Hannah Wilkinson – MSV Duisburg (German Bundesliga)

Last week the Zebras were confirmed as relegated with two games to spare, having not won a single league game all season. Not quite how they were hoping it’d go down... but they still had those two games to get through and Hannah Wilkinson wasn’t letting that moment slip. Not even a minute and a half into the game away to SGS Essen she pounced on an error playing out from the back by her opponents and stroked that ball into the net for 1-0. Only 76 seconds played. Not quite in the bottom corner, the keeper getting a couple hands to it, but she couldn’t prevent the goal.

It got even better ten minutes later when Vanessa Fürst’s header from a free kick lifted into the mixer bounced off the post, confusing the defence and allowing Julia Debitzki to waltz in and tap the ball in over the line from roughly fifteen centimetres out. A team without a win all season and here they were 2-0 up away from home in their second to last game, a lead that they maintained into the break... in fact they could even have added to it. Wilkinson got through down the right one time, squaring it across for Debitzki who would have only had the keeper to beat but the pair weren’t quite on the same page and the pass went behind her. Then another time Wilkinson stole the ball off a defender and ran about twenty metres, cut inside the last woman, and then shot from the edge of the area but the goalie parried it away.

Into the second half now and Essen weren’t going away. They hit the crossbar with one effort, Duisburg knowing that they’d probably need to score again to get away with this one... so they did. Hannah Wilkinson in the right place as Alina Angerer (who set up the first goal too) slid in to keep an attack going against a high defensive line from Essen, running onto the loose ball and showing some genuine composure to merely slip the ball under the rushing keeper (Kim Sindermann, since she keeps getting mentioned). Wilkie’s second of the arvo, her third of the season, and the winless Zebras were 3-0 up with twenty to play.

Losing is a habit so Duisburg made this one way more frantic than it needed to be. A freaky fluke of a goal by Eleni Markou, looping up and down into the top corner from a complete miss-hit off her shin, made it 3-1 in the 84th minute. That alone would have been okay but then two minutes later Carlotta Wamser made it 3-2 with an excellent finish from the left wing and uh-oh. But the Zebras held on. They escaped. 3-2 was the final score and finally that’s a first win of the campaign. Highlights here.

Right on.

Up Next: Home against Hoffenheim at midnight on Sunday/Monday 7 June (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

Just days after end of the season – which finished with Ria Percival making her return from injury in an FA Cup extra time win over Sheffield United - the Tottenham folks got swiftly to work on building for the next one and that meant contract extension time for RP. Extending what’s been a two-year stay at Spurs so far (38 apps in all comps – including playing every minute of the first 17 WSL games this term until she got injured) for another year with an option for one more afterwards.

Top work there keeping one of the highest performing Flying Kiwis in a good place. Percy’s been a key player for Spurs whether at right back or in central midfield (much more of the latter this past season). Plus she was a fan of the club growing up which always helps too.

Ria Percival: “We are trying to build as a team and keep pushing our way up the table to establish ourselves in the league. Keeping experienced players and players that can bring, I suppose, a leadership role to the team which I'm hoping to do is something that I'm honoured and want to make the most of.”

While we’re at it...

Up Next: With that sorted, it’s full steam ahead for Olympic footy

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

Not with a bang but with a whimper did Chris Wood’s season end. He’d scored 8 goals with 3 assists in his previous eight after the Fulham game but the team eased off it after securing their safety for another year. A typical Burnley sentiment, so it goes. A 4-0 loss to Leeds, a 3-0 loss to Liverpool... and now shutting the door on 2020-21 with a 1-0 defeat against Sheffield United.

With all the fun happening elsewhere on the final day of the season, Chris Wood logged ninety minutes against the Blades but only had one shot (and it was off target) in a game his team were comfortably outplayed in. There was a fantastic save by Aaron Ramsdale against him as well but the offside flag went up (for the 25th and final time against Chris Wood this season – well short of Jamie Vardy’s lead, thus his two-year Golden Flag reign ends to the benefit of one of his former teammates). Wood also nearly pounced on a loose ball over the top late on but Ramsdale got there first.

Meanwhile David McGoldrick smashed in a belter of a low strike in the 24th minute for the only game of the game, though Chris Basham did also hit the post for the Blades. Six defeats out of six when Nick Pope was absent this season. Ah well. 12 goals in 33 games for Chris Wood this Premier League season. He was targeting 20 at the start of it and to be fair the final third of his season was well on pace for that and then some. Maybe next time.

Up Next: Hopefully some Olympics, but we shall see

Winston Reid - Brentford FC (English Championship)

He hasn’t featured in ages (Reid’s last game was two months ago) but Winnie’s still there on the bench in case of emergency and will therefore get a trip to Wembley out of his loan move because Brentford somehow managed to overcome a 1-0 first leg deficit in their playoff semi against Bournemouth in one of the more bonkers games of footy you’ll see any time soon.

The Bees have failed to get promoted the last nine times they’ve made the playoffs which is a record. They haven’t played in the top flight since getting relegated in 1947. But they rolled the dice against Bournemouth and it paid off gloriously. Not that they had any choice after some atrocious transitional play saw them concede on the counter from their own attacking corner in the fifth minute of the match, meaning they were now 2-0 down on aggregate... but Ivan Toney both won and converted a penalty in the 16th min before Chris Mepham made a poor business decision in rugby tackling a fella as last man in the 28th and earning a straight red.

That man-advantage for the last hour allowed Brentford to play aggressively in a way they were too cautious to do in the first leg and eventually Vitaly Janelt looped one in from outside the box in the 50th min – the ball touched away from him just before he struck it causing an absolutely delightful fluke of a goal. Then Marcuss Forss won it with ten minutes left to avoid things getting really funky. Bournemouth didn’t have anything left in the tank by then... which means at least we won’t have the same three teams getting promoted as were relegated from the previous Premier League season. Brentford will face Swansea City in the final.

Winston Reid, it would now appear, was mostly signed to cover the period before club captain Pontus Jansson came back from injury because after one or two overlapping games that was about when Reid stopped playing. He did have a couple strong showings for them though and he’s still around if they need him in the final – Reid got promoted with WHU via the playoffs a decade ago so he knows what’s up.

This does suggest he won’t be returning if Brentford do go up... however West Ham secured Europa League footy on the final day of their own season so maybe they’ll want some extra defensive depth after all. The Hammers go straight into the group stage; Reid has never made it that far before in his career. Otherwise there’ll be plenty more options for him, no doubt.

Up Next: Brentford vs Swansea, 2am on Sunday, Championship Playoff Final (NZT)

George Stanger - Hamilton Academical (Scottish Premiership)

One that couldn’t fit in last week’s edition but all these European seasons are ending now so let’s squeeze it in here: George Stanger getting a run out in Hamilton Academicals’ final game of the Scottish Premiership season.

It’ll be their last Prem game for at least a year because they were basically already relegated by the time they hosted Kilmarnock. If they’d have won by 12 or more goals then they might have gotten into a playoff but what were the chances of that? The Accies have been pretty crap throughout and even in the final five-game relegation round against the teams around them they still lost four out of five matches their their top flight status on the line. Thus a seven-year stint in the Premiership comes to an end.

Stanger didn’t start but he was subbed on in the 52nd minute, getting a decent amount of time out there. 37 touches of the ball. Three aerial challenges won. A key pass. 84% pass success. A blocked shot. A clearance. Zero fouls conceded. Not much else to say other than running through some stats because they were already 2-0 down at that point and there weren’t any more goals. This was Stanger’s fifth appearance of the Scottish Prem campaign. One start and four as a sub. 211 minutes all up. So that’s cool... we’ll see if the drop in divisions means he gets more opportunities.

Up Next: ???

Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

Opening weekend of the delayed Norwegian Toppserien and who should Vic Esson’s team Avaldsnes come up against first but the defending champions Vålerenga... however CJ Bott was an unused sub so it’s just a single billed entry here.

Esson did not have a particularly fun game. She let the first one in on 16 mins when Dejana Stefanovic smashed one beyond her reach from distance. Avaldsnes did get back on level pegging in the 36th min when Ingibjörg Sigurdardottir sliced a cross into her own net at the near post... yet they couldn’t hang on until the half. Esson made a great stop off a Rikke Marie Madsen shot but then Celin Ildhusøy scored just before the break with a really well taken goal off a long ball before Synne Jensen whipped in another excellent shot from outside the area soon after the resumption.

Ildhusøy made it 4-1 before the hour from about eight yards after a deep free kick was tapped back across. Kristina Svandal pulled one back almost immediately but then Madsen scored just as quickly afterwards for VIF (great header from a corner). A game full of great finishes had its best of all in the final minute when Olaug Tvedten whacked in a belter to make it 5-3 so yeah not the ideal start to the new campaign for Vic Esson. Five goals conceded. And while it was great from VIF on attack, they might want a bit more CJ Bott to tighten up the defence there.

Up Next: Sandviken vs Avaldsnes at 1am on Sunday (NZT)

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

Back to winning ways for Viking after a couple disappointing defeats last week. They were away to Lillestrøm and were in control for most of the way, especially after Zlatko Tripic popped up at the far post to head in a long throw that had sorta inexplicably made its way through all the traffic to get to him. 23 mins gone and that’s 1-0 to VFK. They would make it two before the break thanks to Rolk Daniel Vikstøl and again it was a header from a long throw – this time a flicked looper at the near post. Iceland international midfielder Samúel Kári Friðjónsson was the fella serving up the long hurlers.

Meanwhile Joe Bell was on corner duty and one of his deliveries was flicked over the top in between those two goals but they didn’t need any Bellinho assists on this occasion. Friðjónsson snuck in to score a third in the 83rd minute after VFK had managed to repel the best that Lillestrøm had to offer in that second half. The home side did pull one back in stoppage time thanks to a great strike on the turn from Jonatan Braut Brunes yet that was too little too late. Bell with a full game in a 3-1 victory, picking up a yellow card late on for this mistimed slide against a counter...

Up Next: Friday at 4am against Mjøndalen (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Kvenna)

Ninetieth minute winner? Yeah get in.

Betsy Hassett didn’t get to score it but she was right there lurking (number 11) in the middle as the ball came across and Hildigunnur Ýr Benediktsdóttir was able to put it away at the second effort to give the Stars a 1-0 victory against Þór/KA – their first win after a draw and two defeats to start the league season. They were really under the pump in the second half too, spending most of it on defence and struggling to hold the ball long enough to get out in transition, but they kept things tidy and organised at the back and then eventually did snatch that dramatic winner. Check out a couple highlights in the last 25 seconds of the week’s roundup video there. Full game for Hassett.

Up Next: Thursday at 7.15am against Þróttur Reykjavík (NZT)

Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich II (German Liga 3)

Going into the last game of the season, Bayern II knew that they needed to win against Hallescher. They also needed SV Meppen and/or Uerdingen to drop points. Instead Meppen won and Uerdingen drew and BM2 conceded in literally the first minute of the match and went on to lose 1-0. A defensive giveaway, unaware of the pressure, and they never managed to get back into it despite heaps of desperate shots.

You already know that Singh was heavy on the influence, picking passes and all that. He dragged a side-footer at the far post across goal in the second half as BM2 were really ramping it up. He also curled one past the post cutting in from the right later on. Not to mention a couple assists that might have been. Devastating for the young fellas in that team, some of whom (Singh included) were a part of the squad that won this division a year ago but now they’ve been relegated. Stink buzz.

As it happens, results elsewhere meant they would have been relegated anyway - failing to win any of your last twelve games can do that to you. There were lots of missed chances in those games and Singh was not immune from that. He often looked the best dude on the park for his team down the stretch but – and this game was a good example – he should really have scored/assisted at least a couple more in those ones. A bit too imprecise. All up Singh played 16 games for BM2 after returning from loan, scoring 3 goals in 1124 minutes playing as a winger/attacking mid – all three goals coming in his last eight games with Bayern drawing all three of those matches (three of their four draws in that 12-game winless streak).

It’s been a season of hard lessons for Sarpreet Singh in the second of his three contracted years at Bayern. Relegation doesn’t do much for his prospects here but to be fair even if they were still in third tier you’d have hoped he’d not be stuck at that level in year three anyway. There’s a new manager coming in for the senior team: Julian Nagelsmann. Could be some hope for him in that.

Up Next: Zoom call with Mr Nagelsmann, maybe?

Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage / Ali Riley - Orlando Pride (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Both Abby Erceg and Ali Riley have dealt with little injury yarns over the last few weeks but both were fit and starting for their respective clubs as the two most recent Football Ferns captains, two international centurions, met at club level as opponents for the first time ever. Admittedly on opposite sides of the field in the respective defensive lines... but Erceg does get forward for set pieces and Riley drifts forward on attack when the team’s able to knock the ball around. Note that Riley played as right back for Orlando with youngster Courtney Petersen retaining her spot on the left.

The Courage aren’t quite their imperious usual selves this year with a few key players having left. Sam Mewis has announced she’s coming back and there are rumours that Erceg’s long-time CB partner Abby Dahlkemper might return as well now that the European season is done... yet in the meantime they were left vulnerable to the Pride’s direct playing approach. Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan each went close on the end of long balls but keeper Casey Murphy was able to deny them both.

Still, NCC weren’t creating much. And when they finally got a move going, with Debinha ghosting in at the far post, the Brazilian put it over the top when it looked almost easier to score. Definitely out of character for her... the Courage were then made to pay for that ten mins later when Leroux ran onto a poor pass at the back and then slammed it into the bottom corner. 1-0 to Orlando.

The 2019 defending champs came back strong in the second half with Jess McDonald and Debinha both going close. In the 67th min Lynn Williams had a crack which the keeper spilled... but McDonald couldn’t bundle in the rebound. Looked like GK Erin McLeod managed to poke it away from her at the crucial moment. Courage getting closer and closer to an equaliser.

Then a couple mins later (79’) Alex Morgan managed to get around Abby Erceg from the left and then pulled off a killer finish across the keeper on the angle to make it 2-0 to Orlando. A little too quick for Erceg, who is short on game-time having missed the Challenge Cup, and there you go. Jess McDonald would steal one back with a nice finish on the turn in the 89th but a header soon after from J-Mac was straight at the goalie and ultimately the Courage were made to regret the chances that got away. But a great win for Ali Riley’s lot. Full games for the both of them. 2-1 to Orlando the final score.

And another bout of tastiness...

Up Next: NCC vs Louisville on Saturday at 11am; Orlando Pride vs Portland Thorns on Thursday at 11am (NZT)

Katie Bowen – Kansas City (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Bowen wasn’t picked to start away against Houston Dash but to her benefit (albeit not the team’s) this was a bad day for KC fullbacks. Kristen Edmonds started on the right of defence but she only lasted a quarter of the game before having to be subbed off, Katie Bowen summoned to replace her. By then KC were already 1-0 up. A raking long ball over to the right wing where Mallory Weber was running led to a perfect low ball in behind the defence which Amy Rodriguez buried first time. Sweet as.

Kansas City were moving the ball nicely but it was Houston who had the better chances the rest of the half. That was fine as long as KC could repel them... but things got ugly around the hour mark. That was when Rachel Daly popped up with a headed equaliser as KC keeper Nicole Barnhart rushed out for no reason and was caught out of position. Then six minutes later Houston were in front as nobody was marking Shea Groom at the far post from a corner and she nodded it in. Katie Bowen standing a bit too far on off the post there but the major issue was how wide open Groom was. Then to make matters worse, left back Elizabeth Ball picked up a second yellow with twenty to play and now KC were down to ten. Told you about the fullbacks, mate.

And yet this happened in stoppage time...

2-2 the final score as Kansas City make it two draws from two games. Big drama at the end there.

Elsewhere Rosie White was an unused sub for OL Reign as they won 2-1 against Portland Thorns. Christine Sinclair had scored early for Portland (5th min) but then Megan Rapinoe curled in a free kick in the 9th min for her first NWSL goal for over a thousand days (jeepers). Shirley Cruz then scored in the 15th minute but after that frantic start there were no more goals and no chance for Rosie White to stretch the legs either.

Up Next: Thursday at midday, KC vs Chicago Red Stars (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

It was a tight game nearing the half-time whistle. Still scoreless despite Jeremy Ebobisse having a decent chance running through and Diego Valeri another one when the ball conveniently ended up with him in the penalty area after a deflection. Both times the LA Galaxy keeper made the necessary saves. Then the match changed drastically as LAG defender Derrick Williams completely misjudged a challenge near halfway, trying to pull out of it late by the looks but he still absolutely clattered Andy Polo, whose knees were left in a really vulnerable spot in the collision. Polo would be subbed off soon after. Williams would be red carded instantly.

Then in the second half Portland basically just rolled them. Didn’t take substitute Felipe Mora two minutes after the kickoff before he was heading in the opening goal (he’d gone close before the break after a chipped delivery from Bill Tuiloma – starting once again in the absence of Larrys Mabiala). The pressure didn’t let up there either. Mora got a second following up on a chip off the crossbar from José Van Rankin in the 60th min before Diego Valeri scored from the penalty spot ten minutes later and you can log that one in the books as a 3-0 victory for the Portland Timbers. Full game and a clean sheet for Bill Tuiloma who once again looked more than comfortable enough to be starting every week. He’s putting a genuine case together for when Mabiala gets back from his hamstring knock.

Up Next: Philadelphia Union away on Monday at 11am (NZT)

Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)

Chicago has had an awful start to the season, taking one mere point from their first five games, but that changed against Inter Miami (coached by Phil Neville, lol). The Fire bossed the game throughout and all that was missing was a goal to show for it. So on came Elliot Collier with 21 minutes left... and literally seconds later the Fire had the lead. Nothing to do with Collier, it was Luka Stojanovic who scored it. Shooting straight from a free kick (which was the stoppage that allowed Collier to enter the game) and the keeper made a mess of it down low at his near post. Should have been saved but wasn’t... though a deserved bit of luck for Chicago as they’d been turning up the heat prior to that.

Collier as per usual had his One Big Chance volleying over the top with some oomph on 83 mins as a corner reached him deep in the area. He was also left yelling at his teammate soon after when Chinonso Offor Nnamdi shot from a tiny angle instead of squaring the ball to EC and a buddy both unchecked in the middle. Nnamdi did offer a hand of apology for that one. All goods. Chicago won it 1-0 and that’s their first tick in the win column for 2021.

Up Next: 5am on Sunday against Montreal (NZT)

Katie Rood - Lewes FC (English Championship)

Roodie’s on the move. Two and a half seasons at Lewes have come to an end after 33 Championship appearances and 6 goals. Plus another goal in four cup appearances. Plus probably some FA Cup apps too that aren’t recorded on Soccerway. Rood’s time at Lewes came after stints with Juventus and Bristol City... let’s see what she’s got up her sleeve to follow.

Up Next: Time shall tell

James Musa & Noah Billingsley – Phoenix Rising (American USL Championship)

For the first time both James Musa and Noah Billingsley started for the Rising. Billingsley in at right back as PR changed both their fullbacks (still no sign of Deklan Wynne) and you know what Noah did not even two minutes into his starting debut for the club? He set up a goal, naturally...

That was merely the start in a comprehensive win over Las Vegas Lights. The Lights did equalise in the 22nd minute after one of JM & NB’s fellow defenders coughed up the ball at the back but other than that they smoked them. It ended up as a 5-1 win, although Billingsley was subbed off at the half so he missed out on a lot of it (presumably just easing him in) while Musa obviously didn’t have a lot to do himself either. The Rising had 41 total shots, 20 of them on target. Both of them new USL Championship records. They didn’t credit Billingsley with an assist in the end - supposedly because there was a deflection on the cross (very harsh) - but all the same it’s good to see him getting amongst it alongside The Moose.

Elsewhere in the USL, Hunter Ashworth got ninety mins for the first time as a San Diego player but they lost 2-1 to Louisville City. Ashworth did have a header that went close to levelling while it was still 0-1 but no dice. Then in the other relevant game there was a full banger for Kyle Adams though Max Mata had to come off the bench for Real Monarchs who drew 1-1 with Austin Bold. Mata got a little under half an hour but couldn’t find a winner for his team.

Up Next: Sunday at 2.30pm away to Sacramento Republic (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League)

More love from his own club, more foreign transfer interest in the fella. Good days.

Up Next: ...

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