Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

Down by a goal, into stoppage time. Burnley pressing to salvage something from the match to keep their hopes of European football alive. In those desperate last moments you turn towards your most trusted players and in this case, needing a goal, that means your top scoring striker. Sure enough Chris Wood dragged his muddy boots all over the seven minutes of stoppage time that ended up being played.

Forget about what came beforehand. Wolves were up 1-0 thanks to a brilliant strike on the volley from Raul Jiminez. Probably fair according to the run of a game where Wolves looked pretty excellent for long stretches, pinging the ball around and attacking with directness and pace. But typical Burnley, they kept themselves in it by preventing that second goal and that left them room for a good old fashioned smash and grab at the end. A chance would fall to them eventually, just had to be good enough to put it away. And, well...

Yeah only thing with that one is that The Woodsman missed it. The keeper had drifted from his goal towards a cross he had no hope of getting at and the head-back found Wood on the near post and unmarked. Perhaps he had time to let the ball come to him a shade more so he didn’t have to reach for it. Perhaps he tried to header it too firmly when more of a glancing touch would have sufficed. Regardless, he missed it. And a striker of his capability should have scored. A point gone begging?

Nope, not quite. There was still time in this one for some redemption. About two minutes later or so another ball’s pumped long into the mixer by Burnley. The header again came back across and again Chris Wood was there to challenge. This time he had some company from the defence and it was a little behind him. No worries, that’s what bicycle kicks are for. Wood didn’t actually make contact with his attempted bikey but he did cause Matt Doherty to shield his eyes and the ball was thus parried away by his extended elbow. Completely accidental but the referee pointed to the spot and the VAR upheld the decision.

Chris Wood has been an excellent penalty taker in his time at Burnley, though he doesn’t always get to take them as they generally adhere to the ol’ you win it you take it rule and Ashley Barnes keeps taking them for that reason – Wood hadn’t ever taken a Premier League penalty before. He has scored three outta three for Burnley in cup and European competitions and for his club career he’s scored 20/23 yet never has he taken a league spottie for the Clarets. But Barnesy is out injured at the mo’ and it was The Woodsman who was there for the winning of it so conflicts = nil.

And bloody hell didn’t he take it brilliantly? Outstanding penalty kick.

Mentality king right there. What’s more is that he did it with blood coming out of his right ear from where Doherty’s boot caught him on the way down from the overhead attempt. The final whistle came about twenty seconds after the restart and thus Burnley left with a 1-1 draw thanks to that 96th minute spot kick... which funnily enough is what happened in the reverse fixture where Wolves scored an injury time penalty to draw 1-1.

Sean Dyche: “It just shows Woody’s strength of character, to miss that header then stand up to take the penalty,” the Burnley manager said. “He’s been out for a while but he grew into the game.”

The Woodsman Speaketh: “We were waiting for that one chance and luckily it came for me at the end especially after putting the header wide. I thought I had waited all that time for one chance and not put it away so it was nice to make amends for that. It was nice to be able to put it right. It is about clearing your mind, it is my job to do these types of things and that is why I am a striker and that is what I am here to do, put the ball into the back of the net.”

Good on ya Woodsy. Next up was Norwich and this was an odd game for sure. Norwich had already been relegated and they played like it... yet they also frustrated Burnley in the way that Burnley normally frustrate other teams. The best chance of the opening stages fell to the Canaries with Nick Pope saving well from Ben Godfrey and James Tarkwoski deflecting the rebound shot from Alex Tettey clear.

But this game swung drastically in the last ten minutes (plus substantial injury time) of the first half. First Emiliano Buendia was sent off for an elbow gone astray and then Josip Drmic followed him off the pitch when he left a few sprigs up in a tackle and also saw a straight red. Not even half-time and Norwich were down to nine men. Plus it got worse because just before the break Chris Wood had another go at his new favourite hobby of awkward overhead kicks and this time he may not have quite struck it perfectly but he got enough of it to sneak it into the bottom corner. Didn’t get that other leg off the ground so we can’t call it a bikey, what we’re looking at here is the dictionary definition of an overhead kick... but all the same: damn, son.

Rate that from the Burnley TV commentator saying: “he went up in installments there!”

Fast-forward through the second half now. Burnley were never likely to concede, they just needed that second goal to be sure of it and it finally came with ten mins remaining as Ben Godfrey scored a comical own goal to cap off a ridiculous game from Norwich, who have lost every match since the restart. More importantly Burnley got another three points to stay in outside contention for those European places. Probably not gonna get there but they’re having a decent whack.

And most importantly Chris Wood now has 13 goals for the season, and in only 31 games too (28 of them starts). Give him those six games he’s missed and he might have a couple more too. 13 goals is a new record for a Burnley player in a Premier League season and the club has also tied its record points total with one game remaining while goalie Nick Pope can win (or at least share) the golden glove with a clean sheet in that last match. That’s the stat that The Woodsman is most focussed on right now...

Chris Wood: “As a team we will be fighting like hell for him. He’s an outstanding keeper and in my opinion the best in the country and it shows. He’s got 15 clean sheets for the season, which is unbelievable, especially in a team like Burnley. Hopefully we can get one more for him to get at least a share of the golden glove, if not win it completely.”

Shinball wizard.

Up Next: Burnley vs Brighton, 3am on Monday (NZT)

Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

That clears that up then. With Orlando Pride not playing in the NWSL Challenge Cup because of a covid outbreak, Ali Riley has popped back over to Sweden in the meantime... where it’s now confirmed that she’ll play the 2020 season with her old club FC Rosengård, a team she spent seven successful seasons with between 2012-18 and played 35 times in the Champions League (a kiwi record by a mile). But it’s not a case of bailing out here. She’s joining the Rosies on loan until November (the Damallsvenskan ends on 15 November) and Orlando have the option to recall her at any point during the loan if/when there’s a proper NWSL season and the Pride are able to, you know, play real football.

Ali Riley: “I am extremely happy and grateful to have the opportunity to play with FCR in 2020 and represent a club and city that means so much to me.”

Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner: “We’re obviously disappointed to not have been able to see Ali and the rest of the team’s hard work on display at the Challenge Cup but we’re happy to be able to provide her with an opportunity to get some competitive matches and training at Rosengard. We’ll remain in constant contact with Ali to ensure that the Pride can maximize the benefits of this valuable and competitive playing experience. Ali was in tremendous form here in Orlando and we’re excited for when she eventually plays her first match in purple but, for now, we wish her luck in Sweden.”

She probably won’t be around for it by the way but Rosengård are in the next Champions League from the round of 32 and that starts in November so there’s an outside chance she could add to her Champions League appearance tally. That all depends on what the NWSL does. The Challenge Cup has another week to go and as it stands there’s nothing planned beyond that – with league contract regulations operating on the idea that the Challenge Cup will be the only NWSL happening (a necessary clarification in terms of playoff bonuses and such).

In the meantime she’s already played her first game back for Rosengård. A 3-0 win over bottom-placed Växjö came too soon for her but a few days later they faced second-to-last Umeå and came away with another 3-0 win. The Rosies already led 1-0 thanks to a late first half goal from Hanna Bennison when Riley was brought on off the bench in the 62nd minute, part of a double sub and the first changes of the night. Ali Riley came on for Jessica Samuelsson and true to character was the first person there to celebrate as Katrine Veje struck one low into the net after a corner kick for the second goal in the 82nd minute and then four mins later they got another through Anna Anvegård to make sure of the points.

Check out the highlights at this link.

Up Next: 5am on Saturday at home vs KIF Örebro (NZT)

Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Another player of the day nod? Yeah no dramas. Just another day at the office to be honest. And while we can now confirm that the burger vouchers of the good old days of junior footy don’t find their way to the NWSL it seems that’s only because POD prizes are a little shinier at that level instead.

This was from the Courage’s final match of group play, a 2-0 win over Sky Blue which didn’t really matter as far as their tournament prospects went – they would have finished first either way – but the win did keep their perfect record in tact and with another clean sheet too. The Courage only conceded once in four games with Abby Erceg playing every minute of those four games. Sam Mewis put them in the lead in the seventh minute against Sky Blue and Crystal Dunn doubled that in the 56th min... it seems Erceg didn’t get awarded the assist for Mewis’ goal, an emphatic volley after some slightly scrappy stuff from a corner where Erceg’s spinning attempt to shoot bounced into Mewis’ path. Probably fair enough. The Courage had 17 shots, 8 on target, compared to 9 shots, 1 on target, for Sky Blue so a convincing win in the end.

Which brought us to the end of the first round and the beauty of that second goal is that it prevented Utah and OL Reign from playing each other in the quarters – thus ensuring no conflicted Flying Kiwis cheerfulness in any of those games. More on those two teams in a sec but this is Abby Erceg’s section and the NC Courage with their cheeky first seed got to play the bottom placed Portland Thorns (which is weird because usually the Thorns are really good – they’ve been NCC’s biggest rivals over the last 3 years). Here’s some more praise from the coach first though...

Rightio, so Courage vs Thorns in the NWSL Challenge Cup quarters. Within a minute the Courage were already threatening as Lynn Williams got in behind the defence from the left and squared an untouched cross along the six yard box. Williams then had another chance five mins in as she cut inside and shot from a similar angle. Portland did hold their own at the back but NCC will have been shocked at how they weren’t ahead in that first half. Debinha was on absolute fire and Williams had a few more attempts but a few moments where it didn’t quite click combined with several moments of impressive goalkeeping from Britt Eckerstrom kept it even into the second half.

Eckerstrom continued her impressive performance as the game went on in a similar trend, NCC pushing forwards at pace but being unable to find a way through. Then came the sucker punch. Raquel Rodriguez got fed the ball in the box and some quick feet enabled her to slide it across where rookie Morgan Weaver (second overall pick in the most recent draft) snuck in front of her marker to score. That meant the Courage were now trailing in a game for the first time all tournament, coming in with four wins from four against a winless team that they’d already beaten once in this Challenge Cup.

It’d be the last time they trailed too. Eckerstrom came up with two more brilliant saves, her two best, first to deny Debinha from a free kick and then to charge the Brazilian down one on one, and Portland held on to claim a pretty stunning upset win 1-0. To make it even crazier, Eckerstrom was actually their third string keeper but injuries thrust her in for this start and she made eight saves. Plus the Thorns did it without star winger Tobin Heath who isn’t playing this tournament. Not much to say for Abby Erceg, she must have been watching from the back in horror as the Courage continually failed to put the ball where it’s supposed to go. Football can be harsh like that sometimes. Four straight group wins and they lost the first one they couldn’t afford to. Tournament over just like that.

Up Next: Nada

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Minny’s first game of the oddly named MLS Is Back Tournament was a bonkers 2-1 win over a Winston Reid-less Sporting Kansas City and in a tournament like this that first win on the board is enormous. Not only because these points in the first round count towards the actual season too but also because it puts you in prime position to advance. The Loons could have booked a place in the knockouts with a win in their second game against Real Salt Lake.

It didn’t happen but they didn’t do themselves any damage with a routine 0-0 draw. Michael Boxall started at CB as per... although he did have to hand that captain’s armband over to Ozzie Alonso as the midfielder returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out last week... and Boxall continues to perform like a leader at the back in what was otherwise a bit of a mud game. Shots on target were of a minimum... Minny went close when they hit the inside of the post in first half stoppage time but it wasn’t to be. Probably understandable given how late the game was too – it ticked over midnight ten minutes into the second half. Minnesota were the better team in the latter stages but they also nearly conceded an 87th minute winner so a scoreless draw was about right. James Musa was an unused sub while Noah Billingsley wasn’t in the matchday squad, still awaiting that milestone.

The good thing about a goalless draw is that things like this happen...

This was the second game of the MLS Is Back Tournament for Boxall and the Loons but it’s their fourth 2020 regular season game and in those four matches they’ve only conceded once. With a win and a draw they’re in good position to advance and with 10 points from four regular season games they’re looking good in the wider season too.

And now a few quotes from Michael Boxall about life in the MLS Bubble...

On daily life at Walt Disney World Resort: “Some days we’re in our rooms 20 of 24 hours. Boredom definitely can set in. Call Of Duty has been a lifesaver.”

On intersquad FIFA20 action: “That game leads to a lot of broken controllers because it doesn’t do what we as footballers want it to do.”

On being away from his young daughter: “She’s asked and invited me to come back home and play with her almost every time I talked to her. That’s tough to hear. If I come home with a few Minnie Mouse toys, maybe I’ll get back in her good books.”

Up Next: 2.30pm on Thursday against Colorado Rapids (NZT)

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

With the Courage knocked out in the first game of the appropriately named knockouts, it was up to Katie Bowen and Rosie White to fly the flag the rest of the way. Utah had drawn Houston Dash in the quarters after sliding through in fifth place with a win, a draw, and two defeats. They drew 3-3 with the Dash when they played them in their Challenge Cup opener.

Bowen was named on the bench as she had been in two of the four group stage games although just like in those ones she still played a solid 45 minutes. Each of the three times she was benched she came on at the half with the Royals going hundies on a wingback rotation. She came on to replace Kelley O’Hara as part of a double sub and she didn’t miss a whole lot in that first stanza. Both teams had chances to score, both keepers were very good. Frustrating finishing at times but the game was still very much there to be won.

But neither team could. It ended up being a scrappy second half in which Katie Bowen was very much a combative force. With twenty minutes left she tussled with Megan Oyster who was trying to shield the ball out for a goal kick, Bowen getting a warning from the ref after dragging Oyster down in the process. But Oyster had landed awkwardly in the fall and would need extended treatment which delayed the match and she ended up having to go to hospital for scans on her ribs. Bowen eventually got a yellow card for a lesser version of the same foul as she dragged back an opponent when trying to find some space for a throw-in. Very soft but no doubt with the earlier clash in mind – there was a bit of moaning about the refereeing afterwards, as tends to happen.

No goals were scored and the game progressed immediately to a penalty shootouts with no extra time in place. And guts to the Royals because their top striker Amy Rodriguez stepped up first and put her attempt off the crossbar. The teams then traded a few successes before Rachel Corsie had Utah’s third kick saved. Rachel Daly then put Houston on the brink of advancing by making it 3-1... just. Abby Smith saved Houston’s next attempt to keep the contest alive but Verónica Boquete missed Utah’s fifth and final shot.

Meaning that Houston took it 3-2 on spotties (with a kick to spare). Katie Bowen didn’t get to take one (even though she was first woman up for the Footy Ferns back in March when they won a shootout against Belgium). A 0-0 draw and a shootout defeat and Utah’s season is over.

Katie Bowen wasn’t ever-present like Abby Erceg but she did play at least 45 minutes in every game for the Royals this Challenge Cup. Mostly all out at right wingback, a natural adjustment with the team moving to a 3-5-2 formation this year to try and create more on attack in balance with what was already a very good defence. Bowen played right back last year so now she’s in a more attacking version of the same position. But that was a lot to get a handle on in a short amount of time for the Royals in this truncated tournament and without the services of Christen Press, their most creative player, it was even tougher. Just didn’t quite click for the Challenge Cup hosts... fingers crossed this isn’t the last time they play before 2021 although as things stand it doesn’t look too likely that there’ll be any more NWSL footy this year.

Up Next: Dunno

Rosie White – OL Reign (American National Women’s Soccer League)

You’re not gonna believe this... but Rosie White got knocked out in the NWSL Challenge Cup quarters too. It was 0/3 for the Flying Kiwis in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Absolutely rotten weekend, that one.

Rosie White at least has less of a horror story as she didn’t feature in any of the final three games after going off injured in the Reign’s second match (which she started). She was still named on the extended bench for all three of those games but never got the call to enter any of the matches and we don’t know if she was ever truly in full contention after that injury. She wasn’t listed on the injury report so maybe she just wasn’t the option the coach preferred.

OL Reign had their chances but they couldn’t find a way past an inspired Alyssa Naeher in goal for the Chicago Red Stars. She made six saves in regulation time and got the biscuits in a 4-3 penalty shootout win for Chicago (although the two misses from Reign were off target). The Reign have a fair bit of glamour about them since being bought by Olympique Lyon however with a new coach in place and a few key players working through injuries/unavailability they never really got churning in this tournament. They only scored one goal in five games and this was their third scoreless draw of the competition so kinda obvious what needs fixing.

Up Next: No idea

Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)

What do you reckon, Matty get to claim that one?

Probably a stretch, to be fair. Not even the club website match report gave it to him, although they did have plenty of nice things to say: “With 65 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. New Zealander Matthew Garbett came on board, with goalscorer Edi Sylisufaj substituted, and the kiwi made an immediate impression! Garbett rounded a HIF’er and got off a finish towards goal. The ball found its way into the goal via a HIF leg. What a start for young Garbett.”

So that was cool. Subbed on in the 65th minute and sets up a goal in the 66th. Officially they put it down as an own goal which it very clearly was, a pretty silly one too. Still, shout out for the assist coz that’s Garb’s first goal involvement as a professional football.

This was honestly a remarkable game of football. FFF took the lead in the fourth minute when Edi Sylisufaj smashed in a blinder from a mile out, straight into the top corner, a good old fashioned thunderbastard, and the own goal made it 2-0 which was still the way with ten minutes remaining. But Helsingborgs pulled one back in the 81st minute to make it a scratchy finish... then this happened...

Yeah wow. That’s Anders Lindegaard, a former Manchester United backup keeper who also played with Chris Wood at Burnley for a pair of seasons. Unsurprisingly this was his first career goal. The fella Garbett waxed for the goal is American international Mix Diskerud who is on loan from Manchester City... although as a 29 year old he’s not exactly in the first team picture. He signed from New York City FC so he’s a Man City player in the same way that, you know, Luke Brattan was a Manchester City player. Either way, Mix got mixed.

This was Garbett’s third league appearance for FFF, as well as three League Cup appearances (all six off the bench), though this was his first game in nearly a month... which is also how long it’s been since Falkenbergs last won a game. Blowing a 2-0 lead like this hits harder when it extends your winless streak to eight games in all competitions (including being knocked out of the cup). Two draws and six defeats. A bit of work to do.

Up Next: Away to IFK Göteborg at 5am on Friday (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

First start of 2020 for Billy T over here. He got injured in preseason and missed the first couple weeks before the lockdowns and then played off the bench in Portland’s game last week but as the 25 year old wandered out with the starters as they faced Houston in game two of their MLS Is Back Tournament group stage... against Houston Dynamo. No sign of Kyle Adams yet for the Dynamo. Gotta wait for his opportunity still.

Tuiloma played at centreback with his French mate Larrys Mabiala. That familiar combo again. It’s hard to know exactly where Tui stands in a first choice team because of the injury at the start of the year and the fact that Portland have added a bit of CB depth to the squad this year too. Dario Zuparic was suspended after his red card in the first game so that opened up this spot for him and Tuiloma has always done pretty well when he’s been given these sort of starting opportunities in that green jersey. He’s got a lot of fans in that club and in that city.

Portland took the lead in the 35th min thanks to a beaut from Jeremy Ebobisse. It had been an uneventful clash up until then though it wasn’t uneventful the rest of the way. Houston almost got level straight away as Tuiloma took a gamble and rushed up on a long ball he couldn’t quite get to and that left space behind him at the back, though it ended up with a shot narrowly wide. Close escape.

Eventually Portland got that crucial second goal an hour into things as Diego Valeri did what he does so well. That gave them the breathing room they needed. Houston would pull it back to 2-1 from the penalty spot with five minutes to go after VAR found a sneaky handball... but these things tend to level out and soon after the Dynamo were reduced to ten men after Alberth Elis put an elbow into Bill Tuiloma’s face. Or a forearm at least... it wasn’t very deliberate but Tui still got a knock on the nose for his troubles and it looked like it hurt. Elis had scored the penalty and without him Houston weren’t able to muster anything close to another goal... meaning Portland won it 2-1 and have claimed wins in both MLSIBT games now.

Up Next: LAFC vs Portland, Friday at 2.30pm (NZT)

Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)

Yeah righto, nothing more than a cameo for Collier at the end of a pretty dramatic game – Seattle equalised in the 77th min then Chicago won it in the 84th – but still nice to see EC remaining in the mix. He made one appearance off the bench before the pandemic which marked his first glimpse in the MLS for a year and a half after his USL loans. Collier, you’ll recall, earned his way back into the Fire top squad through some excellent preseason showings which the coach actually made a point of mentioning this week when talking about the competition for places in the squad.

Then game game two, a 2-0 defeat against San Jose Earthquakes in which Elliot Collier came off the bench for the final twenty minutes with his team down a goal and chasing the game. Obviously they’d concede a second later on. Cristian Espinoza (56’) and Chris Wondolowski (83’) scored the goals for San Jose while Chicago had an equaliser ruled off just before Collier entered the game. Collier did have one shot off target but otherwise wasn’t able to add the spark that Chicago were already lacking... nonetheless a win over Vancouver in their last group game and they’ll be through to the knockouts regardless.

Up Next: Friday at 1am, Chicago vs Vancouver (NZT)

Hannah Wilkinson – Djurgården IF (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

That’s the way to do it. Didn’t score the goal or get the assist but it was Wilkie’s relentless work down the right flank there that created the opportunity which led to the 86th minute winner for Djurgården’s first win of the season. They beat Vittsjö 2-1.

Wilkinson had only been brought on about five minutes earlier with the game tied at 1-1 after Michelle de Jongh had cancelled out Olivia Schough’s early opener ten mins into the second half. DIF had also hit the crossbar in the first half so a draw was definitely going to taste a little sour... but then on came Wilkie with a bit of power and it was South African Linda Motlhalo who scored the smoothly taken winner.

This was Wilkinson’s third appearance for her new club, all off the bench so far. Let it also be known that Vittsjö are HW’s old club from her first stint in Sweden... and also the club that CJ Bott aaaalmost made the Champions League qualifiers with last year (CJB will hopefully get her chance with Vålerenga in Norway once she’s back fit and healthy).

Highlights are over here.

But wait there’s more because Djurgården had another game this week and it was... well, it wasn’t too good. They lost 2-0 to Kopparbergs/Göteborg with the big news being that Wilkinson got her first start for the club. But she was subbed off in the 66th minute after the second goal was scored. Göteborg moved into first on the ladder with this win so not an unexpected result.

Up Next: 1am on Sunday against Kristianstad (NZT)

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

Joe Bell was at it again. Since he was first chucked into the starting lineup he’s barely missed a minute of action. Seven starts in a row, five of them ninety minute performances. He did get subbed off for the last half hour in a 2-1 loss to Odd last week and the same deal happened when Viking were pumped 5-0 by Molde in the last midweek. They were 2-0 down at the time and wanted a bit more attacking punch to try get back into it against the defending champs, Bell sacrificed in a formational change... but it backfired almost immediately as they conceded a third and went on to leak a couple more in a hefty defeat. Continuing on some pretty rank form from the Vikings.

Which is why it was such a relief that they bounced back with their second win of the season on Sunday. A 2-0 win against Haugesund, exactly what the doctor ordered. Bell got a full game and was involved bright and early as Viking started the more aggressive team. One of these days the dude’s gonna pop one of these right in the corner for an amazing goal, he’s had a couple close calls already and this was another...

Viking had already had a shot off the crossbar and another deflected narrowly wide by then, both from Veton Berisha, it was all they could do not to grab an early goal in the pouring rain. There was also a dangerous free kick swung into the box by Bell which was put out for a corner. It was twenty minutes before the home side really did anything but once they did it led to a ten minute stretch of panicky VFK defending which ended on the half hour as they broke away on the counter and took the lead through Ylldren Ibrahimaj.

That rapid start was long gone and Viking had plenty of trouble getting the ball out of their own half however once they did they did have some quality in the front three to threaten. More than a couple times they got lucky with Haugesund not exactly the best finishing side out there themselves at the moment, a few headers in particular that they should’ve done better with and there was a half-shout for a penalty against Bell too. But while that defence bent a fair bit they never broke. The longer the game went the more they were able to limit Haugesund to shots from distance and then with ten minutes left they broke again with pace and Zymer Bytyqi put the bugger away to clinch the result. It was a local derby too, one more reason to celebrate.

Up Next: Viking vs Sarpsborg 08 on Monday at 4am (NZT)

Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

Staying in Norway and we’ve gotta give a bit of mic time to Victoria Esson who is back with Avaldsnes for a second year in the top women’s division in that country. In 2019 she played 11 times for the club, rotating the goalkeeping duties with both Line Johansen (6 starts) and Louise Högrell (5 starts). Högrell is still there but Johansen has moved to Spain and that seems to have left Esson as the first choice keeper, no arguments, for the 2020 season.

Esson has started all three games for Avaldsnes so far. There was a 5-2 win over Lyn, followed by a 2-2 draw away to Kolbotn, and most recently they rode an early goal to beat Arna-Bjørnar 1-0 and briefly sit top of the table at this very nascent stage – they’re currently third on goal difference. It also meant a first clean sheet of the campaign for VE... who made a couple biiiig saves to preserve that result in that highlight package above. Great start... especially since Rebekah Stott hasn’t returned this season after playing there in 2019. Stotty stayed in Melbourne for lockdown after the W-League season. She’s one of a few Footy Ferns who we’re waiting to see what their next move is, Stott has spent each of the last three W-League offseasons playing overseas in either the USA or Norway. Meikayla Moore and Olivia Chance are other notable Ferns free agents while we still haven’t had confirmation of Erin Nayler’s move to Reading yet.

Up Next: Vålerenga vs Avaldsnes, 5.45am on Saturday (NZT)

Nikko Boxall – Viborg FF (Danish Division 1)

Nikko Boxall was an unused sub for a 4-1 win over Vendsyssel earlier in the week but he did get half an hour off the bench for VFF as they met top team Vejle in the following match, a match which a few weeks earlier would have been a blockbuster clash but coming in the second to last gameweek with a nine point difference between the first and second clubs it didn’t really matter anymore. Vejle were already champs and they’d get the lone promotion spot. Viborg, meanwhile, were already guaranteed second which normally would get them a promotion playoff opportunity (they narrowly missed out on that last year) except that they’re expanding Division 1 in Denmark so the timing didn’t go so well for them there.

Boxall came on with his team up 1-0, part of a 62nd minute double sub. But it didn’t work because they leaked an equaliser in the 70th minute for a 1-1 draw. Doesn’t matter in the context of the season but it would have been nice to get a sneaky win over the champs. There’s one more game to get through and it has been noticeable that Viborg have been opening things up to a bit of future-minded rotation just recently – their backup keeper played this game for example (instead of their on-loan Tottenham Hotspur academy dude) while 19 year old Simon Søndergård and 18 year old Mads Frederiksen each made league debuts too. Nikko Boxall’s been at Viborg for the last two and a half seasons but his contract was meant to expire at the end of June (it’s been extended on a short term basis until the end of the season, as is the norm). So that last game could well be his last game in VFF green.

Up Next: VFF vs Kolding IF, 2am on Sunday (NZT)

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