Ali Riley - Orlando Pride (American National Women’s Soccer League)

The prospect of Abby Erceg returning for NCC’s last Challenge Cup game turned out to be a false one. The team lists came out and she was nowhere to be seen... wasn’t really much point in rushing her back for one match even if a win would’ve given them a decent chance to make the final. Eyes on the real prize here, you know? That meant no opportunity to play against a fellow Football Ferns centurion as Ali Riley has, going the opposite way, been everpresent for Orlando Pride during the Challenge Cup. Has not missed a minute and there was no change to that here. Starting at left-back with Orlando needing to win and for Gotham FC to lose for their own Challenge Cup final hopes.

What happened instead was that both games ended in 0-0 draws. In truth there’s not even that much to talk about from the NCC vs OP match, the Courage dominated possession but created little in the way of clear opportunities (lots of hopeful low-percentage shots though). Taylor Kornieck hit the crossbar from a rasping free kick for Orlando in the fourth minute of the match and neither team came as close as that again. Alex Morgan did have a few efforts in the second half but they went astray and a goalless draw it was. Both teams now sit on their hands for a couple weeks before the regular season begins. It’ll be Portland vs Gotham in the Challenge Cup final.

Elsewhere...

Ali Riley’s ongoing media takeover is ramping up even more. Another slick episode of Off The Ball chatting with Orlando teammates of course, still a couple more of those on the way. But then there’s also this news about her and Toni Pressley creating their own vegan cooking show – called Girls Gone Veg – working with the I Am Athlete platform created by former All-Pro NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall (Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson is also involved). There’ll be athlete guests and accessible recipes and all that. First episode drops later this week.

Then because of the I Am Athlete connection the pair of them popped up alongside Marshall and Johnson (and Channing Crowder too, another NFL fella) on their flagship show to chat about gender equality in sports, athlete mental health, a bit of a vegan menu taste-testing, and heaps else. It’s a loose chat but a fascinating one and Ali Riley is so good in these situations.

Up Next: Orlando vs Washington, 10am on Monday 17 May, NWSL regular season opener (NZT)

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

Check it out, here’s some more Chris Wood love from last weekend...

Outstanding to see the Woodsman getting his spotlight and even better that he’s now got confirmed interest in going to the Olympics as well. And with that fine recent form of his peaking with a hatty against Wolves, how good to then be facing his favourite Premier League opponent straight afterwards...

The Hammers have been in top form, still pushing for the top four at this late stage, so as you’d expect Burnley came out happy to be judicious with their possession stats. Sitting back for the most part but being direct when they get that ball with Matej Vydra and Chris Wood continuing that combo up front. Yet it was Burnley who scored first. Ball over the top of Issa Diop (where’s Winston Reid when you need him... oh yeah) and Wood was able to keep it in at the byline. He flicked the bouncing ball back over Diop’s shoulder and then as he pushed to regather it he was clattered late by Tomás Soucek. That’s a penalty.

Burnley don’t win a lot of them but this was clear enough... and having won it, The Woodsman got to take it. As you know the man does not miss these days so he launched it low into the bottom corner, Lukas Fabianski went the right way and still had no chance. Perfect spottie. An 11th of the Prem season for Wood and, more sentimentally, his 150th in English football.

Unfortunately they conceded immediately. Vladimir Coufal with a cross to the far post which Michail Antonio attacked between two defenders to score off his noggin. Then within ten minutes the Hammers were in front. This time it came from the other side as Said Benrahma drove a low one into the area and Antonio once more got the crucial touch. Sticking out a foot to divert it into the net. Can’t argue with it on the face of the game as WHU continued to threaten for a spell after those two goals. Burnley did have a few better moments later in the half but they trailed 2-1 at the break.

The game never got away from Burnley though. They held on in there as the rain got heavier and heavier through the second half. Antonio had a golden chance for his hatty but his tap-in at the back stick caught the wrong foot, meanwhile on came Jay Rodriguez and he had a couple moments in a crowded penalty area. The game opened up with more room for West Ham on the break as Burnley pushed forward but West Ham’s finishing was either too hesitant or just plain not good enough. Chances fell for Lingard, Fornals, Antonio, Benrahma, Cresswell... but they left the door open. Chris Wood had a tricky header nodded wide. Then with five minutes to go he was replaced as Ashley Barnes came on as the closer. However Burnley ran out of time. 2-1 to West Ham was the way it ended. Ah well. Still nine points clear of relegation with four games remaining and they can make sure of safety with a win against Fulham in a week’s time.

Up Next: Fulham vs Burnley, Tuesday at 7am (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)

Love a good media chat, especially because if you’re getting five-plus minutes to yarn away then you’re doing something right for that spotlight to be on you. Tzanev here talking up the value of getting an extended run of games, the trusting relationship he’s got with his defence, his hopes for international fixtures come August-ish, as well as a bit of club history and heritage.

Soon after that it was the midweek match teased last week, with Rochdale on the cards where a win would secure them League One football for another season. And yet instead they almost lost. The Dons had looked in firm control for most of the first half but then they fell asleep from a corner to allow a low delivery to sneak past the front post marshalls to Jake Beesley for a tap-in through the middle and it was 1-0 to Rochdale on 41 mins. It got worse in the 57th when Gabriel Osho flicked on a header off a long throw that caught the bottom corner of the net for 2-0... but then two goals in five minutes from Jack Rudoni (strong header from a cross) and Ollie Palmer (poking in from close range after the keeper had fumbled one under pressure) got them back within range. Well, for about six minutes until Jimmy Keohane headed in after a corner kick had been diverted into his path. Less then twenty to go and AFC Wimbledon were in danger of being dragged back into the relegation hunt.

Nothing for it but to go all out for an equaliser. Ryan Longman almost got it but his side-footer was tipped onto the post from close range. Then Palmer was well in the mix only to get bundled over as he tried to get that ball over the line. Thankfully the ref didn’t like the look of it and awarded a penalty. Sweet as. Here was the moment, just gotta put this one away... except Joe Pigott missed it. Too close to the keeper and it was saved. Uh oh. But in the sixth minute of stoppage time Pigott made amends with a sweet low volley to rustle the net and the game ended 3-3 in dramatic fashion. A win would have been nice but the difference between a draw and a loss was enormous in closing the gap up again so essential that they avoided that. One more point from the remaining two matches would do it.

The first of those two chances coming just a few days later as Portsmouth dropped by and the Dons wasted little time in getting themselves right where they wanted to be by scoring first. Joe Pigott beating the offside trap and drilling a low shot past an out of position keeper, get in there. 1-0 after 23 minutes. Even if they conceded one they’d still be in a position to get what they needed from the afternoon’s work.

They did concede. Basically one minute later, it was an immediate response as Nik Tzanev and two diving defenders were unable to keep Ronan Curtis’s shot from where he picked up the deflected cross outside the back post. Then Pompey scored again. Lee Brown running through from the left side of attack and slamming a strong finish past Tzanev who slammed his fist into the dirt in annoyance, 45 minutes gone. And in stoppage time a slick move again from the left side saw Brown toe-hack one into the roof of the net from close range and jeepers that one got away from them quickly.

Portsmouth had plenty of moments where they coulda added a fourth in that second half too. The best of them being when John Marquis ran clean through on goal but Tzanev pounced on a heavy touch to tip it away from him and then got back up to pressure Ronan Curtis after the ball was switched across, forcing the shot wide with his presence. Great scrambling goalkeeping but a 3-1 loss for AFC Wimbledon. Luckily Rotherham and Northampton both lost so it didn’t matter, AFC Wimbledon will be playing League One football again next season. With a game to spare no less. Not bad for a team that was dead last as recently as 13 March.

Dons w/Tzanev starting: 14 GM | 5 W | 6 D | 3 L | +8 GD | 4 CS | 21 PTS

Dons without Tzanev: 31 GM | 7 W | 8 D | 16 L | -24 GD | 4 CS | 29 PTS

See that? As many clean sheets in less than half the games as the various other keepers used ahead of him earlier in things. Tzanev’s starts have seen 1.5 points per game compared to 0.9 in the others. 1.14 goals conceded per game versus 1.74 goals. The attack’s come good at the right time too so not suggesting that Nik Tzanev has made all the difference... but damn he’s clearly helped. Should put him in good stead for next season too hopefully.

Up Next: Away to Lincoln City at 11pm on Sunday (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

Well that’s one guy successfully avoided relegation, how about Tommy Smith and his Colchester buddies? Could they do the same? Why yes, yes they could.A 1-0 win over Salford City did the trick there as Salford finished with nine men. A huge blow to Salford’s chances of making the playoffs so Gary Neville won’t be buying Tommy Smith a beer any time soon but those three points give the U’s an unassailable six-point buffer between themselves and non-league footy. Wasn’t pretty but they got there in the end.

A couple sneaky chances for Colchester emerged early but nothing too notable. The first real chatter came from Di'Shon Bernard’s ugly challenge on Ben Stevenson which earned him a 15th minute yellow card that he’d double in the 32nd for a very early shower. Dragged down Noah Chilvers on the wing and that’ll do it. The second yellow was a bit soft but the first was a nasty late one and he’d given away another foul in between. No wonder Tommy Smith ran thirty-odd metres to explain in firm language to the ref what he thought of the situation.

Salford down to ten men and although George Boyd did skip past a couple defenders at pace, including leaving Smithy sprawling, soon after the break the visitors didn’t really create much else after they went down a man. Colchester defended excellently and eventually their embattled attack got something going when Josh Bohui ran onto a loose ball in behind and managed to squeeze the ball past the keeper for the only goal of the game. Salford made it frisky towards the end but they lost control in amongst it all and Ash Hunter was given a straight red for dissent deep into injury time. 1-0 the final score.

A quality clean sheet for Smithy and the lads, according to the Daily Gazette Tommy Smith (who was captain for the day): “produced another commanding display in keeping with his recent fine form”. Along with his fellow centre-back Tom Eastman, Smith is tied for the most minutes and appearances for Colchester this season. Both have played every minute outside of the one game that each missed for yellow card accumulation suspension.

Up Next: Away to Tranmere Rovers at 2am on Sunday (NZT)

Callum McCowatt & Elijah Just - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 1)

Tell you what, they only have five more games left to play in the promotion rounds so they can’t finish any higher than third at the best, too much ground to make up, but the form of FC Helsingør in the latter stages has been super impressive. Viborg are leading the pack – although only just now – and FCH just put three past them for a 3-0 win. The first of those goals being the tidy finish you see above this paragraph. First half stoppage time and Eli Just swept that sucker into the goal. Liam Jordan would also score midway through the second stanza before substitute Tonni Adamnsen polished off the scoring and the result in the last minute.

This was also another game in which both Just and McCowatt started, in fact not only did they start together but they were subbed off together in a 75th minute double change too. They also each played a part in the second goal with Just playing in McCowatt whose shot was saved and then the follow up from Nicklas Mouritsen was saved too but Mouritsen squared to Jordan to score at the third attempt. This was Viborg’s first home defeat of the campaign and it means that FCH have beaten every other team in the division at least once.

Up Next: FCH vs Viborg again, Saturday at 5am (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

This weekend saw the football clubs and players of England boycotting social media for a few days in protest of the ongoing racism dramas that keep popping up on those platforms. A noble cause (hard to imagine how it can be stopped but there’s no doubt that companies like Facebook and Twitter can do a whole lot more than what they are) although a bit of a shame that it coincided with the final round of the Championship. So it goes.

Liverpool played London City and despite having the better of the first half it wasn’t until the 44th minute that they finally took the lead. Amalie Thestrup running in behind on the left after the Liverpool midfield won the ball on halfway and then her cut back to Becky Jane was carefully side-footed past the keeper for the opener. That got Liverpool rolling coming back out of the sheds and they had a few chances to double that lead, Kirsty Linnett forcing a save, before Amy Rodgers got on the end of a Rhiannon Roberts cross, taking a touch in traffic and then slamming it in for 2-0 on 56 minutes.

However a routine win turned wobbly when the Reds switched off from a free kick. Lily Agg’s free header was saved but Harley Bennett scored on the second attempt. That broke a streak of five games in all comps without a goal for London City and it forced Liverpool to snap themselves back to attention for the last quarter of the match. Until again they got caught out by an aerial ball at the back. Meikayla Moore did well to shut down the run of Flo Fyfe but that dragged her out wide and nobody stepped in to cover her spot at the near post allowing Agg to run in and head home an 81st minute equaliser. 2-2 the final score. Highlights here.

A bummer of a way to end the season, however in a campaign in which the Reds had to change managers midway through and in which the plan of immediate promotion turned out to be tougher than anticipated, they did finish with some strong form as they went unbeaten in their final eight games to finish third. Moore had to work her way into the side initially but she took to that task supremely and started in each of the last seven games in that unbeaten streak. All up she played 15 times (11 starts) for 1047 minutes with 2 goals. She also played three WSL Cup games and an FA Cup tie as well. All set to be a key player as Liverpool challenge for promotion next time.

Up Next: Must be time to start thinking about the Olympics, aye?

Katie Rood - Lewes FC (English Championship)

Also on that league table there are Lewes who had a rough one on the final day conceding in the 86th minute to lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace. Lizzie Waldie with the goal after a corner kick which had initially been cleared off the line but it never quite made it to safety and Waldie struck it in. Didn’t affect their league position at all – they were finishing fifth regardless, the best of the rest. Definite improvements from last time when they finished eighth with fewer points (9) than games played (12) in that shortened season.

Again, not the best way to put the closing touches on the campaign however it did allow for a return for Katie Rood. 82nd minute of the match and she came on as a sub for her first game in more than a month... not that she looked at all rusty as she skipped past a defender and picked out Lucy Ashworth-Clifford whose quick shot was saved. Basically her first involvement. Highlights for perusal here.

Roodie finishes the season with 16 games played (10 starts) for 955 minutes. Like Moore, she scored two goals. Bit of a rough one at times with minor injuries along the way keeping her from a sustained run of games but she still played plenty more than she missed.

Up Next: Also gonna have an eye on that Olympic squad

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

There is trouble in Loontown after a 17th minute Diego Fagundez goal doomed them to a 1-0 defeat at home against Austin FC and thus made it three straight defeats to start the season. Getting dropped by an expansion team no less. Austin came out looking to move the ball quickly and use their pace on the wings, that was exactly how they scored as a low cross came in from Jared Stroud which right back Romain Métanire wasn’t able to get a foot on and Fagundez finished it off nicely.

Minnesota have not had a lot of luck up front so far. They didn’t have much on the half hour when Emanuel Reynoso worked a beautiful one-two to get space to shoot on the edge of the box but his effort came back off the post. They definitely lifted the energy after conceding but the lack of confidence going forward was obvious. Reynoso lashed one over from distance in the second half, he was once again the main man... but in the 58th minute he limped off with muscle soreness that he’d apparently taken into the game. It then became a matter of deep crosses and set pieces for Minny, all the while beginning to look stretched at the back. Debutant Patrick Weah’s diving header straight at the goalie was as close as they got.

Michael Boxall showed some legs to recover to the opposite side after getting beaten down the left to block a shot that deflected onto the roof of the net so can’t doubt his commitment. Austin also hit the post on the break late on, nonetheless they held on to win it 1-0. Meaning that’s one goal scored and seven conceded through three games for Minny. Something’s clearly not working.

Up Next: Colorado vs Minnesota, Sunday at 2pm (NZT)

Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)

Hey there we go. Collier had been dealing with an injury worry from preseason which it sounded like could sideline him for the first stretch of the campaign but in the end he only missed two games before he was back getting half an hour as the Fire chased the game against New York Red Bulls (whose former coach and Red Bull Football Conglomerate Dude Jesse Marsch has been confirmed as the new RB Leipzig coach to replace Julian Nagelsmann – completing the RB trilogy after his time at RB Salzburg).

Unfortunately Chicago conceded basically immediately after Collier stepped on out there. Caden Clark adding to Cristian Casseres’ earlier goal. Chicago passed the ball around fine at the back but without hardly threatening going forward... it would not be unfair to say that Chicago are not a very good team at the moment. Collier didn’t really do anything but at least he’s back ahead of schedule. Moving on to the next.

Up Next: Chicago vs Philadelphia, Sunday at 5am (NZT)

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

Big heroic way to start the season: rolling San Diego Loyal 4-1. They hit the post early on through Rufat Dadashov and didn’t let up from there. Eventually Jon Bakero scored on the rebound in the 39th min and then Santi Moar doubled that ten mins into the second spell, also following up on an initial save. Them folks been practising their strikesmanship.

Ben Spencer pulled one back from San Diego in the 65th (although he looked pretty offside) but no dramas because the Rising responded two minutes later through Aodhan Quinn making that overlapping run around the left and then with ten to play a shot from Kevon Lambert deflected in to complete the scoring. Phoenix Rising are usually one of the title challengers at this level and this was that kinda win. 71% possession, 25 shots with 11 on target (compared to three shots and one on target – which arguably shouldn’t have even counted).

The lone dull bit was that of the three kiwis it was only who James Musa played. The Moose got ninety at centre-back, though Deklan Wynne and Noah Billingsley weren’t around. No word on Wynne, possibly just a sneaky injury, but Billingsley was missing because of the legal paperwork. Boring stuff. Can’t wait to see him charging up the right flank for a team like this.

Up Next: Phoenix Rising vs Oakland Roots on Sunday at 2.30pm (NZT)

Niko Kirwan – Reggiana (Italian Serie B)

56th minute of the match. It’s Reggiana against Pordenone. Reggiana have a corner kick, it’s swung into the middle where Paolo Rozzio flicked a strong header off the post. The ball bounced back and Arlind Ajeti volleyed it in on the rebound for what could be a massive goal in the course of Reggiana’s season. They’d had to scramble themselves to keep the ball out of the net earlier in the game but now they had a crucial lead. However just five minutes later... Eloge Yao earned a second yellow for a late stomping tackle. Not too hard but it was late and sprigs were showing so fair enough, thus he had himself dibs on an early shower while Reggiana were left with ten men to try and hold on. Niko Kirwan, who had started on the bench as he has more often lately, was subbed on with twenty to play. Long story short: they held on for the 1-0 win. Mini highlights available here.

That win was enormous for Reggiana. It gets them up to 34 points with three games remaining, they’re still in the automatic relegation places but only by one point and if they can get up to seventeenth then they have a chance of a playout match. In Serie B there are four teams relegated - the bottom three automatically but the seventeenth team gets to go head to head with sixteenth for the fourth drop spot if they can finish within five points. Right now the gap between Ascoli and Cosenza is exactly five points so it’s touch and go. Not saying it’s likely but they’re keeping themselves in the hunt. Reggiana plays Pescara (19th), SPAL (7th) & Vicenza (12th) in their final three games. Kirwan has played in 24 out of 35 games, 15 starts and 9 as a sub.

Up Next: Pescara vs Reggiana, midnight on Tues/Wed (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild kvenna)

There’s a new season on the horizon for Stjarnan. They’ve done the league cup group stage thing which was a bit of a mixed bag of results. Now the league season begins in a couple days. Here’s a (translated) effort from Visir.is previewing the team with local context, predicting them to finish sixth:

“The Star went through enormous changes after the 2018 season, following a great golden age where the team won four Icelandic championships and three cup titles. Then true backbones such as Harpa Þorsteinsdóttir and Ödda Baldursdóttir disappeared, and coach Ólafur Þór Guðbjörnsson made a good name for himself. For the last two seasons, Stjarnan has been on a completely different path and has been flirting eagerly with the relegation battle. Experienced and clever coach Kristján Guðmundsson was hired to take care of the changes and develop the team further with promising young players who have achieved good results in the reserve division. The Star became the Icelandic Champion last year in that age group, in collaboration with Álftanes.

Garðbæingar will continue to build a new team of promising players from the club's work. A team that won’t compete with the best teams in the country for titles in the near future but seems to heading in the right direction towards its previous heights. This summer, however, those hopes aren’t realistic and the team seems on paper to have weakened since the second half of last season. However, they’re a little more experienced than a year ago, and the team is too good and the coach too capable for Stjarnan to be relegated.”

Last year Stjarnan were an incredibly young team. Betsy Hassett was usually one of the oldest by several years, though they did get a couple other handy loan additions (like Canadian keeper Erin McLeod) who won’t be back so some of the youngsters are gonna have to be relied upon to take big steps forward if the Stars are gonna do much. Which they might. As the people said there, their youth team was the strongest in the nation in 2020. Trust the youth.

Up Next: Valur vs Stjarnan on Thursday at 7.15am (NZT)

Winston Reid - Brentford FC (English Championship)

Reidy was back fit for Brentford’s midweek game against Rotherham but despite Pontus Jansson being out suspended he didn’t get to play. An unused sub in a 1-0 win as a first half Bryan Mbeumo goal made the difference against their relegation threatened opponents. It was then the same deal against Watford on the weekend. Reid was an unused sub as Brentford won with a clean sheet – goals to Marcus Forss (46’) and Ivan Toney (60’ pen) – in what a few weeks ago would have been a massive contest but with Brentford’s tendency to draw games and all the points that’s cost them Watford had instead already booked the automatic promotion spot that the Bees were hoping for.

Instead Brentford are locked into third place with one game left before the playoffs. That means a home semi-final second leg against either Swansea, Bournemouth, or Barnsley (probably the latter) and then hopefully a trip to Wembley for the final thereafter. Winston Reid has experience with playoff finals having gone up that way with West Ham way back in his second season in English football. Dunno if he’ll get to play a part in another but he might well get a run next week in the dead rubber.

In other news, y’all know the answer to this one, right?

Up Next: Bristol City vs Brentford, Saturday at 11.30pm (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League)

Good chat.

Up Next: Olympic football and probably more wild transfer rumours

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