Winston Reid - Brentford FC (English Championship)

Many moons ago, digging deep into the past to the year 2012, West Ham found their path back into the Premier League thanks to a 2-1 playoff final win over Blackpool. Winston Reid, in his second season with the Hammers, played ninety minutes in that match as Ricardo Vaz Te scored an 87th minute winner. All these years later Winston Reid and Mark Noble are the only ones left at West Ham from that team... though of course Reidy hasn’t played for them for more than three years. He’s currently on loan at Brentford and oh would you look at that Brentford just won promotion to the Premier League through the playoff final. A 2-0 win over Swansea... with Winston Reid getting a few minutes at the end for his first appearance in two months.

Reid came on with the result basically in the bag already. If Brentford were made to battle right to the end of their semi-final second leg then that wasn’t quite the case against Swansea. Ivan Toney had given them the lead from the penalty spot inside 10 mins after Bryan Mbeumo’s speed had seen him get to a through ball a fraction ahead of the keeper and draw the contact. Pace up front has been key for this team all season, so it proved in their biggest game. Toney buried the penalty and then ten minutes later Mbeumo hit Mads Roerslev on the overlap, Roerslev dinked it across to Emiliano Marcondes... and he went bang between the keeper and the near post. 2-0 up and all they had to do was hang on in there.

To be fair they were unlucky not to go three-up when Toney smashed a volley off the crossbar. Swansea were barely clinging on and it was late in the half before they even really threatened. Andre Ayew did have a moment or two along the way, including a diving header early second half which he probably should have scored, but then the Swans saw any realistic hopes ruined when Jay Fulton was given a straight red in the 65th. It was an unlucky one as he got his feet tangled up and tripped, making it look like a lunge when it wasn’t, but it was the final confirmation that this was one of those days for Swansea.

There wasn’t any doubting the result from that point onwards. Winston Reid had a pretty chill eleven minutes of footy after Jansson pulled up sore. A leg injury of some description, mighta been cramp or maybe something worse but they weren’t taking chances (Jansson still took full part in the celebrations, as you would). Reid only made six touches after he came on and about half of them were long balls getting the pesky thing as far away from their own goal as possible on the way to icing things out and claiming a place in the Premier League. First time they’ll have been in the top flight since 1946 – this after a record nine failed playoff appearances in a row. Vindication at last. They’re going to be a great addition to the PL.

Of course the thing now is whether Winston Reid will be with them or not. He’s still got two years on that West Ham contract and with Europa League football on the cards perhaps they might make a sharp u-turn and welcome him back as ready-made defensive depth. Or he could have another year on loan with Brentford or possibly they might even try to sign him on a permanent basis. He wasn’t quite first XI for Brentford once all their CBs were fit and healthy but over the course of a full season he’d definitely get his chances – arguably more than he might get at West Ham, if he’s desperate to have another crack at the Premier League. He did get a big hug from an emotional Thomas Frank afterwards, the Brentford manager who when asked about his squad for next season said he’d start thinking about that next week after he’d gotten himself very, very drunk in the meantime...

Plus there’d be a whole world of other options out there too. Wouldn’t argue with a jaunt at the Olympics before he makes up his mind though, you know, just to put himself in the shop window and all that (as well as getting Aotearoa out of the group stage).

Up Next: See, now there’s the question...

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

Oh what’s this? Abby Erceg popping up with an early goal from a set piece? Just your standard NWSL areas for the North Carolina captain there.

There was also a clean sheet to brag about as NCC absolutely strolled to a big win over Louisville in a lovely return to form. A big part of that was getting the troops back. Sam Mewis played her first game since re-signing, while Irish veteran Diane Caldwell joined Erceg at the back with the defence as close to full-strength as it has been all season. That in turn unlocked the rest of the midfield, freeing up the strikers, and NCC basically just looked a different team to how they’d played so far in 2021. Dominating all those usual stat-lines as they tend to do when things are clicking: 28 shots to 6. 11 shots on target to 1. 27 crosses to 12. 61% possession. That’s the formula.

Having said that, it took them a while to put the game beyond doubt. Louisville had gone 281 minutes without conceding before Erceg’s goal and they were able to keep things steady at the back for the most part, albeit without creating a lot going the other way. But eventually they got snapped. Lynn Williams ran onto a Debinha ball (that it looked like the defender would cut out – but she didn’t account for the pace of LW) and then slotted past the keeper in the 63rd minute and the floodgates opened from there. Five mins later Debinha, who’d been NCC’s best creative player not only in this game but all year (one player whose form hadn’t dipped at all with the team’s – she was Challenge Cup MVP), tapped in a simple one after Jess McDonald’s square header from a deep cross. Then Hailie Mace came off the bench to score a double (75’ & 90’) with two excellent finishes. In the end a 5-0 win for NCC. Right back at it.

Up Next: Sunday at 6am away to Chicago Red Stars (NZT)

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

So, Burnley had their club prizegiving the other day and, well...

To recap, that’s:

• Top Goalscorer

• Players' Player of the Year

• Player of the Year

Up Next: Plan how he’s gonna go even bigger next time

CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)

Season debut for CJB who was subbed on at the half for Vålerenga with her team leading 1-0 against Lyn. Synne Jensen had given them a deserved lead after Lyn were unable to clear their lines from a low cross along the six yard box. Easy finish for Jensen and apparently that was enough of a lead for permissible changes as Bott was part of a triple substitution at HT. Elise Hove Thorsnes and Ylinn Tennebø were also brought on.

Thorsnes was the one who made it 2-0 just before the hour, finishing from close after Celin Bizet Ildhusøy had beaten her marked on the left to square it across. Then the third goal came from the left side as well, right near the end, this time is was CJ Bott running past from left back as VIF counter attacked. Her cross was behind Jensen who dangled a foot back behind her and got a heel to it... but Thorsnes was running through to slide it home so no dramas. Jensen added another one soon after to close it out. 4-0 victory. Nine goals scored in their opening two matches. CJ Bott with a solid 45 minutes including a probable-assist – it won’t count as such because of the heel from Jensen but it should do.

Up Next: 1am on Sunday away to Kolbotn (NZT)

Vic Esson – Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)

VIF can’t stop scoring... while Avaldsnes can’t stop conceding. It’s one thing when that’s happening head to head but Avaldsnes played Sandviken away this week and were well beaten 3-0. It started with a warning as Vic Esson made a very good save diving low to her right after a giveaway playing the ball out of their own half... then she made another quality stop low with her feet soon after... and another one clutching the ball out of mid-air on the dive... but just when it looked like they might escape into the half with a scoreless game the resistance was finally broken. Elisabeth Terland thumping it in at the near post on the spin after being given too much space in the penalty area.

That was a completely one-sided half and sorry to say that Avaldsnes did not turn things around in the second. Rakel Engesvik scored from range pretty much straight away, 47th minute, and there wasn’t gonna be much coming back from that. Not the way this one was going. Marit Lund would score a third in the 59th with a piledriver from the left side of the box. A couple other decent saves from Esson but a 3-0 loss is a little worrying.

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

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

There’s a pattern emerging in this Viking season, an all or nothing sort of pattern, and it was on display once more this week with a pair of games to get through. First they took on Mjøndalen and took all the biscuits... although it wasn’t easy going. In a first half otherwise devoid of clean chances they fell behind in the 43rd minute when Benjamin Stokke polished off a low cross, capitalising on a slip by a defender after a slick move down the right wing to create the room to deliver that ball into the area. 1-0 down and two HT subs showed exactly what the co-gaffers felt about that.

But then the second half was really good. Harald Nilsen Tangen (one of those subs) poked in after a they’d gotten in deep on the left in the 54th minute and Joe Bell later had a go at putting them in front with a laser strike from range that went straight at the keeper. Probably took longer than they planned but they did eventually get the winner in the 87th min. Zlatko Tripic slotting it from the left to give VFK their third win of the season, 2-1 the final score.

However they were not as sharp on the weekend. Haugesund on the cards, a game they would have hoped to win given their opponents hadn’t won any of their first four matches, but you don’t win too many by conceding four times. A positive VFK start was soon overrun by the home side who took the lead in the 24th as Kristoffer Velde smashed in after a corner wasn’t cleared... yet Viking would take it into the half at 1-1 after Veton Berisha levelled up from the penalty spot and would have felt alright about things at that stage.

But then they got slammed in the second stanza. Not before an excellent Joe Bell free kick was headed towards goal and saved... though Haugesund busted it open with a second for Velde running through and sneaking it past the goalie on the hour then Ibrahima Wadji four minutes later with a back stick tap-in. VFK pressed for a way back in but they always looked more likely to concede again... which they did in stoppage time as Alione Ndour pumped one across the goalie for four. Berisha did score a consolation right at the end. 4-2 the final score. Three wins and three defeats for VFK, there’s that pattern for ya. Bell with ninety mins and his third yellow card of the season in this one.

Up Next: Wednesday 9 June at 11pm against Egersund (NZT)

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

Two games and two wins for Orlando this week. Full games at right back for Ali Riley in both of them. Starting off with Portland Thorns, the Challenge Cup champs, and you can guess who did the damage in this one. A 2-1 win with goals for Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux. Morgan first, she hit a ripper of a volley into the roof of the net after peeling off her marker and running onto a chip over the top from Taylor Kornieck. Direct and clinical, that’s what’s been working for this team.

They got pegged back before the break. Crystal Dunn had gone close but had her effort saved after picking up the ball from a defensive giveaway but Orlando didn’t get away with it the next time. Deep cross to the far post and up jumped Simone Charley with the downwards header to score... absolutely flattening Ali Riley in the process. Riley had one or two moments where you could see she’s still adjusting to defending on the opposite side and here it was all about size and athleticism and yeah Charley got the jump on here, three minutes before half-time.

At least Orlando didn’t wait long to get back in front. Literally seventeen seconds into the second half and Leroux slid in between defender and goalkeeper amidst some miscommunication at the back from Portland. The Pride were back in front and this time they would not relinquish that lead. Crystal Dunn did threaten once or twice but her USA teammate in the opposite goal, Ashlyn Harris, had that covered. 2-1 to Orlando.

On to the next now where it was kiwi right back against kiwi right back (neither of whom play there for the national team very often but gotta get in where you fit in with the club stuff sometimes). Ali Riley’s Orlando Pride against Katie Bowen’s Kansas City... both on opposite sides of the field though so not a lot of crossover. KC did have a few bright stages despite some pretty average form so far in 2021, and they kept it very close throughout. Sometimes due to committed, organised defending. Sometimes due to an excellent save like this to deny Ali Riley an assist and Alex Morgan a goal. Brilliant cross from Riley...

The difference between the teams ended up being a controversial 16th minute goal (pretty much straight after that Riley to Morgan chance). Marta scored it for Orlando, getting a touch on a header from Alex Morgan which was slapped away by the KC keeper but ruled to have crossed the line. Didn’t really look like it on the telly but with no VAR in the NWSL there was nothing for it but to accept the ref’s decision.

Not ideal but KC managed to scrape through into the second half still only down one despite a couple close calls. Then they conceded a penalty. Katie Bowen conceded a penalty, to be specific. Trying to slide in on Alex Morgan as she turned the corner on her at the goalline, following a ball over the top, and Bowen knew immediately that she was too late on it. She tried to pull out but her knee still clipped Morgan who went tumbling. However Morgz struck the penalty off the post so no harm done. KC then threw on whatever attacking weaponry they had on the bench while Orlando sat deep and repelled them the rest of the way. 1-0 to Orlando the final score, that’s three wins in a row for the Pride.

Gotta chuck a bit of this in here too, as per...

Up Next: Away to Washington Spirit on Monday at 6am (NZT)

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

KB also had a midweek game before that Orlando loss... and it was another loss. Also to nil. Got got 2-0 at home by Chicago Red Stars with Kealia Watt (67’) and Makenzy Doniak (70’) getting the goals in a quick-fire Chicago double. To be fair the Red Stars had been the better team most of the way, they’d hit the post in the first half, had another one scrambled off the line, and the two goals they scored were really well taken. Amy Rodriguez did inspire a few moments for KC in the early stages but nope. Full game for Katie Bowen at right back at least. Kansas City still winless after four games and sitting bottom of the ladder.

Elsewhere, Rosie White was an unused sub for OL Reign as they lost 1-0 to Washington Spirit. The hero of last week was the villain this time as the only goal was a Megan Rapinoe own goal. Onwards and upwards.

Up Next: KC vs Houston Dash on Monday at 6am (NZT)

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

There was no Callum McCowatt as FCH fought back from 2-0 down early in the second half to draw 2-2 with Esbjerg. Oliver Kjærgaard scored a double to earn the point. A tidy result away to the team directly above them on the ladder as Helsingør cap a brilliant season, especially the second half of it, with a fourth placed finish the year after getting promoted. Craziness.

But while there was no McCowatt, there was a full game for Elijah Just and even better was the return of Dalton Wilkins off the bench. He was brought on for the last quarter of the match and in fact almost scored a winner in the 83rd min. Switch of the ball over to him on the left but he put it past the post. So it goes. This was Wilkins’ first appearance since getting injured in the opening game of the season. So... he played the first game and the last game and nothing in between. Fantastic to see him back though.

Danish Division 1 stats...

• Elijah Just: 25 games (19 starts), 1458 minutes, 5 goals, 1 yellow

• Callum McCowatt: 24 games (16 starts), 1351 minutes, 3 goals, 2 yellows

• Dalton Wilkins: 2 games (1 start), 62 minutes

Up Next: One season ends, the next begins

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Good ol’ Boxy, what a bloke. Anyway, crap start away against Real Salt Lake. Their opponents came out in a hurry and worked a few chances before taking a 13th minute lead as Damir Kreilach swept in a free kick curled in low in his direction at the near post. Smart finish, to be fair.

Luckily the Loons began to figure out where they were after a while. The latter stages of the first half they were much better, working the ball out wide and whipping it into the area. Some poor crossing and shooting but at least they were getting into the right areas to threaten. But still they trailed.

After surviving a couple close calls at the back they brought on the man who has been the catalyst for most of their best attacking successes of the last couple games: Ramon Abila. Yet it was the other sub they used, Niko Hansen, who got the equaliser instead. Abila was in the middle waiting for the cross but for the umpteenth time this game the RSL keeper stepped out to grab it. Except this time said keeper chose to punch the ball and he punched it right into Hansen who was running across him. The ball hilariously rolled in off the accidental rebound. A debut goal for Hansen even if he didn’t know much about it and Minnesota had a 78th minute equaliser.

They nearly had an 89th minute winner too. Michael Boxall with some slippery movement off a corner kick and it earned him a clean contest... but he put it achingly wide and fell to the deck with his head in his hands. Ah well, a 1-1 draw will have to suffice.

Up Next: FC Dallas vs Minnesota, 20 June at 12.30pm (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Oosh, we’ll have to breeze through this one. Portland got smoked by Philadelphia Union in their last game before a couple weeks of rest to start their June (there are internationals on the calendar, so yeah). They were coming off a pair of clean sheet victories with Bill Tuiloma in the side but that form didn’t count for anything against the Union. Not that it was Billy’s fault or anything.

Nope, the problem was a team one: they never got a handle on how to defence set pieces. Kacper Przybylko put Philly up in the 26th minute with a strong header from a free kick swung in and then five minutes later Przybylko headed a corner towards goal where Sergio Santos stuck out a foot and doubled the lead. With the half-time whistle looming they conceded a third goal, this time from a set piece same as the other times, but Leon Flach had handballed as he brought the ball down before squeezing a shot past the keeper so VAR took that one off them.

Portland had a better start to the second half but couldn’t get that crucial next goal. Instead Jack Elliott buried a third for Philly on the second phase from a corner where the keeper had initially made a good stop from the first attempt but they couldn’t get it clear. The Philly almost scored from another corner as a shot flicked the outside of the post and away to safety. Absolutely woeful set piece defending from the Timbers which seemed to come out of nowhere for them.

The last half hour did see some decent moments for Portland who threatened to at least get a consolation goal... in the end that didn’t even get that. 3-0 defeat. Another full game for Tuiloma but we’ll have to wait ‘til after the June break to see if he’s done enough to keep that starting gig after Larrys Mabiala returns from his hamstring thing.

Up Next: 20 June at 2.30pm against Sporting Kansas City (NZT)

Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)

Looks like fun. Good cause and all that. As for the footy, EC didn’t play thanks to a minor injury as the Fire fell 1-0 against Montreal Impact thanks to an 87th minute winner against them. Bummer. He’s now got a few weeks to recover before the Fire next play, at least.

Up Next: Columbus vs Chicago, 20 June at 11.30am (NZT)

Nikko Boxall – SJK (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

Decent little 1-0 win away against Honka. It looked like it was gonna be a scoreless draw despite being a relatively open game full of chances... right up until stoppage time when SJK finally found a winner via Emmanuel Ledesma. A runaway goal with Honka committing men forwards. Dude tackled the last man inside his own half and then sprinted through to be 1v1 with the keeper and then a clinical finish popped it off.

Honka didn’t take it too well. One fella threw the ball at an injured keeper after a long ball ended in a foul against them and he was booked. Nikko got hit by the same bouncing ball bending over to check on his GK. Then right at the end one of their fellas headbutted a defender after being tackled and he was sent off. The rolling around was distasteful but the headbutt was clear and obvious. SJK with the 1-0 win. Nikko Boxall with ninety minutes wearing the captain’s armband. That’s 8 points from their first five games.

Up Next: SJK vs KuPS on Friday 11 June at 3.30am (NZT)

Stefan Marinovic - Hapoel Nof HaGalil (Israeli Premier League)

“Goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic has signed with the team for next season with an option for another season through agent Idan Ben Abu (ISCOUT) a representative of the global CAABase. The 29-year-old Croatian-heritage goalkeeper stands at a height of 1.92m and has been capped in 24 games for the New Zealand team. This season completes his second season at Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League (along with Tomer Hemed). Prior to that he was in Bristol City from the English Championship and even played 2 seasons in the MLS in a Vancouver uniform.”

Look, when you’re the incumbent national team goalie and you lose your starting place at club level, then the club re-sign the guy that’s starting ahead of you, who is also a candidate for the national team (alongside several other dudes including a guy likely to be starting at the Olympics in a few weeks who plays professionally in the Netherlands and the Olympics head coach is the same guy who is in charge of the main national team), then you probably need to find another club where you can play more regularly. Stefan Marinovic is off contract with the Welly Nix at the end of this season. The Phoenix are yet to announce anything themselves – rather big final week of the season taking precedence there – but here we are over in Israel where Hapoel Nof HaGalil have jumped the gun on the deal.

Hapoel Nof HaGalil had been playing in the second tier of Israeli footy but they topped that division with 57 points from 30 games and then went undefeated through their seven promotion-round matches to with the Liga Leumit title and earn top flight status for next time. That promotion has been a long time coming, they’ve had some close calls over the years but have only actually had one spell in the top flight in the early 00s. But now they’re back and they’re calling upon some recommendations in order to stay there.

Up Next: Gotta finish off the Welly Nix stuff first

Nando Pijnaker – Rio Ave (Portuguese Primeira Liga)

Nando Pijnaker never played for the Rio Ave first team this season. He did sit on the bench eight times in the Primeira Liga but as far as appearances went he got all of those with the youth team. Nando might be a better bet of breaking through next season though after Rio Ave were relegated.

A win over last-placed Nacional in their final game (with a 90th min winner) snapped an 11-game winless streak and coupled with Farense losing heavily that same day it meant that Rio Ave dodged automatic relegation and earned themselves the chance to play-off for their survival. But that went disastrously. They lost 3-0 away and then 2-0 at home to Arouca over two legs. Absolutely thrashed 5-0 on aggregate and that’ll do it. For a team that started the season playing Europa League qualifiers against AC Milan... that was a rotten mess of a campaign.

Up Next: Segunda Liga footy

Myer Bevan - TS Galaxy FC (South African Premier Soccer League)

Kickoff.com: “TS Galaxy head coach Owen Da Gama has given an explanation why veteran midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane had to be released. 'Yeye' has been released together with four other players, namely Myer Bevan, Felix Badenhorst, Mbulelo Wambi and Xolani Maholo.

New Zealander Myer [Bevan] was nicknamed the 'new Brockie' by club president Tim Sukazi during the squad unveiling in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga.

“Well, Brockie went to Sundowns and he scored one goal or two, I don't know,” adds Da Gama. “It's all part of whether a certain player fits into a certain team. Myer could go to SuperSport [United] and score a lot of goals you know. But unfortunately it couldn't happen in his first season with TS Galaxy.”

Yeah so unsurprising news there. If the team are making culls and you’re an overseas striker who has played a mere 40 minutes of PSL action all season and hasn’t even featured in a matchday squad since February then you’re obviously going to be one of the first names mentions. Unfortunately as the boss kinda harshly stated there, Bevan was more Sundowns Brockie than SuperSport Brockie in the end. Not only in the lack of goals but especially in the lack of opportunities. Must be so disheartening. Anyway he’s free now. Would imagine it’s not too long before Andre De Jong joins him as a free agent given he features about as much for AmaZulu these days as Bevan was doing for Galaxy.

Up Next: Get the agent on the phone

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