Flying Kiwis – August 25
Winston Reid - Sporting Kansas City vs Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
We begin this week with a real doozy as arguably the first choice All Whites centreback partnership went head to head on opposite sides in Major League Soccer. Michael Boxall at Minnesota United was expected, he’s a key player for them and was really good through the MLS Is Back Tournament in Florida. Winston Reid on the other hand, he hadn’t featured at all since signing on loan with Sporting KC. Stuck on the bench during the whole post-pando tournament. It was starting to get very weird... but then first game back after the Covid Cup and he was there raring to go. Completely fired up, in true Winston Reid fashion. Just listen to the unbridled passion in his voice...
Never change, bro.
Anyway, Reid was named to start at CB for Sporting Kansas City in a back four and what’s more is that he lasted a smooth ninety minutes, looking fit and confident. But even just one minute would have been a huge milestone because it’s been a long, long way back for Reidy. It was March 2018 when he last played a competitive club match. He busted his knee in that one then had a setback before the next season and although he featured in preseason for West Ham before the 2019-20 season he then quickly faded back into the shadows, playing once for the under-23 team (subbed off after 72 mins) after getting 45 minutes in for the All Whites against Ireland.
He did sneak into a few matchday squads for the Hammers after that but never got on the park and then, around the same time as a managerial change, disappeared entirely as it was decided it was best for him to be loaned out for more football. After assessing his options and signing with SKC he then had to go through the motions of getting a visa and then there was this whole global pandemic curveball and he was only ever on the bench for SKC’s Covid Cup games as he built up fitness in training.
But finally, fiiiiiinally, he ended the drought against Minnesota United. From 2 March 2018 to 21 August 2020. That’s 2 years, 5 months, and 18 days between competitive first team club appearances. 902 days all up. Jeezus, that’s a spell and a half on the sidelines. Brilliant to have him back. With this debut he becomes the 19th New Zealander to play MLS.
We probably wanted a nil-all draw here, a clean sheet for Winston Reid in his first MLS appearance and a clean sheet for Michael Boxall in his 96th... but that compromise went out the window in the 12th minute when SKC took the lead through Gadi Kinda, making a great run to get on the end of an angled ball into the box and getting just enough of a touch on it to squeeze it inside the post. Both keepers made impressive saves as the game went end to end although there was nothing Sporting’s Tim Melia could do in the 32nd minute as Ethan Finlay’s shot took a deflection that wrong-footed him and tied up the game. Credited as an own goal by Jaylin Lindsey. 1-1 the score at half-time.
Minnesota’s regular starting keeper Tyler Miller is out for the season by the way, having had surgery since the MLS Is Back Tournament, so backup Greg Ranjitsingh (a Trinidad and Tobago international) has strapped on the gloves instead. The action was all at the other end at the start of the second half as Minny had a few corner kicks in a row and were looking dangerous... but then came a bit of magic from Johnny Russell for SKC skipping around a defender after 54 mins and hitting a hard ball back across the goal looking for someone to turn it in. Safe to say he found someone: Michael Boxall. Boxy with the oggie. It came from a terrible giveaway in midfield but Boxall got caught on his heels when the cross came in, unable to reach out and clear it like he should’ve. Whoopsadaisie.
Tempers would get tested down the stretch and yellow cards became a common sight but Minnesota couldn’t break down a solid SKC defence, further credit due for Winston Reid in his first game for ages. A few searching crosses were the closest they could get, though for a split second Michael Boxall might’ve thought he had a chance to be the hero as he lined up a spinning volley in the SKC box after some scrambles with only thirty seconds of six stoppage time minutes remaining... but of course he wasn’t about to bang that fella into the top corner, Lionel Messi would have had trouble getting decent contact on that one. 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City was the final score as SKC go four points clear at the top of the Western Conference after six games, with Minnesota in third place.
Now we cross to Michael Boxall for the reaction...
Sure, that’s one way to put it. This is what his goalkeeper had to say about the own goal and what he and Boxall spoke about immediately after it...
“Yeah we had a few conversations just about moving forward how we are going to deal with it – to prevent situations like that. I mean, I have full confidence in Boxy, he knows it, he knows himself, and I can’t fault him for that. He was obviously put in a tough position there and Boxy is an incredible defender so no wrong to him. Yeah we’ll just move forward, look at it, look back at it, correct it, and build towards Dallas.”
Speaking of words, and bringing it back to the comeback kid, here are some more words from SKC head coach Pete Vermes about Winston Reid’s debut...
“Fantastic from beginning to end. I know he was probably getting tired a little bit at the end. Actually, it was hot here tonight. It was very humid, which is not the norm here. It’s crazy how humid it was and he’s not used to humidity even though he’s been training in it in Orlando and also at our place. He’s just not used to it. Toward the end of the game, he probably got a little bit tired but he managed the game really well. He was excellent. His 1v1 defending, his reading of the game and the situations, he cut balls out, great leadership in the back from a communication point of view. He was tremendous.”
Glowing praise. You love to see it.
Up Next: Sporting KC face Houston Dynamo tomorrow (Weds) at 12.30pm while FC Dallas vs Minnesota United is on Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
It was back to the bench for Joe Bell as Viking faced Strømgodset, breaking a run of twelve straight starts stretching back two months. But while Bell hadn’t been playing badly by any means, he’s been the defensive midfielder for a team that conceded 10 goals in their last four games (two draws and two defeats) so something had to change and it did, with Bell the unlucky fella to be sacrificed.
It wouldn’t be until the 87th minute that Bell would be introduced off the bench either. By which time Viking were leading 1-0 thanks to a 74th minute own goal. Not a lot of time to make an impact for Bell... but make an impact he certainly did, streaking forward and putting the finishing touches on the club’s first win this month...
That’s Joe Bell’s first goal for Viking (in his fifteenth game). Tidy finish too, wasn’t it? Those three points do wonders in lifting them clear of the relegation playoff spot and into a packed midtable scramble. Highlights here.
Up Next: Monday at 6.30am against Molde (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Still not sure why Ali Riley missed last week’s game but she was back with a bang for their top of the table clash with Kopparbergs/Göteborg, not only starting but she even opened the scoring too with a banger in the 26th minute of the game. Slicing her way in from the left and thwacking that little guy inside the near post. Her last goal for Rosengård was all the way back in September 2017... her career’s taken her all manner of places in the three years since then, that’s for sure.
That’s a quality goal. Rosengård would roll out one of their best performances of the year in this one, scoring again in the 40th minute through Jessica Samuelsson and again Riley was involved. Charging in from the left she slipped a ball through for Mimmi Larsson but her shot came back off the inside of the post. No dramas, Samuelsson followed it up to score. Then right on 49 minutes it was Anna Anvegård’s turn as she added a third.
Riley was subbed off in the 63rd minute after a job well done. Rosengård closed it out from there for a 3-0 win that snaps a four-game win streak and an unbeaten 11 game start to the season for their opponents Kopparbergs/Göteborg. It also puts Rosengård up into first place thanks to their superior goal difference. Funnily enough, on the other side was her Orlando Pride teammate Emily Sonnett who has also got in on the loan action. Get in on those highlights over here.
Elsewhere there was no Hannah Wilkinson in the squad for Djurgården as they grabbed a crucial 1-0 win over Kristianstad, lifting them clear of the drop zone. Olivia Schough got the only goal in the 73rd minute. Wilkie doesn’t seem to have been injured, instead she dropped down to the U19s where she scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Getting some minutes in the legs having only really been used as a sub for the ‘Garden since she signed – eight appearances, seven of them as a sub, combining for only 204 minutes.
Up Next: Eskilstuna United vs Rosengård on Monday at 3am (NZT)
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Twelve days after lifting the Covid Cup the Portland Timbers were straight back at it with a grudge match against local rivals Seattle Sounders... albeit in a stadium without any fans. Twelve days is plenty of time to recover even from the odd trophy-inspired hangover so there was only once change to the starting team that lined up against Orlando in that tournament final... Bill Tuiloma came in for Dario Župarić at centreback. So that was cool.
Župarić scored in that Covid Cup final and there’s no doubt he’s a starting eleven player but he missed this game for personal reasons which meant it was Billy T’s time to shine. And what’s always most notable with Tuiloma in these games is what an absolute beast he is in the air. Not tall for a defender at all but he’s got hops that belong in the NBA playoffs and only four minutes into the game that was on show in the attacking penalty area as he competed for a header that he didn’t win but which he did enough that the clearance went straight to Chris Duvall who munted it into the top corner... only for the VAR to interfere long after the celebrations because the initial free kick had a fella three centimetres offside. Rules are rules, s’pose.
Seattle settled in to have the better of a lot of that first half with nothing much to show for it in terms of shots at goal, while Portland looked most dangerous on the break same as we saw in Orlando. Tuiloma therefore had a bit to do, looking dominant with those headers yet a little shaky with the ball at his feet once or twice. He slid in with a thumper of a tackle to make up for one of those touches. Pretty assured on the whole though. Not much else happened in that half, with Diego Valeri blasting the best chance over the top for the Timbers, and it was scoreless when oranges were served.
If things stopped there it woulda been all good. But of course they didn’t and the second half would prove a bit of a mess. Not at first, at first it was more of the same as the two teams had sparing sights of goal and it felt like a 0-0 draw was a decent possibility. Seattle did have a golden chance to score but Raul Ruidiaz messed it up. Thus with 71 mins on the clock we were still scoreless as Seattle pushed forward down the left... and Ruidiaz got ahead of Tuiloma at the near post to stab in a low cross, just beating the keeper as it went in off the frame of the goal. Tui probably coulda marked him closer but that was a superb finish. Portland snapped to attention and only a great save could deny Diego Valeri from levelling... but Ruidiaz scored a silky dink over the goalie in the 83rd and two minutes later Kelvin Leerdam added a third. With twenty mins to go it was all even, at the final whistle Seattle had a comfortable 3-0 win. Damn.
Up Next: Thursday at 2.30pm, San Jose vs Portland (NZT)
Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)
One other bloke got MLS action this weekend and that was Elliot Collier, who got almost half an hour off the bench as Chicago lost 3-0 to Columbus Crew. It was 1-0 after twenty when Derrick Etienne slid home a nice cutback move. It was still 1-0 when Collier was introduced, although it shouldn’t have been because Gyasi Zardes missed one of the worst penalties you’ll ever see (in first half stoppage time). No brainer decision after a sliding foul yet Zardes put it almost on the roof of the stadium.
So Chicago had plenty to play for when Collier entered the fray... but he didn’t have a shot in his 29 minutes and the Fire weren’t able to put a sustained spell of pressure together beyond a few individual moments. Instead Columbus scored an absolutely outrageous goal through Darlington Nagbe in the 81st minute to pretty much put a lid on it, then they scored another as Zardes made amends a few minutes after Nagbe’s blinder. Check out that Nagbe goal for sure, holy cow.
Up Next: Wednesday at 11.30 against FC Cincinnati (NZT)
Jesse Edge & Matthew Conroy – IFK Berga (Swedish Ettan Norra)
Swish, there’s a strike and a half. What’s more is that this was in the 82nd minute just three mins after they’d conceded the opening goal (a really nice passing move to be fair) at home to Karlstad. Absolute ripper of an equaliser from Jesse. And we also got a club debut for Matty Conroy too who came off the bench to play the last half hour of this one... but yeah they let in a 92nd minute winner (after Edge had been subbed off) from a header at the far post and lost 2-1 to stay four points adrift at the bottom of the table. Highlights here.
Up Next: Täby vs Berga, Sunday at Midnight (NZT)
Joel Stevens & Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Ettan Södra)
Staying in the Ettan and a six-game winning streak came to an end as the Varnies could only draw 1-1 with Torns. They fell behind in the 33rd minute from a penalty after a defender got snapped for a handball sliding in on a cutting attacker and really struggled to find that equaliser even though they had most of the better chances. Joel Stevens had cracked one low from range earlier on that the keeper could only parried and which was almost followed up on. Francis de Vries was getting forward as a left back, swinging in the odd cross. Värnamo hit the post just before the break. Still 0-1 after 45 though.
Second half and it was more of the same. Sub Edvin Becirovic somehow hit the keeper when it looked like he had an open goal at the far post. Then Stevens poked one onto the crossbar as he made a sharp run to the near post for a low square ball. Finally they got the deserved leveller with twenty left from Bernardo Vilar Jeronimo after the ball pretty much fell to him in space from a corner kick. That was all they could muster though. Stevens was subbed off with seven minutes left, the game ended 1-1. Probably shoulda won but they’re still clear in first place of the southern conference.
Up Next: Tvååker at home at 3am on Monday (NZT)
Matt Garbett – Falkenbergs FF (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Tally up one more appearance for Matty Garbett in the Swedish top flight. Up against one of the powerhouse clubs of the country in Malmö they were the second best team for most of the afternoon... although they hung in there for quite a while, to be fair. It was just a pity they couldn’t hold out until half time, conceding five mins before the break – granted they were bloody lucky twenty minutes earlier when a Malmö shot hit the inside of one post, travelled along the line, then hit the other post and bounced clear.
Malmö scored again five minutes after the break so two terrible times to concede even if you can’t say they weren’t deserved. Garbett was subbed on for the last eleven minutes of the match (with Malmö having hit the crossbar and had a one on one saved while still at 2-0) and Falkenbergs did pull one back with five to play to make a little bit of a game of it at the end there. It meant they could swing a couple dangerous set pieces into the mixer and hope for something... but nah, a 2-1 defeat was how it ended. That’s an eighth league appearance for 18 year old Garbett though, racking them up already.
Up Next: Östersund vs FFF, Sunday at 1am (NZT)
Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)
Little bit of a curious one there. Percy had worn the number 3 jersey last season while 12 was unclaimed so slightly odd that she would change it now, though there are a couple reasons that add up. One is that Percival wears 2 for the Football Ferns. Spanish defender Lucia Leon already has the 2 jersey at Spurs but you see it quite often that players who want the 7 for example when it’s already taken, they’ll wear 17 instead since it’s still got a 7 there. Percy couldn’t get 2 so she took the closest available number, now she’s switched to a similar looking number.
And the impetus for the switch probably has a lot to do with the double signing of Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky, both on loan from Orlando Pride, right around the same time as that tweet. Kennedy is an Aussie international, Zadorsky plays for Canada. Both are club teammates of Ali Riley and it was noted last week while this was still unconfirmed that it’s pretty interesting that the Pride have loaned their goalie to the same club Betsy Hassett plays for now a couple defenders to the same club Ria Percival plays for... Agent Ali, perhaps? Anyway, Zadorsky immediately snapped up that vacant 3 jersey so there you go. The 12 also maybe suits Percival more since she played most of last season in a midfield trio – might as well leave the little numbers to the defenders.
BTW, preseason is underway and Percival apparently had a “had a big influence from the beginning, helping to drive us forward” starting in the midfield in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United. Good-o.
Up Next: Season starts in September
Ryan De Vries – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Look at that, a first Sligo Rovers goal for RDV. Helps start the move off in midfield then shows a clean pair of heels to get to the far post to finish it off back across the keeper... lovely goal. This was the second goal in a 3-1 win against Dundalk to keep Sligo’s decent run of form alive and Ryan De Vries, by all accounts, has really hit the ground running in Ireland. It’s been a tough time as with most leagues because of the pandemic but he’s playing great now and winning a lot of fans. Don’t forget that a dude who used to score them for fun with Auckland City only scored 8 goals in 53 games in Japan playing for a team that lost a whole lot more than they won so getting underway in only his sixth game for a team that’s up to fourth on the ladder now is what you wanna see.
Up Next: Monday at 6.45am in the FAI Cup Second round away to UCD (NZT)
Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)
Terrible start to the game against Rosenborg, Avaldsnes were down after only six minutes as Julie Blakstad scored after some nice footwork on the edge of the area and a shot into the bottom corner beyond Vic Esson’s reach. Esson had already had to save one shot by then, Rosenborg starting swiftly. But Avaldsnes soon settled and began playing some decent stuff with Aussie striker Katrina Gorry rewarding all that with the equaliser in the 57th minute. A chance or two to win it in the time that remained... but a 1-1 draw against the second placed team on the ladder ain’t too bad.
Up Next: Thursday at 6am away to Klepp (NZT)
Dan Morgan – Maritzburg United (South African Premier Soccer League)
Dan Morgan was back in the starting lineup for Maritzburg as they snatched a valuable 2-2 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns. Morgan played 80 minutes at left wingback before he was replaced with a yellow card to his name. By that point all the goals had been scored with Maritzburg twice equalising along the way and Sundowns being reduced to ten men for the last twenty minutes. The second equaliser was a real beauty too from Thabiso Kutumela, smashing it in from range, with Dan Morgan playing a cheeky part in the build up pushing it forward from the left and making that decoy run down the line.
That was followed up just this very morning by a 0-0 draw against Bidvest Wits. Important game here against the team in third (and thus the last continental qualification spot) and Maritzburg didn’t really get up to a whole lot as they failed to register a shot on target all game... but their defence stepped up to ensure they still got a point. Dan Morgan played the full ninety at left back and had one of the crucial moments in the game as he whipped a cheeky back-heeled shot off the line and away to safety in the 65th minute.
Up Next: Away to Highlands Park on Saturday at 11.30pm (NZT)
Andre De Jong – AmaZulu FC (South African Premier Soccer League)
Two more games and two more appearances off the bench for ADJ as he works his way back to match fitness... and also tries to keep AmaZulu in the division. The first they lost 2-1 to Bidvest Wits, conceding twice in the second half then scoring too late themselves in the 88th minute. The game wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggests.
Ah but a few days later they took on Bloemfontaein Celtic and did manage to get something from the match. Lehlohonolo Majoro gave AmaZulu the lead in just the sixth minute however Bloem scored themselves right on the brink of the half-time break. But a desperate AmaZulu came out firing and thought they’d scored just minutes after the resumption only for an offside flag to get in the way. They did take the lead in the 68th minute (after ADJ entered proceedings) through an own goal yet they almost immediately conceded another equaliser. Neither team could rustle up a third. 2-2 the final score which means that the Usuthu blew two leads and the chance to move out of the relegation zone. With only three games remaining their next game, against a team one point ahead of them, will be crucial.
Up Next: AmaZulu vs Black Leopards at 1.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Nikko Boxall – SJK (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Just the one game this week for SJK and they lost it 2-0. Dudes were at home against Honka and two goals for Senegalese striker Jean Marie Dongou early-ish in the second half were the difference. Boxall played 90 minutes and was booked in stoppage time.
Up Next: HJK Vs SJK, 3.30am on Thursday (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Unattached
When we last checked in with this fella he was preparing to play a preseason friendly on trial with Colchester against his old mates at Ipswich Town. He started that game, his second trial game for the League Two club, although it didn’t go so well as they got pumped 4-0. Smithy gave away a penalty in amongst it all. The way they did it was they played two 75 minute games with different teams in each, so Smith played the entirety of the first game and then the reserves did their thing in the next one. And while he coudlda obviously done without conceding a penalty it seems overall he’s makde a great impression on his potential new gaffer...
Colchester manager Steve Ball: “I've been very impressed with Tommy. He's got a great pedigree but he's also got some real qualities, which are so noticeable. He's been fantastic in training and now he's getting his fitness in games. It goes without saying that he's a proven Championship player and he's got a number of years left in him.”
The plan next for Colchester is some heavy fitness training for a few days, they might be done with that now, before another preseason friendly against Peterborough – two 90 minute games for that one, building up the legs. That’s next week although whether Smithy is still there by then who knows because the most popular article on the Edinburgh Evening News sports section on Monday morning began as thus...
EEN: “Hearts are in talks with the New Zealand international defender Tommy Smith as they seek cover following John Souttar’s latest injury setback. Tynecastle officials have compiled a list of signing options and made contact with 30-year-old Smith, who is a free agent after leaving Sunderland. He is considering a move to Scotland and would offer Hearts assurance at centre-back. He can also operate at left-back. Souttar suffered a relapse of his Achilles injury and is to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the problem. Hearts are hopeful it is not as serious as feared but are preparing to reinforce their defensive options.”
Hearts are in the Scottish Championship these days having been relegated last season. Colchester are also lower than they want to be, sitting in League Two, though both those clubs are targetting promotion and therefore expect to win a lot of games. Colchester would definitely offer him starting eleven status, Hearts it probably depends on how this Souttar fella is feeling. It’s surely not a coincidence that Hearts have Smith’s old Ipswich CB partner Christophe Berra on the books (although they loaned him out last season after trying to sell him).
Up Next: Decisions, decisions...
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
Not much of an offseason, was it? By the way we can add Newcastle and Southampton to a list of clubs that have been publically linked with transfer interest in Chris Wood, to go with the Lazio yarns from a week ago. None of them feel very serious and only Newcastle even feels like it’d be a decent fit for him but in the wacky world of football chatter you haven’t truly made it until your name’s being thrown around in a few bonkers rumours.
Up Next: More of all of the above
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