. He was not a million miles off it today. The times when we got to a chance to expose the centre halves we didn't quite use it when we could have. They are the details that are important in the game, the touch, lay-off, turning and affecting centre halves. We didn't find that. When Woody came on he did well. He added to the performance and you want people to come off the bench and do well and I thought he did that.”
Alright. Now let him loose against Jose, please.
Up Next: Burnley vs Tottenham, Sunday at 6.30am (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
PSV’s recent resurgence – and Ryan Thomas’ part in it – has been wonderful... but they had to put all that on the line when Feyenoord came to town, one of those pesky teams still above them on the ladder. A defeat here would undo so much of PSV’s recent form and things didn’t look too bloody good when they found themselves losing at half-time, down to a 33rd minute goal from Eric Botteghin.
Ryan Thomas was in his now customary number ten role and his busyness up there was evident after only two mins when he charged down a clearance from the Feyenoord keeper... but the ball looped up and didn’t land fortuitously for any PSV attacker. They also had Thommo taking a few corner kicks too, which makes sense. Feyenoord then began to create a few chances particularly down the wings although Thommo nearly busted through on the break after half an hour only Cody Gakpo’s pass was cut out before it got to Thomas or he woulda been clear on the keeper. Well defended, to be fair.
Only a few shades later it was 1-0 to Feyenoord. Dick Advocaat’s team had been making it tough for PSV with the way they created and occupied space on the field but when the goal came it was merely a header at the far post from a corner kick. Stood up his marker and looped it in. Damn.
That’s where Ryan Thomas comes into things again. Two minutes after HT he made a dashing run in behind the defence as Jorrit Hendrix lifted a long ball over the top. Thommo took one touch to lay it off beautifully for Gakpo as he overlapped him and Gakpo pinged it across the goal for the equaliser. As far as assists go, this was a subtle one. Yet it all came about through his movement off the ball, his touch on the ball, and his unselfish vision... the reasons why he’s done so well in this more attacking role so far. This is his second assist to go with two goals in the Eredivisie this season.
And... that was the way it ended. Thomas fed another one in for Gakpo but he struck wide while both keepers had to make a few saves... PSV’s goalie Lars Unnerstall especially as he tipped one onto the inside of the goalpost and was extremely luck that the ball bounced out safely without crossing the line. There was also a VAR look at a PSV handball which was declined while Thomas had a penalty shout of his own after some silky footwork on the goalline cutting inside but no dice there with what was almost the last kick of the game. 1-1 the final score, a result which at least means they don’t lose any more ground. In fact they gain a point on leaders Ajax who compounded their Europa League exit last week by losing 2-0 at home to AZ Alkmaar, allowed their opponents to draw level with them on 53 points at the top. Feyenoord are on 47 in third and PSV 46 points in fourth. Woulda gone third with a win but at least they didn’t lose.
Hey and look who the supporters group named as their man of the match...
Here’s Thommo talking about the Feyenoord game (first half difficult, second half better, probably deserved result)...
And here he is being interviewed by Fox Sports NL...
Plus here’s PSV’s caretaker manager Ernst Faber talking about the decision to put Thomas into that number ten role, that shadow striker role as Thommo calls it... including how he struggled defending energetic players like Thomas back when he was playing and also how Guus Hiddink played a role in the decision. Apparently it’s still viewed mostly as a temporary fix for the club. The idea is presumably that after this season they’ll sign a more natural player for that role and Thomas will go back to being a deeper midfielder where he still says he prefers to be (although he’s not complaining – he’s happy to play anywhere after such a long absence). Thomas mentions a bit about how Hiddink’s role unfolds at the club in that Fox Sports interview too, with Old Guus apparently encouraging him to relax and trust his natural game as he saw the fella being a bit too eager as he tried to get back after that injury.
EF: “Such a mobile player who then pops up again in the rush hour and then again in midfield. When do you cover and when do you not? I used to struggle with that as a defender. You discuss that within your staff, you talk about it with Guus Hiddink in his role as advisor. Then you take the plunge. What did Ryan think of it? He didn't have time to say yes or no.”
Quality content.
Up Next: Groningen vs PSV, Monday at 4.45am (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)
If last week’s draw was big then this week’s was massive. MSVD were able to hold Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw at home, again on the back of a dramatic late goal this time from Danica Wu in the 87th minute. Duisburg had taken an early lead through Antonio-Johanna Halverkamps in the sixth minute, bundling in from close range after a move that had begun with Meikayla Moore sending a monster switch of play from right centre back out to the left wing. But Bayern were back on even terms in the 11th minute as Melanie Leupolz headed in from close range.
The Zebras hung on for quite a while at 1-1 with Moore getting a yellow card early in the second stanza but then a wicked deep free kick in the 67th minute led to an own goal and Bayern were in front. A little controversially too, with the Duisburg defenders pretty sure that ball hadn’t crossed the line. But yeah then Danica Wu headed in from a free kick of MSV’s own in the 87th minute and after all that they’d come out of there with a 2-2 draw against the second placed team in the country, while FC Köln and USV Jena below them both lost so they’re now two points clear of the drop zone, finding form at the perfect time with a massive enormous gigantic game against Köln coming up after the international break.
Also, no minutes for Paige Satchell this week but SC Sand did win another one, while dropping down a division we had Jana Radosavlević playing ninety mins with a yellow card for BV Cloppenberg as they drew 2-2 with FC Saarbrucken to lift themselves out of the drop zone. They were 2-0 up with quarter of an hour left so it shoulda been even better. Radosavlević got another Footy Ferns call up last week. She’s started every game for BVC this season after coming back from an ACL injury suffered in the third game of last campaign.
Up Next: FC Köln vs MSV Duisburg on Monday 21 February at 2am (NZT)
Hannah Wilkinson - Sporting CP (Portuguese 1a Divisão)
Urgh. Hannah Wilkinson was subbed on at half-time, with the score still at 1-0, but she wasn’t enough to overturn the direction of this match with SC Braga. A draw would have been enough for them to qualify for the League Cup final but a loss of any kind was a killer. Braga therefore advance to face SL Benfica in the single leg grand final (of this inaugural Women’s Portuguese League Cup) with the trophy on the line. Braga’s last two goals came in the 88th and 91st minutes so it was close for an extremely long time and the scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the game but so it goes. Braga also knocked Sporting out of the Women’s Cup back in January so it’s all focus on the league now for Sporting.
Up Next: Sporting CP vs Estoril Praia, Monday at 4am (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich II (German Liga 3)
Dunno, doesn’t seem that far removed from Wellington, does it? Just a bit colder and not quite as windy.
It was a quiet week from Sarpreet Singh. He was only on the bench for Bayern 2, subbed on in the 66th minute and he picked up a yellow card almost straight away. BM2 would go on to win it 1-0 thanks to a first half goal from Jann-Fiete Arp, tapping in after some lovely work down the right from new signing Jeong Woo-yeong – who returned to the club on loan in the January window despite having been sold six months ago to Freiburg. But he didn’t quite fit into Freiburg’s plans and missed a lot of time for Olympic qualifiers with South Korea so he’s been loaned back to the team he scored 13 times for last season in those dark and gloomy pre-Sarpreet days.
A little annoying as he’s a direct competitor for that attacking midfield role with Singh although Singh has played as much football for BM2 as a central mid as he has an attacking mid. Singh’s been the 3.Liga side’s best player this season so probably nothing to worry about... in fact playing off the bench here might even be a clue with Bayern’s top side having a midweek DFK-Pokal tie to get through amidst a run of eight games in 32 days. Having said that, they cruised past Hofffenheim 6-0 away from home on the weekend in the Bundesliga and were utterly dominant in a 3-0 Champions League first league win in London vs Chelsea before that so they’re most likely not even that tired. But if they were looking to rotate a few guys, opening a window for Sarpreet Singh to do more than just train full time with the top side, then now’s a good time.
Up Next: Schalke vs Bayern in the DFB Cup on Wednesday at 8.45am and Bayern II are home vs SG on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Ryan De Vries – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Righto, here’s a new one. Ryan De Vries, super prolific NZ Premiership goal scorer and single-cap All White, has spent his last couple years in Japan with FC Gifu... losing a lot of games in the second division. They were relegated to the third tier back in November and that sparked the end of his time there, the fella departing after two seasons in which he played 53 times and scored 8 goals for the club. Not quite his Auckland City strikerate but then nobody really scored many goals for Gifu in that time. Since then he’s been reportedly spotted training at Kiwitea Street again to keep fit but had otherwise dropped off the radar until now... resurfacing in Ireland with Sligo Rovers.
Manager Liam Buckley said: “The deal has been agreed for a few weeks, we were just awaiting final documentation from Japan to get his release. I’m delighted to get him in and we need him given our numbers up front. We hope he’ll be a major addition to us. He’s quick, strong, has a great physique with a good touch and I can see him scoring goals. I spoke to people in New Zealand and they think he’ll fit comfortably in our league and do really well. We had a report from the New Zealand international manager, we’ve done our homework on him so we hope he does bring a lot to us. We need to get the work permit done before he can play, that will be a small bit of time but we hope to have him involved as soon as possible. We are disappointed with our start in the league. But as I said to the boys last night, the passion and desire we showed against Bohemians will bring us results if we keep showing it.”
Sweet as, sounds like he’ll slide right on in there then and shout out to Danny Hay for putting in the good word. It’s been a bit of a shame that RDV, who was so outstanding for Auckland City, didn’t land at a club where he could showcase his best attributes but this could be the one. As the gaffer says, they kinda need him. They’ve lost their opening three games of the 2020 season as a number of early injuries wreak havoc on the squad so the sooner De Vries’ work permit comes through the better.
And you never know, if he does well here then he might even get a second international cap someday. There are several worse players who’ve worn the jersey since Anthony Hudson gave RDV his lone cap back in 2015 in a loss to South Korea (which also marked the international debuts of Stefan Marinovic, Clayton Lewis, Themi Tzimopoulos, Moses Dyer, and Benjamin van den Broek... yeah those early Huddo days were pretty weird).
Up Next: Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers, Sunday at 9am (NZT)
Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)
Ninety minutes for Nikko, though Viborg picked up after the winter break where they left off before it, unable to maintain a 1-0 lead at the half to draw 1-1 at home versus Hvidovre. They also lost three of their last four games before the Danish second tier took a rest, dropping them to third and out of the promotional spots. Still a fair way to go though and good to see Nikko Boxall still amongst the starters.
Up Next: A rather important one away to second placed FC Fredericia on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)
Only 38% of possession at home but a second half Aaron Wildig goal earned the Shrimps a 1-1 draw against Crewe... who were top of the table coming into this round. Hell of a result there for Stevie Old and the lads. They’ve now taken points from six of their last eight matches and are two points clear of the drop zone. It’s a grind but they’re getting what they need to survive in the Football League.
Up Next: Away to Newport County on Sunday at 4am (NZT)
Jamie Searle – Aston Villa (English Premier League)
Up Next: More work with that crew and the Aston Villa U23s
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