Flying Kiwis – June 1
Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga)
Football is slowly coming back and no country has been more efficient about it than Germany, true to reputation. Not only have the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 been back for three weeks now but they’ve also as of this week brought back the third tier as well as the women’s Bundesliga. All of those divisions are leading the way compared to their respectives in other major European football nations. And the Bayern Munich reserves were streamed live on YouTube with a midnight kickoff on Saturday/Sunday, a wonderful way to see a bit of Sarpreet Singh in action, right?
Except that come time for the lineup announcements he was nowhere to be seen. Not in the starting eleven and not on the bench either. Was he injured? Nope, the mystery was solved a few hours later as the Bayern’s top side hosted Fortuna Düsseldorf and peep that familiar name amongst the substitutes...
That’s the fifth time that Singh has been on the bench in the league plus once more each in the Super Cup, DFB Cup, and Champions League. He had a little run at the start of the season before the transfer window closed and the club brought in the likes of Coutinho and Ivan Perisic, then he got a little run in December which led to his debut off the bench against Werder Bremen. Now he’s had this opportunity. Countinho, Tolisso, Thiago all out injured... and at a time when five subs are allowed by FIFA because of the tricky nature of trying to finish some of these leagues and the physical pressure that puts on players.
The game itself was nothing much. Bayern were way too good, they played some lovely footy at times and were completely dominant, taking the led early through an own goal before Benjamin Pavard headed in a second before half an hour was up. Robert Lewandowski scored on either side of the break and emerging Canadian hero and fastest footy player on the planet candidate Alphonso Davies hustled his way to a fifth after 52 mins. Easy to roll out the subs in that situation.
Michael Cuisance was first, replacing his French compatriot Lucas Hernandez at half-time which led to a little shake up in a few positions. Then ten minutes after Davies’ goal to make it 5-0, Ivan Perisic and Odriozola were thrown out there in a double change. Perisic you’ll already know, Odriozola is a young Spanish fullback making his second appearance of the season. With quarter of an hour to play, Joshua Zirkzee was thrown on. Dutch striker who scored three goals in his first 26 minutes of Bundesliga action earlier in the campaign. All players who either rank ahead of Singh in the pecking order or who play in different conditions. Leaving five fellas still on the bench and they weren’t about to toss on a reserve keeper or a couple of the veterans.
But when that fifth and final change was made it was Oliver Batista-Meier who was given a first team debut instead. The ninth time that the 19 year old has made the bench for the top side but the first time he’s actually gotten a run out there. So it goes, maybe next time. Here’s a screenshot of Sarpreet (bottom right) with the team afterwards at least...
Bayern went on to win it 5-0. There were no more goals and they maintain that hefty lead at the top of the table albeit with a couple tough games coming up. Bayer Leverkusen are next and they beat Bayern last time they played.
Up Next: Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich, Sunday at 1.30am (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)
It was a perfect return. Battling against relegation, the Zebras had a massive match first up against Bayer Leverkusen – the team immediately ahead of them on the table and thus a genuine chance to put some points on the board and give themselves a little breathing room – and they were immediately on the attack. A big Meikayla Moore switch of play (one of her increasing trademarks is her distribution) helped win a corner and then that led to another corner and then that led to a third corner and then that led to Nina Lange volleying in after a mere two minutes and nineteen seconds. Three months of waiting for their next game and it didn’t even take three minutes before they were in the lead.
Another thing about Moore’s performances for Duisburg is that she’d been getting a few runs in central midfield after coming back from injury and this was the same – the defensive anchor in a midfield three. Needless to say that allowed for plenty of work in a match which understandably felt a bit scrappy after all the time off, both teams settling into a rhythm after the early goal until Lange struck again late in the first half, capping off a lovely counter attack. 2-0 to the Zebras.
They were lucky to keep that clean sheet into the half as Leverkusen struck the post late on but then it was Duisburg who looked more likely to score the next goal once the second half got underway. Not that they needed to. A thoroughly professional performance and a 2-0 victory was more than enough, those three points coupled with a defeat for FC Köln puts Duisburg five points clear of the drop zone and they can expand that gap when they play FC Köln on Friday morning in their next match. They’re also only one point behind Leverkusen with a game in hand. Here’s a full replay of the match...
You know what else? This all just carries on a trend that was already becoming apparent before the hiatus. Since Meikayla Moore got back to full fitness after the winter break – following that Achilles injury at the World Cup last year – they immediately became more competitive. Coincidence? Well she’s had four games this season, playing every available minute, and the proof is in the pudding.
MSV Duisburg with Mouse: 4 GM | 1 W | 2 D | 1 L | 6 GF | 8 GA | -2 GD | 5 PTS
MSV Duisburg w/o Mouse: 12 GM | 2 W | 1 D | 9 L | 9 GF | 28 GA | - 19 GD | 7 PTS
Meanwhile SC Sand had a 3-1 loss away to Frankfurt and Paige Satchell was nowhere to be seen. Haven’t found anything suggesting she’s been released, although you never know in the current chaos, though Sand appeared to only have a small bench available (only making two subs out of a potential five). Quite possible she hasn’t been able to get back to Germany yet.
Up Next: 4am on Friday, MSV Duisburg vs FC Köln (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Sunderland AFC (English League One)
The full announcement: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that Tommy Smith has left the club following the expiration of his contract. The New Zealand international moved to the Stadium of Light in February 2020 on a short-term deal. Everyone at SAFC would like to wish Tommy the very best for the future.”
Smithy signed with Sunderland on 21 February. He sat on the bench for two matches later on in that same month. Then within a couple more weeks the league had been suspended and poor old Smithy never even got a chance.
He lasted three months at Sunderland, got to take some nice photos in the kit, snuck in a few training sessions, and now he’s off looking for a new club without ever playing for them. But although he’s already been to Colorado and back and just did the short term emergency depth thing... Tommy Smith is only 30 years old and there’s no reason to think he’s on the way out as a player. Just gotta find that right club for next season whenever that happens to be... it feels less likely than likely that League One will be able to complete its remaining fixtures so getting released now (at the expiration of a contract that was dated until the original end of the season) is only speeding up the process, no dramas. Expect to see him hang around this similar level in England for his next gig.
Up Next: Quick chat with the agent
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
There was a bit on the news the other day about Erin Nayler and Hannah Wilkinson training with Northland FC as they seek to stay footy fit during the post-lockdown. Nothing particularly Breaking News about that other than a nice insight into current life for a couple top athletes and a cheeky plug for the gorgeous Northland beaches. But as far as Flying Kiwis stuff goes, there was one useful bit of confirmation of something that was discussed in the Flying Kiwis: The State of Things piece last week which is that Erin Nayler’s Bordeaux contract is now expiring.
The French top flight women’s season has been canned so Nayler’s effectively a free agent now and what’s more is that she’s apparently in chats with a WSL club in England for her next gig. Dunno which, although Liverpool did just release their keeper (they’re also facing relegation though, depending on what’s done with the final standings). Nayler had pretty much lost her starting gig at Bordeaux by the time of lockdown which felt super harsh after a quality first half of the season but putting one and one together they were probably preparing for her departure already. In three seasons, Nayler played 42 league matches, keeping 13 clean sheets for a club that got better and better each year she was there.
Hannah Wilkinson is also out of contract having negotiated an early release from Sporting Lisbon but that’s not news. The TVNZ piece reckons she’s close to resolving her future though. Having already played in the USA (at college level), Sweden, and Portugal – not to mention nearing the century mark for the Footy Ferns – she should have some decent and geographically vast options.
Up Next: Beach sprints and juggle comps
Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)
There are your highlights from Viborg’s 1-1 draw with Skive. Worth a watch too because it was a dramatic one. Although VFF had the better of possession they also trailed for most of the game after Mikkel Vendelbo’s tenth minute strike and it wasn’t until the fifth minute of injury time that Alassana Jatta earned Viborg a point. That dude had to score one eventually, he had so many chances. But even then it only mattered because their English keeper, Brandon Austin on loan from Spurs, made a brilliant save about a minute earlier.
It’s not the best result but it’s better than it could have been. A draw at least keeps them second on goal difference and in position to make the promotion playoff even if automatic promotion isn’t getting any closer with seven points separating them and Vejle who themselves also had a 1-1 draw (vs Næstved).
Nikko Boxall was there with the squad but he was an unused sub. His contract would have ordinarily run out during the pandemic break but obviously FIFA have put some provisions in place to extend all those deals until the end of the actual season. He’s been a bit in and out all season, starting 14 times and named on the bench seven times (with one appearances as a sub), so this isn’t a fresh development but it is something to keep an eye out for as VFF scrap for promotion to the top flight and Nikko scraps for a new contract.
Up Next: Kolding IF vs Viborg at 3.30am on Saturday (NZT)
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Up Next: The MLS players’ union has now signed off on the Orlando tournament proposal (as outlined in the last Flying Kiwis) so that’s getting closer and closer to happening
Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)
Great yarn in there about getting nutmegged by Son-Heung Min on All Whites debut.
Up Next: Teams are beginning to get back into training but they’re still in the planning stages as to how to get the 2020 season underway
The NWSL Gals
June 27, that’s the date. Since the last Flying Kiwis everything has kicked into gear for the NWSL. The players’ union managed to strike a good enough deal, with guaranteed wages and all that, to make the planned Utah tournament make sense and now it’s all set to go ahead – the first major sports league in the USA to start post-Covid.
The nine teams will all play four games each with those four games determining seeding for the knockouts (1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc... with the ninth placed team getting knocked out). Then it’s straight knockouts until a final with the winning team lifting the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. Every game will take place at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah – home field advantage for Katie Bowen and the Utah Royals – with no spectators allowed in attendance.
The cost of it all is hoped to be covered by a big push for sponsors and with CBS in tow to broadcast (inc. live streams) all 25 matches. For those of us outside the USA and Canada it’ll be streamed on Twitch. The only worry is whether the best players will turn up. Specifically USA national team players who might not be so keen on potentially seven games in a month on artificial turf after minimal preparation time and with the Olympics on the horizon next year. It’s an individual decision for those players. Some won’t wanna be there and that’s fair enough. Hopefully most will though. Final team rosters have to be submitted by 21 June.
There are four kiwis on the books with NWSL teams this year:
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals
Rosie White – OL Reign
Ali Riley – Orlando Pride
Up Next: Countdown ‘til 27 June
Rightio, first proper post-pando Flying Kiwis in the bag, how good! Support TNC on Patreon if you’re keen on more where this came from
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