Flying Kiwis – June 30
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
Two losses from two to start the season meant Viking weren’t in the prettiest position. Hence the gaffer made a few changes for game three. In came new signing Jefferson de Souza. Also included was 17 year old Sondre Auklend, who had made his first team debut at the same time as Joe Bell in a double sub in the first match... oh yeah and Joe Bell too. He started for the first time for his new club. Too good.
Long story short, they still didn’t win. They were behind after 19 minutes as Shuaibu Ibrahim gave Mjøndalen the lead with a finish from close range after a corner kick. The same fella might’ve doubled the lead when he shot straight at the keeper later on but Viking were creating some things too and it was only some insane goalkeeping that kept them from being ahead at the half. But they were level by then. One of those many impressive saves leading to a sliding block that turned into a penalty. Viking were a bit pissed they didn’t get to play advantage since they put the ball in the net anyway but Veton Berisha stepped up and scored it anyway.
Unfortunately they weren’t able to find a winner in that back 45. A few close chances, a few close ones at their own end too. 1-1 was the final score so at least they’re on the board for the season. The real story is that Joe Bell was apparently excellent in his starting debut, playing as a holding midfielder and holding it all down true to the name of the position. Winning challenge after challenge and keeping that ball rolling.
Then he did it all again a few days later. Back in that midfield trio and playing another ninety minutes in Viking’s game against Vålerenga. A game in which Viking were pretty quickly in a bit of trouble as their keeper had to make a couple excellent saves in the first ten or so minutes just to keep it even although Viking could well have snatched one themselves as Bell whipped in a ripper of a delivery from a deep free kick.
But then Vålerenga showed them how to do it with a flicked header at the near post by Matthias Vilhjalmsson and there’s your 1-0. The game slowed down after that. Viking had a great counter attack where they maybe should’ve done better with the end product but it remained 1-0 at the break. Joe Bell was also on corner duties, swinging in a few of those bad boys as well as his free kick. In the 58th minute he came as close as he has yet to his first competitive goal for Viking when he cracked one from outside the box with enough power that the keeper could only parry it away and from the subsequent corner he curled in a dangerous one that Even Østensen headed goalwards only for it to be pushed over the top by the keeper.
Drama proceeded when Vålerenga were awarded a dodgy penalty for a handball but thankfully Matthias Vilhjalmsson couldn’t beat the keeper so it sorta evened out. Then Joe Bell again went close to setting something up after he drifted across the penalty box and then chipped one over the top of the defence where Østensen’s shot was denied.
Then finally they got level in the 71st minute. A nicely worked move in which Ylldren Ibrahimaj got the final touch... but after all that they conceded a winner in the 86th minute from another set piece, with nobody marking at the far post, and that meant a third defeat in four games for Viking. 2-1 the final score. Pretty disappointing result, combined with a second ripper performance from Joe Bell who is already making a name for himself in Norway. Getting rave reviews for how he’s played in these two starts, tell ya what. Just gotta bank a few wins to show for it now.
Up Next: Thursday morning at 4am vs Sandefjord (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)
It was already a monumentally big weekend for Meikayla Moore, even more so with the news that this would be her final game for the club. Two year contract is up and it’s time to move on to “a new challenge”. Given how well she’s asserted herself for a team which has, to be fair, struggled most of the time, Moore ought not to have too much drama finding that next gig. In two years she played 31 times for Duisburg, scoring one goal and picking up five yellow cards. She also played 8 times for FC Köln before that. We’ll find out soon enough what she’s up to in the future.
But first, that 31st and final Zebras appearance. The culmination of a scrappy relegation battle which has swung in all directions even just over the last few weeks. But thanks to a battling point last week against Turbine Potsdam meant that it was all in Duisburg’s own hands as they faced the already-relegated USV Jena. A win and they’d be safe so long as Köln didn’t win by ten goals or something. Which, spoiler alert, they didn’t. FC Köln did as much as they could realistically do with a 1-0 win over SC Sand yet that didn’t change what Duisburg needed to do. Get the W and they’d stay in the top flight.
That prospect got simpler 24 minutes into things when Tina Kremlitschka was sent off for Jena, a straight red for chopping down a player through on goal as the last defender. Duisburg went close from the resulting free kick, with Moore hovering at the far post when the ball came back across, and they’d get that crucial first goal swiftly afterwards as Yvonne Zielinski dashed into the box and finished sharply. A goal up and a woman up, Duisburg went in for the kill and just before the half Alina Angerer got on the end of a long clearance from the keeper, definitely misplayed by the defender but she took the goal beautifully to double the advantage.
From there on all they had to do was hang in there. No dramas with that. Moore was replaced in the 68th minute of her final appearance for the club and if you wanna see what kinda esteem she’s held in within that squad check out the little “we’re not worthy” treatment she gets in that clip repeated at the start and end of these highlights. 2-0 was the final score. Mission accomplished.
As all that was happening, Bayer Leverkusen also got thrashed 5-0 by champions Wolfsburg so those two combined results along with Köln’s win saw all three teams finish on 17 points. Thus relegation was determined by goal difference and Köln were well back at -38 on that count, with Leverkusen’s heavy loss dropping them to -29 and therefore Duisburg, on -28, didn’t just avoid the drop but they avoided it with a spot to spare sneaking up into ninth place... the third season in a row they’ve been ninth. They did it by the barest of margins but they did it... now we wait and see what Mouse has lined up next.
Up Next: Job hunting
Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga)
Last game of the league season and Sarpreet Singh was back on the bench for Bayern after his glorious little starting debut a week ago. This time that bench had much more of a first team feel with a few more of their top tier fellas back in contention after injury/suspension/rotation – Coutinho on for the last half hour for example, his first appearance since restart – and sure enough it was business as usual against Wolfsburg as the Bavarians strolled to a 4-0 victory to put a little icing on the cake before they lifted that trophy. It means that despite coming back to finish the season with an apparent title race on our hands, Bayern actually ended up winning by a 13 point margin over second placed Dortmund. 82 points from 34 matches. They’re now on a 25 game unbeaten streak dating back to December (in which they’ve only failed to win once). Imperious stuff.
For Singh, things were a bit more status quo this week. He remained on the bench throughout the Wolfsburg game with a wonderful view of the action but not quite the view he had a week ago. Still, that’s the seventh consecutive matchday squad that he’s been involved in which is quite a way to close out your first season. He made two Bundesliga appearances in the historically elongated 2019-20 season, one start and one off the bench. 72 minutes combined. And to be fair he was down on the pitch after the game. If you reckon those are some good areas he’s been getting in over the last twelve months then just check out his positioning once the shield came out.
It really is incredible, aye?
So that wraps up the league stuff but there’s still the cup final to come next week. There are a couple more players on the injury list who are trying to get back for that but the way things are going you’d hope Singh can slip onto the bench for an eighth game in a row. He’ll be in the mix at least, even if getting genuine cup final minutes might be a bit much to ask for. Then after that it’s about a month off before the Champions League comes back with Bayern having to polish off a second leg against Chelsea with a 3-0 lead at the halfway point of the tie. Singh’s in that squad too so there’s an outside chance he could become the fifth New Zealander to play in the UCL over the next two months.
Up Next: 6am on Sunday, the DFB-Pokal final against Bayer Leverkusen (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
‘Twas a victorious start to the Challenge Cup for the two-time defending NWSL champs against Portland Thorns in what was also the opening match of the tournament in Utah. The first major national team sports league to be back post-Covid in the United States. And the big talking point was a unanimous kneeling for the national anthem in solidarity with the anti-racism movement and Black Lives Matter. So that was cool.
As you’d expect, both teams were a bit rusty. Preseason’s been disjointed and delayed and all those things and neither team was at their clinical best... like when Lynn Williams went on her own and blasted a shot a mile off target when she had Kristen Hamilton wide open in the middle through on goal if she’d only passed. That was actually a theme of the first half as Williams’ supreme ability running at defenders was mixed with a tendency to take the greedier option a bit too often. But she did go very close a couple times there.
NCC had a few moments when Erceg and company had needed to be on their toes in that first half, although Portland’s best chance was a Lindsay Horan header where she was offside anyway, and scores remained level into the second half. Horan hit the post with another header in the 73rd minute but soon after NCC had their lead when Debinha stepped in front of the keeper to get to a near post cross and score. It took a while for that first goal but Portland weren’t behind for long. In the 80th minute they scored an awkward equaliser. Horan with the header once again and it came back off the crossbar and almost went in off the keeper Stephanie Labbe. Abby Erceg got in there to try and clear it but Simone Charley bundled it over the line instead. It looked like that’d be that, a draw to open the Challenge Cup... but then Lynn Williams finally got what she was looking for as a quality cross in from Sam Mewis allowed her to power home her header in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Late action but a winning start for NCC against their closest rivals of the last few years and that’s the one stat that matters most.
Note also that Abby Erceg, who missed the last Footy Ferns tour because she was stuck in the USA awaiting her green card, is not listed as an international player this season so presumably that little beauty came through in the mail finally. Katie Bowen also seems to no longer have international player status.
Up Next: Washington Spirit vs NCC on Thursday at 2pm (NZT)
Elijah Just & Dalton Wilkins - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 2)
We don’t hear a whole heap about these two fellas in Flying Kiwis, they’ve just been keeping their heads down and doing what needs doing in Denmark for their American-owned club as they battle for promotion. They don’t actually play a massive amount, is the thing. Regular presences in matchday squads and they do get a few games as subs but starts are rare so it was a beautiful thing when, with injuries and a couple poor results catching up with the team, the kiwi pair were both amongst the starters last Thursday morning (NZT) against Brabrand.
Wilkins had previously made two starts this season, plus four more appearances as a sub. So six games all up combining for 270 minutes. Just had played 10 times all as a substitute for 225 minutes with a goal to his name. Quality milestone here then for two of Aotearoa’s (and Ole Academy’s) top pro prospects.
And they won too! They needed the three points desperately after losing twice coming out of the resumption but a goal in each half got them the W and keeps them two points clear at the top. With three games to go it’s all still in their own hands whether they go up to join Nikko Boxall’s Viborg FF in the second tier of Danish footy.
But wait there’s more because they did well enough there that there was only one change for the next match and it wasn’t either of these two, maintaining those starting spots to face Thisted FC...
And they won again! No kidding. 3-0 with goals scored by Jeppe Kjær (2) and Lucas Haren. Both Wilkins and Just played full games and the word on Eli Just in particular was pretty glowing. He got himself very involved in attack both with a couple decent attempts himself but also especially with his vision as a passer – true to the Assist King status he once held back in the NZ Premiership. Here are some translated words from the club’s match report...
FCH: “Then, after 26 minutes, Eli Just got a pass in front of goal. Eli stood with his back to the goal and a Thisted defender breathing down his neck, but still managed to take the ball down, turn bodies and finish. But unfortunately, he was covered up a little too well and the acrobatic attempt went past the post. Elijah "Eli" Just was here, there, and everywhere for the first half hour, and after 32 minutes he forced a corner that Helsinger went close to scoring from.... Four minutes later it was even closer, and again it was Eli who was the architect. Eli conquered centrally and ran for goal, with only one defender to beat. On the right side of him ran Chris Cortez and Eli pushed the ball forward obliquely to the American. Cortez finished hard and flat as he entered the field, but again Thisted's goalkeeper was awake, blocking with a good foot parry.”
He had a little role in the first goal too, feeding the ball down the line which led to the cross. The victory means they remain two points clear, one step closer to where they wanna be with only two more games remaining. It’ll all be decided this time next week.
Up Next: 5am on Thursday against AB (NZT)
Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)
There’s been a lot of uncertainty in the sports world recently, for obvious reasons, but here’s one thing that ain’t uncertain any longer. Reidy was still sorting through the fine print on his visa when the MLS was suspended but he’s expected to be available to play once the league resumes in Florida in a week’s time... Florida feels like a horrible place to be these days but hopefully that MLS bubble is nice and impenetrable or whatever bubbles are meant to be.
Anyway, the paper work isn’t the point here. West Ham have a recall clause in the loan deal and SKC were a tad frisky that WHU might want him back for their condensed Premier League season and the way The Hammers are going that might not even be the worst idea out there but nah they’re happy for him to be in the USA. Reid’s loan lasts for the entirety of 2020 and includes a permanent buy-out option at the end of it if SKC have the cash handy.
Sporting KC coach and sporting director Peter Vermes: “[Reid] was working out when he was over in England, but he’s got to get back into the full-team training. That’s going to take a little bit of time but he does have a good base of fitness. I won’t put him out there in a risky situation. I want to make sure whatever I put him up against that he’s prepared for it, whether its 10 minutes, a half, whatever the time period is, I’ve just to make sure he's prepared and he’s confident to do that as well. It makes no sense to hurry up any player just to get them on the field.”
That’s not completely reassuring but okay. Reid’s back in training with SKC now as they prepare for the upcoming mini-season tournament thing.
Up Next: Midday on Monday 13 July against Minnesota United (NZT)
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
Sean Dyche: “Woody is doing well and is in front of the curve but we are being careful because we want him to be right.”
Rightio then. The Woodsman was still missing as Burnley, despite missing half their preferred starting team, was able to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a superb Ben Mee diving header. Kind of amazing from Sean Dyche and his lads there. They’re up to eighth on the ladder now, ahead of Arsenal and only behind Spurs on goal difference.
Up Next: Burnley vs Sheffield United, Sunday at 11pm (NZT)
Jamie Searle – Aston Villa (English Premier League)
That right there is Aston Villa’s released list and unfortunately for Jamie Searle his name’s popped up on it. Searle had signed with Villa back in August 2019 and played the season with their U23s but yeah obviously not a lot of that going on at the mo’ and unfortunately there are going to be a lot of dudes in situations like his who get released around world football in the wake of the pandemic. Just the way it goes... here’s hoping Searle lands on his feet.
Up Next: Dunno
Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)
First was that game. Away to Skive and they travelled back with a 1-0 win thanks to a Alassana Jattas goal late in the first half. Not sure how that ball got through the defence from midfield but it was a goodie and it left Jattas with only the keeper to beat... which he did. Nikko Boxall didn’t start that one but he was an 85th minuet sub as they scrambled to hold that clean sheet and the three points – that was before Alexander Fischer was sent off for a second yellow (time wasting with a throw in, kinda funny), though they got there in the end.
Then came another win. 4-2 against HB Køge. Twice they were pegged back along the way but once two goals in three minutes from the 75th min onwards finally broke the game open enough that they could hold on and with other results going their way they’re now five points clear in second place. Nikko Boxall was an unused sub in this one so we shan’t go too deep into the match itself. But with all the remaining fixtures now scheduled the Danish first division will complete its full 33 games per team so Viborg have six more games to try and catch Vejle who are eight points ahead of them for that lone promotion spot (and the championship). Still possible.
Up Next: Næstved vs VFF, Weds at 5am (NZT)
Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild kvenna)
An 85th minute goal from María Sól Jakobsdóttir earned Stjarnan a second straight win as they faced IBV away. It had been a quiet game in the first half, neither team quite at full steam yet only three games into the season, and while there were chances created by both teams it quickly became a matter of who’d actually be able to take one of them. The Stars got eventually. Held strong at the back and finally made one count with six minutes left with Jakobsdóttir coming off the bench to get the winner. No goal for Hassett this week but she did play the complete match and picked up a yellow card early in the first half. You can see the goal in this clip here at around the 1:28 mark. Hassett’s wearing #11 at the top of the box celebrating as the ball goes in.
Up Next: Thursday at 7.15am vs Selfoss (NZT)
Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)
The continuing travails of Matty Garbett have been pretty astonishing but it’s also gotta be said that his team ain’t doing so flash. They had a Swedish Cup quarterfinal in the midweek and basically one of the major things you don’t wanna do in those situations is get your goalkeeper sent off midway through the first half. The sub keeper actually stepped up and saved the penalty and the rebound both but Mjällby later took their deserved lead early in the second half and went on to hold out for that 1-0 win. Matt Garbett, who had made his debut in this competition before the pandemic stuff, was thrown on in the 65th minute but wasn’t able to spark an equaliser... so that’s that competition all accounted for as far as FFF goes.
Then they played in the league a few days later and lost 3-1 away to Varberg with Garbett not included on the bench. They were 2-0 down after only twenty minutes, the first being an own goal. Meaning that back to back defeats this week have knocked them out of the cup and with consecutive losses in the league too they’re way down in 14th after four games. Long, long way to go yet but not the best from Falkenbergs.
Up Next: FFF vs Sirius on 5am Thurs (NZT)
Joel Stevens & Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Division 1 Södra)
Make that four outta four for Varney as they came from a goal behind to beat Landskrona 4-1. Three of those goals were scored in the last fifteen minutes too... which is a little awkward considering Joel Stevens was replaced with 15 mins to go but that’s footy for ya. Francis De Vries got the full game. Got no vids to share of it all but at least that’s a cheeky update as Värnamo extend their perfect start to the season.
Up Next: 5am on Thursday vs Utsikten (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Always a good chat when Boxy’s involved.
Up Next: Midday on Monday 13 July against Minnesota United (NZT)
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