Sarpreet Singh - SSV Jahn Regensburg (German 2. Liga)

Every week, man. Five games in and it’s been the same thing every time with SSV Jahn Regensburg winning and Sarpreet Singh contributing at least one goal or assist. Schalke at home was no different. 86th minute of the game and Singh swung in a free kick that looked pretty tasty but was repelled by a defensive header. He’d had a couple of those throughout the game not quite going his way. Even the earlier third goal that his team had scored – Singh had popped the free kick into the box but it was bumped by a teammate before David Otto kinda freakishly curled it in on the fall. Sweet lil goal but can’t count it as an assist for Singh. Thus his streak was in major doubt (for what it’s worth).

So, after his cross had been headed away, he dashed onto the loose ball, beating the closest defender to the punch and taking it down quite brilliantly on the run. The ball sat up nicely on the bounce and he crunched it into the roof of the net. Left the goalie with a simple choice: goal or decapitation. Sarpreet’s second banger of the season to go with three assists (plus another in a cup game). And oh yeah it clinched a 4-1 win.

Schalke won the DFB-Pokal in 2011, finished second in the 2017–18 Bundesliga, and were playing in the Champions League as recently as 2018-19... but times got tough real fast and one of the bigger name clubs in Germany was relegated in last place a few months back. Hence here they are in a stacked second division full of clubs with similar heritages and yet it’s the underdogs of Jahn Regensburg who sit top of the ladder. A club who came into the season talking about the 40-odd points it’d take to avoid relegation and here they are with 12/12 already.

Jan-Niklas Beste got them started. Just as the clock ticked over eight minutes played he took a pot shot from midfield and it flew between keeper and near post on the swerve. Great strike. It was still 1-0 at the half but don’t let that fool you as SSV Jahn looked largely untroubled at the back and it only felt like a matter of time until they’d scored again. In the 55th minute that second finally came. Steve Breitkreuz with the first time shot off the low cross which was saved but he scored on the follow up. Sweet as. Then Otto got that third goal and even though Simon Terodde was able to finish smartly after a momentary lapse from the SSV backline in the 81st they soon struck back emphatically thanks to Sarpy and there ya go.

Interesting to see Schalke bring on Ko Itabura at half-time for his debut. He’s a 24 year old Japanese defender on loan from Manchester City (with an option to buy) and fresh from the Olympics. You could make a decent comparison there as to what Singh’s situation might be had he gone to Tokyo – only just coming into the team now compared to the lightning start he’s already made to his SSV Jahn days. Every player’s circumstances are different though. What matters is that Singh had another cracker of a performance in this match. He looks super fit, he’s getting involved, he’s instigating things, he’s confident... and he’s working hard. The Bundesliga website had him as covering more ground than any other player in the game...

His three assists are tied most in the 2.Liga one month into it all. His 14 key passes are tied most too. WhoScored has him as the top rated player in the entire competition right now with an average rating of 8.22 – having scored at least 8/10 in each of his games. Most valuable of all is that it’s leading to victories with Jahn Regensburg the last team left with a perfect winning record. Remember last year when people were saying he wasn’t tough enough for this level? Lol.

Up Next: Away to St Pauli at 11.30pm on Sunday (NZT)

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

Top of the table clash against Lyngby between the last two teams with perfect winning records... and in the first half it was all Helsingør. They played their opponents off the park. Complete control. With both Callum McCowatt and Elijah Just in the starting line-up (and Dalton Wilkins on the bench)... and they each played a part in the opening goal in the 18th minute, Just helping spark things on the right edge before the ball was played in from the middle to McCowatt angling on from the left and he split it across to Tonni Adamsen for the goal. A sparkly move with a CMC assist at the end of it...

But as nice as that goal was, it had nothing on goal number two. Eli Just taking it down on his chest on the run, staying strong through the tackle attempt to get around on the turn with a clever roll of the ball under his foot. One defender was left sprawling, the second was slow to react. So Just curled it in off the right boot. Super finish, super goal...

They could have scored more in that stretch too. Liam Jordan and McCowatt each had flashes, as did Philip Rejnhold. But half-time didn’t do them kindly. The break allowed Lyngby to take stock of things two goals down and they came back out and immediately hauled a goal back via Frederik Gytkjær and in the 54th minute Rasmus Thellufsen levelled it up. 45 minutes of dominance but then nine bad ones meant they were back where they started. Only there was worse to come. Gytkjær scored a second in the 63rd minute and now they were facing defeat. No idea how that happened but it sure happened quickly.

Never fear. Just may have been subbed off soon after Lyngby took the lead, which was a bit of a surprise given he’d been looking dangerous all game, yet McCowatt remained out there and with quarter of an hour to go he was once again exactly where he needed to be. For the third game in a row he hit the back of the net, all three of them either winners or equalisers. You’ll be relieved to know it finished 3-3, no more twists in this tale.

No Dalton Wilkins in that one... but that’s okay because there was a cup game in the midweek and he got the start there in the absence of either of the other NZers. HB Køge were the opponents and despite a few rest-inspired alterations FCH were able to slide on into the second round with a 2-1 win after extra time.

Sebastian Czajkowski had given them the lead in the 34th from the penalty spot though that goal was cancelled out by Emilio Simonsen early in the second half. Neither team could find a winner despite no shortage of trying... until Liam Jordan in the 108th. Son of Auckland City legend Keryn Jordan. Doing the business. Wilkins was subbed after 77 mins which is the longest he’s played since the season before last due to injury. Helsingor, having gotten past a team from their own division in round one, will face lower league BK Skjold in the second round.

Up Next: Thursday at 5am away to HB Køge, then away to Jammerbugt at midnight on Sunday (NZT)

CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)

Thursday morning NZT was an absolute belter for Flying Kiwis Champions League hopes with three games kicking off within the space of four hours each involving a New Zealander... but it didn’t quite unfold as we would have hoped. The first game went well, to be fair. Vålerenga in their round one semi-final against Mitrovica (Kosovo) and they were way too good. The Kosovan side were able to keep it close for a while there despite Janni Thomsen’s first half goal but once Thomsen popped in her second in the 58th minute it was all over. Elise Thorsnes then proceeded to score a hat-trick in the last quarter of an hour – crazy from her since she was only subbed on in the 70th min.

This was not an unexpected result. VIF are the top seeded team in the comp and should have been hosting the qualifying tournament but they didn’t have access to a pitch that could handle four games in a week so PAOK of Greece got those honours. Due to atmospheric conditions they had moved the kickoff forward half an hour and maybe that was why VIF started slowly, in fact Mitrovica had the ball in the net inside five mins but it was disallowed for offside.

Yet once they scored one they were well on top the rest of the way. No CJ Bott here after she missed the last couple league games but it was a relief to see her amongst the substitutes. In the other game in this section, PAOK demolished Anenii Moi 6-0 thus they were the opponents on Sunday morning for a place in the second and final round of qualifying.

PAOK vs Vålerenga then, one game to decide who’d advance and you know how when the stakes are high in movies there’ll be a crack of thunder and then the rain will come pouring down? Yeah that’s what happened here. The rain was so torrential, with lightning in the vicinity, that the game had to be paused during the first half. One of the VIF players later said she didn’t think they’d be able to get back out there and for sure it affected the quality of the game. Try whipping the ball around sweetly in this...

The pause button was hit in the 28th minute for about half an hour. Nothing much had happened prior to that with the ball stopping in puddles and players finding it difficult to get around but they cleared a lot of the water off the surface in that half hour and by the time the second half came around there were only a few bad areas left out there and something resembling proper football could commence. At which Vålerenga proved pretty handy. 54th minute of the match, Janni Thomsen surged her way into a central area and took a shot from about 20 yards, catching a deflection on the way and skidding into the bottom corner with the keeper wrong-footed.

That was the crucial first goal. With that one in the bank, VIF bossed the game. Agnete Nielsen hit the woodwork. Elise Thorsnes had a couple chances. Dejana Stefanovic went close. There was always a worry that at 1-0 they could concede but in terms of tangible moments of attack there wasn’t a heap there to recall for PAOK. Then Katie Stengel won a spot kick with a couple minutes to go and Thorsnes converted to clinch it.

2-0 to VIF with only the dying stages of the game to traverse and they did that by time wasting in the age old manner: making heaps of substitutions at once. Three of them. The first of which seeing Catherine Joan Bott replace Camilla Huseby at left back for the remaining ninety seconds (in which she won a header, took a throw in, missed a through ball and completed a backwards pass). It’s only qualifying still but that’s consecutive seasons that CJ Bott has featured in the Champions League.

With that win, Vålerenga advance to the second and final round of qualifying before the inaugural UCLW group stage. A two-legged tie this time with it all on the line... there’s no Europa League backup tournament for the ladies comps (there probably should be but there isn’t). Coming through the champions path, that at least meant that VIF would avoid the likes of Manchester City, Lyon, Wolfsburg, Real Madrid, or Arsenal... but they were one of the unseeded teams in the champions path draw giving them a list of possible opponents as thus: Sparta Praha (Czech Republic), Glasgow City (Scotland), Twente (Netherlands), Breidablik (Iceland), Häcken (Sweden), Juventus (Italy), Apollon LFC (Cyprus).

And the fixture that was drawn was... BK Häcken. Champions of Sweden versus the champions of Norway. Not as bad as it could have been (Juventus) but that’s still a tricky tie in which VIF will be underdogs. Not that they won’t fancy their chances, especially over two legs. Because of the timing of the Swedish season, Häcken are here as 2020 champs (from back when they were known as Kopparbergs/Göteborg), entering the competition at this round, and it’s fair to say they’ve been through a lot in the nine months since that league title. About six weeks after lifting the trophy it was announced that the club would cease operation. Then they flipped on that decision after some understandable backlash and eventually found a compromise by merging with local men’s club Häcken. They’re still one of the top clubs in Sweden, sitting second after 12 games, but it’s Ali Riley’s old team Rosengård who are leading the way pretty comfortably in 2021. Rosengård face Hoffenheim in the league path for a place in the group stage. Here’s the full draw...

First legs are on 1-2 September and second legs 8-9 September NZT.

Up Next: 4qm on Wednesday is Hønefoss in the third round of the Norwegian Cup, then it’s home to Sandviken on Sunday at 1am (NZT)

Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

Not so great here on the other hand. Liv Chance was named on the bench for Celtic’s clash with Levante (Spain) where the Scottish side were underdogs coming into their first ever UCL qualifier and they kinda played like underdogs too. There were moments where they were able to get out on the break and look dangerous but Levante, much more experienced at these things, were simply better. They controlled possession throughout the first half and a brave defensive effort from the Hoops was finally broken when Sandie Toletti scored in the 36th min. This was after Natasha Andonova had seen a penalty attempt saved by Chloe Logan so you get the idea of how this one was progressing.

At 1-0 down there was still the hope of something funky happening, a flash moment to get them back in the match. But Redondo Ferrer’s pace in behind onto a low flat-angled through ball allowed her to stroke in a second for Levante in the 51st and that should have been the killer. Should have been... but the weather was something rotten in Trondheim and chuck a little overly-hesitant defending into the pot and this is what happened...

Yeah, wow. From her own half. Caitlyn Hayes didn’t exactly take a bow for that one, instead she cracked up laughing. Take ‘em how you get ‘em. That gave Celtic a lifeline back into the match... but other than a couple free kicks they couldn’t create much the rest of the way. Levante closed it out for the 2-1 win. Olivia Chance was not called upon.

So the Champions League dream ends at the first hurdle, albeit the battling performance seems to have kept Celtic fans happy enough. They did still get to play a third-placed playoff for their qualifying group against Minsk of Belarus to make the trip more worthwhile. Again Chance was named on the bench but this time she did get to stretch her legs in a Champions League game (of sorts).

Chance was subbed on in the 75th minute with the game tied 1-1. Selma Kapetanovic had given Minsk an 18th minute lead but Celtic managed to level up before the half was out as Izzy Atkinson made a brilliant run from one penalty area to the other to set up Rachel Donaldson. The game remained tied after ninety so extra time was required... but Celtic made the worst possible start to ET conceding in the first minute, Armisa Kuc with the goal. She’d scored again in the 111th meaning that Caitlyn Hayes’ 118th min response was mostly just a consolation. 3-2 to Minsk after extras.

The gaffer bluntly said afterwards that Celtic’s inexperience was a key factor across these two games, so it goes. At least we got a good 45 minutes out there for Liv Chance. Now it’s all focus on the domestic stuff which was always the priority. The SPL kicks off the week after next once the final League Cup group stage games have been played. Celtic are basically already through to the next round so could be a nice opportunity for Chance to get her first start for the club.

Up Next: Celtic vs Jeanfield Swifts, Scottish League Cup, Monday at 1am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

Halfway through the first leg (away from home) of their final Champions League qualifier, PSV were in dire straits. They were 2-0 down against Benfica having held a lot of the ball but being unable to do much with it as the Portuguese team left them looking skittish at the back. Goals to Rafa Silva (10’) and Julian Weigl (42’) had them in all sorts of trouble. Hopes of making the UCL group stage for the first time since 2018–19 were fading disturbingly fast.

But then Cody Gakpo tore off the training wheels and hauled his team back into the tie with a series of impressive free-flowing attacking moves including, most crucially, a 51st minute goal. Cheeky lil deflection on his shot but there’d been a great run to get him into that position. That goal changed things. PSV were suddenly the more dangerous team and although they didn’t manage to find an equaliser they’ll still feel pretty decent about overturning a 2-1 deficit back at home – especially considering what their home form has been like throughout this UCL qualifying campaign (5-1 win vs Galatasary & 3-0 win vs Midtjylland). But we’re breezing through that game because Ryan Thomas didn’t feature. He was on the bench but wasn’t one of the five subs used as they chased a second goal. All goods.

He did, meanwhile, feature in the Eredivisie game on the weekend. Didn’t start as might’ve been hoped given there were a few dudes rested for that one but he was subbed on at the break for his longest appearance of the season to date.

Only six players who started vs Benfica (and who are likely to start against Benfica again on Wednesday morning) walked out against Cambuur and only the defenders amongst them lasted ninety minutes. When Thomas came on, he replaced Mauro Junior as part of a triple sub - which gives you an idea of how much of a priority the Champions League is at the moment. But they were able to make substantial changes at the half because a couple goals lovely from Davy Pröpper (18’) and Eran Zahavi (21’) had set them up with a handy lead... and one of the guys who came on with Thomas, Noni Madueke, then made it 3-0 three minutes into the second half.

Thomas played as a second striker along with Yorbe Vertessen... get in where you fit in, pretty much. The instructions were clearly to play a little deeper and try consolidate things with that lead in tact (he eventually ended up in central midfield after a couple more subs with twenty-ish remaining). Thomas got plenty of touches in that second half including a perfect passing success rate, while also drifting out wide to swing in a few crosses. There was one killer through ball from midfield too late on. Cambuur did pull a goal back on the break via Alex Bangura in the 66th min but that was against the run of play and PSV weren’t shaken, eventually scoring again in stoppage time through Olivier Boscagli – a thunderbolt of a shot after Thomas’ corner kick had been half-cleared (although the keeper got two big hands to it and should probably have stopped it) – for a comfortable 4-1 win that keeps things rolling ahead of that crucial second leg against Benfica.

Up Next: PSV vs Benfica, UCL qualifying playoff round second leg, Wednesday at 7am... also Groningen at home on Sunday at 6am (NZT)

Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City (Australian W-League)

Well ain’t that just the best? After spending the first half of 2021 getting treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stotty got the all clear a couple months back and made her return to the footy field for Bulleen Lions in the Victorian NPL back in July. Her cancer diagnosis caused her to leave what had been an exciting situation at Brighton & Hove Albion in the English WSL and it cost her a trip to the Olympics too. But now she’s back in business at the club she’s spent more time at than any other in her professional career.

Rebekah Stott is tied with Steph Catley as the all-time leading WSL appearance maker for City with 62 games (Catley’s playing for Arsenal these days so that’s a record waiting to be broken). Within those 62 games she’s won four Championships and two Premierships. She’s also far and away the leading New Zealand appearance maker in that comp with 87 games – Emma Kete is next with 39 W-League games. A full season could tip her over the triple-figure milestone. Stott became the fourth kiwi signed up for next season with this bit of news.

Rebekah Stott: “It’s an incredible feeling for me to have football back and I definitely didn't realise how much I’d missed it until I got back on the pitch. Dr. Nick (Club doctor) has been with me from the very first appointment to the last and the Club has always been behind me and supported me, so it's great to be back. The W-League is such an amazing league that I always have a great time playing in and I can’t wait to pull on a City shirt again.”

MCY Head Coach Rado Vidosic: “It’s exciting to be announcing our squad for the new season and we are thrilled to have Stotty returning. Most importantly, it’s great to see her happy and healthy, but I also can’t wait to see her back on the pitch doing what she loves. Our squad this season will be a mix of experience and youth so to have a player of her quality and leadership back amongst the group will be a huge benefit as we look to improve on last season.”

Up Next: Season kicks off in November, still a wee way to go

Joey Champness - GZT Giresunspor (Turkish Süper Lig)

JOWIC on the move! Fresh from swapping international allegiances to the nation of his birth and representing the OlyWhites at the Olympics, it’s off to Turkey for Joseph Champness. Which is a funky one because his club stuff has been very weird for a couple years. Ever since he left the Newcastle Jets to spend a year in Los Angeles chasing his hip hop dreams.

The story goes like this: when Champness returned to Oz, the Jets believed they had his contract rights until 2022, which was when his previous deal was due to expire, but Champness lived in Brisbane and was stuck there during the pandemic and ultimately signed with the Roar... to the complaints of Jets officials. Eventually it was arranged that he’d play for Brisbane on loan, which he did, but the same confusion was threatening to emerge this season as Champness still hadn’t reported for preseason. Even after fellow NZ Olympian and new Jets signing Dane Ingham had done so, Champness still hadn’t. Word was he wanted to wrangle another stint with the Roar however the Jets weren’t having that. With one year left on his contract, they said if you’re playing A-League then you’re playing for us... but we will sell you overseas if it happens. And it has. Finally everyone’s happy.

Giresunspor just got promoted back to the top flight in Turkey after finishing second in the second tier last time, losing 2-0 to Galatasaray in their first game at this level since 1977. But hopes aren’t too high for them to stay there. Player turnover has been huge with 16 new players signing for the club and almost that many moving out. They’re favourites to go back down... but JOWIC may have something to say about that. He’s signed on a two year contract with an option for a third (Giresunspor have also reportedly added Aussie international Aziz Behich on loan too).

And, of course, as someone who switched allegiances to represent New Zealand he’ll come up against a fella who switched allegiances away from Aotearoa in USA international Tyler Boyd in the Süper Lig. Not at Besiktas though. Boyd fell out of favour there last season, surprisingly cut from their squad registration list entirely for the first half of the season. He did eventually come back into the mix for four starts with a goal but then went and played on loan with Sivasspor from February until the end of the campaign... scoring 5 goals in 14 appearances. The manager listed him as a fella who wasn’t in the plans moving forward during the offseason hence he wasn’t in the squad for the opening weekend fixture. But never fear because he’s wiggled his way over to Çaykur Rizespor on loan.

Up Next: Giresunspor vs Trabzonspor, Monday at 6.45am (NZT)

Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)

Not much to say about Burnley’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. They beat them at this ground last season to snap a long unbeaten streak for the Reds but that was in an empty stadium. With the fans back it was a spirited and committed effort from Burnley, who kept their shape and played to their plan... but that wasn’t enough. Liverpool dominated from start to finish aside from a couple sneaky moments. Dwight McNeil was really good for the Clarets. He had a shot cleared off the line early (set up by an offside Chris Wood) and also popped a lovely cross onto Wood’s head, though Alisson made a good save. Then mere seconds later Liverpool were in the lead. Konstantinos Tsimikas with the cross, Diego Jota with the headed finish. 1-0 to Liverpool after 18 minutes.

Mo Salah had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. Sadio Mane had a handful of great chances but was uncharacteristically wasteful. At 1-0 there were still some funk for Burnley with James Tarkowski heading off target and straight after HT Ashley Barnes had one in the net albeit from miles offside. Ultimately Sadio Mane doubled the lead in the 69th min and 2-0 was the state of things at the final whistle. Wood was subbed off with quarter of an hour to go. He did look dangerous in that first half but Virgil Van Dijk was not a defender to be pushed around and it was only really that one cross where things lined up. Solid performance, good signs, except one team was clearly better than the other.

Yet Burnley did set one extremely Burnley Areas milestone this game...

First team to line-up with shirt numbers 1-11 all in the starting team since Charlton Athletic did so in the second week of the 1998-99 season. And in a 4-4-2 formation, no less. The old dogs will be frothing. Game’s not gone after all.

Not that you’d get that line out of Jurgen Klopp, who wasn’t too happy with the habits of Wood and Barnes in his postgame interview...

Jurgen Klopp: “We always had to be ready for a proper fight. We were today in a really difficult game, because you saw these challenges with Barnes and Wood on Virgil and Joel. I’m not 100 per cent sure if we are really going in the right direction with these kind of decisions. It feels like we go back 10, 15 years back to when we said ‘oh, that was the football we wanted to see’. It’s just too dangerous. The message now is let the game flow, but nobody exactly knows what that means. I like decisions that favour the offensive team, that’s fine. But we have to stick to protecting the players. We cannot deny that. If you like that sort of thing, watch wrestling.”

Bit of an odd one after a game in which there wasn’t a single yellow card handed out. In fact Burnley just broke the record for the most PL games in a row without a red card with this game, 97 and counting beating the previous mark set by Ipswich in the late-90s. There were a couple disallowed goals in the match but rightly so. No controversial moments, nothing violent. Sean Dyche’s response was one of gentle bafflement, though he did say it was poor form from Klopp to single out Barnes & Wood by name like that.

Up Next: EFL Cup second round vs Newcastle away on Thursday at 6.45am and then it’s Leeds at home in the PL on Monday at 1am (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

The Loons played twice this week and it was the second of those games in which Michael Boxall made his return from injury, starting at centre-back alongside Bayake Dibassy against Sporting Kansas City. His first appearance since going off injured against San Jose in early July. Probably shoulda replaced him in the Olympic squad but too late now, no dramas.

San Jose were the team that Minnesota played in the midweek with Boxall an unused sub. Wil Trapp’s 22nd minute goal cancelled out Dibassy’s earlier own goal with SJ reduced to ten men in between thanks to Nathan Cardoso’s red card (also for a foul on Dibassy, who was right in the mix of things there – initially the tackle was ruled a yellow card offence but it got upgraded by VAR). Minny didn’t score again despite the extended advantage and drew 1-1. Bit disappointing.

There were no own goals against Kansas City. No goals at all in fact... though there was an early red card once again. 21st minute and Remi Walker chopped down Manny Reynoso on the break (well inside the Minnesota half), with his high boot deemed dangerous enough for an instant dismissal. Off you go son. Wasn’t the only bit of biffo in this game either, imagine thinking you can step up with Michael Boxall. Mate, dreaming...

SKC had been edging things prior to the red but afterwards it was seventy minutes or so of Minnesota United getting busy. SKC are a good defensive team though. They dug in their heels and rode a bit of their luck at times – like when Reynoso smacked the post early in the second half – and thus for the second time in a few days the Loons were frustrated into a draw despite playing most of the game with a numerical advantage and dominating most of the key stats. Only stat that ultimately matters is goals, as they say.

0-0 the final score. Minnesota on a wee slump after four draws, a loss, and a win in their last six games. Still well set in fifth place in the West but there’s now a seven point game between themselves and fourth. However they do now have Michael Boxall back.

Here’s the gaffer talking about Boxy’s return...

And here’s the man himself...

Up Next: Sunday 12.30pm away to Houston Dynamo (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

On the plus side, Bill Tuiloma played 180 minutes this week, starting with Dario Zuparic both times at CB. On the minus side they didn’t win either game.

Against Sporting KC they scored early via Felipe Mora in the 17th minute on the end of a glorious cross from Marvin Loria and they led for almost the entire rest of the game but were left to rue a few of their missed opportunities for a second when, in second half stoppage time, Daniel Salloi was given just a little too much space to shoot by Tuiloma and then keeper Steve Clark, who’d made a couple mean saves previously, wasn’t able to make the stop at his near post. Should’ve won but 1-1 is what goes into the books.

As for the trip to Austin FC... well, Portland’s away form has been crap all year and this was more of the same as they were dropped 3-1. They were three down after half an hour and even though Dairon Asprilla got them one back in the 55th min it never felt like they were in the contest. Bad performance. 3-1 loss. Flush the dunny and move on. Tuiloma actually ended up playing right back in the second half of this game and did quite well by accounts so we’ll see if that’s a prospect that pops up again in more competitive outings.

Up Next: Monday at 2.30pm away to Seattle Sounders (NZT)

Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage / Katie Bowen – Kansas City (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Following her outstanding stint in central midfield last week in KC’s first ever win, Katie Bowen was back there for the trip to North Carolina. Moving on up in the world (and in the formation). But up against Fernies teammate Abby Erceg this was a staunch reminder of why Kansas City had taken so long to get that first W.

North Carolina are surging towards the top of the ladder and with Portland not playing this weekend it was a chance to make a statement. That they did. KC actually offered quite a lot, bringing confidence in from that previous win. They were willing to shoot from anywhere and asked plenty of questions... but NCC were the team with the cutting edge and when nobody picked up Lynn Williams on the end of Carson Pickett’s long ball into the area she had all the time she needed to take it down, turn, and pick her spot for 1-0 in the 12th minute. Then by the 21st minute it was 2-0 via a great header by Jess McDonald off a corner kick.

On another day Hailee Mace mighta had a hat-trick for KC with some of her chances. Instead it was a KC oldie in Amy Rodriguez – traded between these two teams during the Olympics – who made it 3-0 with a sharp touch to the near post (63’). Then Meredith Speck scored into an open net off a late runaway in the final minute after NCC had been reduced to ten with Havana Solaun sent off with quarter of an hour remaining. KC went all out for goals after that point, with Bowen subbed off in the 79th, but instead left themselves vulnerable at the back. 4-0 to NCC the final score.

Here’s one for the sentimentalists...

Up Next: KC vs Louisville on Thursday at midday & Washington vs NCC on Monday at 9am (NZT)

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

Away to Washington, Ali Riley starting at right back, and any time that the Spirit were able to attack at speed they looked dangerous. Ashlyn Harris made a strong stop against a tight-angle Trinity Rodman shot before Rodman smashed the rebound onto the crossbar, 21 mins gone. Later in the half Rodman was on the other side running up against Ali Riley for a ball down the wing and she just straight-up shouldered Riley into the grass... then smashed a shot into the post.

But Orlando got through that and but for a double Aubrey Bledsoe save against Sydney Leroux then they might have even been winning at the break. No worries, twenty minutes more of waiting and they got that goal they were after. Intercept in midfield and a couple quick passes then Marta, the goat herself, cut onto her left foot and lashed the ball in off the post from distance. Brilliant goal.

That came about two minutes after a double sub from the Pride where they swapped out both of their fullbacks. 65 mins and done for Ali Riley. Unfortunately that move didn’t quite pan out because it was on the left side where the mistake was made for the leveller. Cross pumped in from deep and Kylie Strom didn’t swing her foot through that ball like she should have, effectively controlling it for Ashley Hatch to pop in for an instant equaliser literally about a minute after Marta’s goal. Then an Orlando corner with a couple mins remaining was cleared and Washington went directly out on the counter with the Pride short on numbers. Rodman got into the area and held it up. Then Ashley Sanchez scored a belter, hoofing it into the top corner for a dramatic winner. Two avoidable goals for the Pride in the last 20-odd minutes of the game after taking a hard-earned lead and it cost them as they lost 2-1.

Up Next: Monday at 9.30am vs Gotham FC (NZT)

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

There are heaps of late goals throughout this week’s FKs. Quite a few of them were heartbreakers so gotta throw up a happy one. Viking were away to Vålerenga, two teams pushing for those European spots. They started nicely with a couple bright attacks... but then a stunner of a ball over the top from in his own half by Osame Sahraoui put Vidar Örn Kjartansson in and a slight hesitation from the Viking keeper made all the difference. Slick finish and that’s 1-0 to Vålerenga.

Wouldn’t say it was against the run of play but definitely Viking were creating plenty, especially through set pieces, and it seemed like almost everything was falling to Zlatko Tripic but he couldn’t manage to catch one right. That was the pattern for so long in this game and VFK continued to get blocked out. Through the rest of the first half and into the second. By the last twenty minutes however they seemed to have run out of gas and Vålerenga began slicing through them, with a couple key saves by the keeper all that kept them in the game. Typically, it was then when they were under the most pressure that they finally scored. Overlap down the left and Harald Nilsen Tangen stroked it home from the cutback. An 84th minute equaliser. Get in.

And, mate, it could have been even more golden because Bellinho then went so so close to scoring a late winner. Great one-two after driving forward but his shot was pushed past the post by a diving keeper...

Another quality performance from Bell according to the local media. One of the better blokes on the park for VFK. A 1-1 draw keeps them sixth, six points off second, three off third, and two clear of Vålerenga who are in seventh. We’re a little over the halfway point of the campaign. Highlights here coz the Eliteserien YouTube channel doesn’t want embeds.

Up Next: Monday at 4am against Rosenborg (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)

For 99% of the midweek game against Gillingham things had gone perfectly to plan for AFC Wimbledon. Nik Tzanev had almost been beaten from long distance early on but was able to gobble up the ball at the second attempt to save some blushes and after that he was close to flawless with a couple killer stops, particularly a low save off a firm Olly Lee shot late in the first half.

It was still 0-0 deep into the game, with Wimbledon trying to muster a bit of attacking spice, when David Tutonda chopped down Chelsea loanee Henry Lawrence on the edge of the area and that was a second yellow for that bloke. Gillingham would have to play the final 18 minutes with ten men. Now the Dons had a bit of steam to what they were doing and with five minutes to go Ollie Palmer leapt up to nod in Luke McCormick's cross and it seemed they were on the brink of a wonderful backs to the wall win. Then in the seventh minute of injury time Harvey Lintott took a hopeful shot that took a huge deflection off Paul Kalambayi and what a devastating way to have two points ripped away. Tzanev had no chance. 1-1 the way it ended, damn.

Then it was Sunderland away and after a slow start from both teams, the Black Cats began to get it going midway through the first half and Nik Tzanev had to be sharp with a one-hander to deny Lynden Gooch at close range. There was also a low diving save keeping Ross Stewart out before the best of the lot of them as he dove to punch away Elliot Embleton’s shot. But the Dons weren’t throwing enough punches up the other end to cover for themselves and in the 64th minute they drew a dud from the deck.

Carl Winchester picked up the ball from a corner kick clearance, nudged it forward a little, and then blasted towards goal. The shot took a big deflection and Tzanev didn’t have a show. Second time in a week that he’d been beaten by a wild deflection, gonna find out soon he walked under a ladder or something because that much bad luck ain’t natural. There was at least one more impressive NT save – this was his best game of the season so far in terms of shot-stopping, keeping his team in the game for way longer than they had any right to be – which allowed for a belated push for a point. Both of AFCW’s shots on target came in the latter stages with the best of them being Ben Heneghan’s header from a corner that the keeper couldn’t reach but it was cleared off the line by a defender. End yarn was a 1-0 defeat.

Up Next: Northampton Town away in the EFL Cup second round, Weds at 6.45am, then Ipswich away on Sunday at 2am (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

Little worry here as Tommy Smith missed the midweek game against Mansfield Town (a game that ended in a 1-1 draw) with a flare up of a back issue...

CUFC manager Hayden Mullins: “Tommy jarred his back (on Monday) right at the beginning of training. He didn’t train and we were waiting to see if it was better. He came in (on Tuesday) and said ‘yeah, it feels better’. I took the decision out of his hands and decided to keep him out of the game.“

The safety first option proved to be a wise one as fellow CB Tom Eastman went down injured during the game and LB Ryan Clampin also copped a knock. Neither of them were fit for the trip to Oldham Athletic on the weekend but Smithy, who the boss had said would hopefully be back in training the day after the Mansfield game, certainly was. Always a healthy boost to have a healthy captain.

Must have been the good vibes sweeping through them because the U’s had the ideal start to this game. Freddie Sears scored a ninth minute penalty after Brendan Wiredu had been shoved over in the box and then three minutes later a mint strike from Noah Chilvers found the bottom corner and Colchester were up by a couple. Oldham came back at them with a heap of chances but Shamal George had another ripper in goal and somehow Colchester survived into the second half when things calmed down. Despite a 73rd minute goal from Dylan Bahamboula, they were able to hold on for a first win of the new season.

Up Next: Rochdale vs Colchester, Saturday at 6.45am (NZT)

George Stanger - Hamilton Academical (Scottish Premiership)

Georgie’s getting games, man. He started his first one back from the Olympics a few weeks ago and now next fixture up and he’s playing ninety against Kilmarnock. Only catch is that because the team’s a bit skint for players he’s having to play at right back so not really his ideal spot. The Accies are coming off a relegation and had their manager unexpectedly resign two weeks back – Stuart Taylor has been appointed since. Against Killie they kept things scoreless right up until the hour mark but then two goals in ten minutes from Scott Robinson doomed them to a 2-0 defeat. Three games in they’re yet to win. But cool to see Stanger getting games, at least.

Up Next: Queen of the South away on Sunday at 2am (NZT)

Stefan Marinovic - Hapoel Nof HaGalil (Israeli Premier League)

The last few weeks have seen Toto Cup action in Israel, the annual preseason tournament/League Cup thingamajig there, and you’ll be happy to know Stefan Marinovic has gone straight in as Hapoel Nof HaGalil’s starting goalkeeper. Unfortunately though they didn’t win a game in their group stage. 2-1 loss to Bnei Sakhnin, a 1-1 draw with Ironi Kiryat Shmona, a 2-1 loss to Hapoel Haifa, a 3-2 loss to Hapoel Hadera... then in their playoff for 13th place (aka playoff for last place) Stef was finally able to boast a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 with Beitar Jerusalem after 120 minutes... but then they lost 7-6 on penalties. The league footy begins next week. Here are some highlights from the Hapoel Haifa defeat...

Up Next: Hapoel Nof HaGalil vs Hapoel Katamon on Tuesday at 5am in the league opener (NZT)

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