Flying Kiwis – January 25
Anna Leat – West Ham United (English Super League)
Anna Leat: “You can’t go home unhappy after a 92nd minute header from Kate, but it was honestly just really good to get out there. I felt really good. I’ve spent six months grinding away and now my time has come to step into that role. Obviously, I want to fill it and use it to grow as much as possible. The Barclays FA Women’s Super League is something you watch on tele at home, and now I’m in it! It’s kind of just hitting me that it’s happened but it’s awesome! It’s been so cool. As a group, we’re so happy with where we’re at and that game was the start of a pretty exciting second half of the season.”
Anna Leat had to wait patiently for her first WSL appearance but when it did eventually arrive the second wasn’t long in following it. Plus she got to play against last season’s beaten Champions League finalists in between. With Aussie international Mackenzie Arnold away at the Asia Cup, Leat has a decent little window where she gets to be West Ham’s number one goalkeeper and she hasn’t put foot (or hand) wrong yet.
Last week there was the 1-1 draw with Spurs, defying Ria Percival along the way. A few days later they were up against Chelsea in the quarters of the Conti Cup. The defending champs who won everything there was to win domestically last season. This was always gonna be a game where West Ham were up against the wall... but they hung in there valiantly throughout the first half. Leat watched Pernille Harder blast past her far post at one stage but the Hammers had an answer to most else... with the exception of one blistering counter attack in the 23rd minute which ended with Fran Kirby setting up Harder for the tap in.
Still, West Ham nearly levelled up as the ball fell for Dagný Brynjarsdóttir at the back stick... then they did level up when Kateřina Svitková cut in and fired through a crowd of defenders on 34 mins. 1-1 at half-time and West Ham were very much in the contest, trying to make the semis of this competition for only the second time ever. Saves like this, to deny Sophie Ingle, early in the second half help too...
But alas, the Hammers were undone by a rampaging eight minute spell from Chelsea between the 58th and 66th mins. First Erin Cuthbert pumped a header well beyond Leat’s reach for 2-1. Then very soon after Leat pulled off another quality stop diving to deny Kirby only to see the ball fall for Harder on the follow up. Tried to parry it as far as she could away but her defence didn’t track the run. Then Pernille Harder nodded another one just beyond Leat who wasn’t able to get her feet set for a dive and it crept in for Harder’s hat-trick. At least 17 year old WHU debutant Halle Hossain was able to pull one back late on to restore some dignity to an eventual 4-2 defeat. Highlights here.
Olli Harder made only one change from the starters in that Chelsea defeat midweek for the home game against Everton a few days later (Lisa Evans coming in up front). For Everton this was their first game since before Christmas, adding rustiness to some already dodgy form. West Ham’s own form in the WSL hasn’t been a mixed bag but they’re undefeated at home in the league (and were undefeated in all comps at home until Chelsea toppled them in that Conti Cup quarter).
West Ham play some gorgeous flowing passing stuff under Harder, they look so good when they flood forward. But they don’t necessarily hold enough possession to do that as often as they’d like, nor do they quite have the strike-force to capitalise. And to be fair it was rusty Everton who started this game more promisingly, working a few set pieces and keeping the play in the Hammers half right up until this cracking effort after ten minutes which led to an even better save, Anna Leat acrobatically tipping the shot from Hanna Bennison onto the crossbar and away. Magical stuff...
There was nothing that Leat could have done about the 30th min header from Valérie Gauvin after a short corner but for the second time already in this match the crossbar came to her assistance. Followed by a penalty shout by Gauvin on the seconds which was waved off. A lot of Leat’s other work was routine aerial dealings and playing out from the back in possession, things which she was flawless at on WSL debut and was flawless at again here. On her toes with a couple under-hit back-passes, no dramas. However Everton were definitely looked more likely to break the deadlock.
At least they did until around 35 mins in when West Ham seemed to figure something out. Lisa Evans had a shot turned round the post and then the ball in after the short corner was turned narrowly wide by Lucy Parker. Then on 41 mins, Kateřina Svitková dashed forward from halfway, beat a defender, slipped in Lisa Evans who committed the keeper before sliding it back across, and Svitková managed to sneak it home for 1-0. Massive moment in the match in the shadow of half-time.
West Ham were lucky to be in front at the break but they came out firing after it. Claudia Walker scored within two minutes of the resumption except it was flagged for a very close offside. So the Hammers simply waited a few ticks and then scored another one that did count. A pivotal goal right as Everton were threatening to whip something up. Lisa Evans getting in behind on the counter and although she may have been fouled in the area the ref played advantage as the ball rolled across for Dagný Brynjarsdóttir who curled in first time despite a touch from the keeper. 2-0 to West Ham after 56 mins.
Rikke Sevecke then missed a great chance for Everton to hit straight back, somehow lifting her shot over the top at the back post. That probably needed to go in for them to mount a comeback. The Toffees were able to bring the likes of Toni Duggan and Claire Emslie off the bench but West Ham held strong, going on to add a third goal for some icing on the cake near the end with Claudia Walker polishing off another Evans assist on 86’. To be fair to Everton, their lack of match fitness caught up with them in the last half hour after a month without a game and WHU were able to keep a comfortable level of control. 3-0 the final score. Excellent win for the Hammers. Taking care of the fine margins that Olli Harder stressed got away from them in the Chelsea game.
That was also a first WSL clean sheet for Anna Leat to go with the three she kept in the Conti Cup group stages. Aside from that Chelsea game, she’s not conceded from open play in her five other appearances for the Hammers in all comps. That save she made after ten mins was crucial in the course of this game, while her composure throughout it was super impressive. However the best aspect of her game has arguably been her distribution, pinging thirty yard passes right to a teammate, chipping them over pressing opponents, keeping close control in tricky situations. Can’t complain. Can’t complain one bit.
Up Next: Bloody Chelsea again, away in the WSL on Thursday at 8am... then it’s away to Sheffield United in the FA Cup at 2am on Monday (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)
Conti Cup is Meikayla Moore’s time to shine. Liverpool against Tottenham for a place in the semis. Meikayla Moore against Ria Percival too... although Percival was on the bench as she has been for each of Spurs’ games in this competition to date. Not Moore though. She was in there with a vengeance after having only played 11 minutes since November, picking up a yellow card in only the eighth minute of the match for running in front of the Spurs keeper as she tried to punt one clear from her hands. Kinda harsh, to be honest.
Other than that the match was quite uneven as you’d probably expect it to be. A midweek game. Both teams making changes to their starters. The pressure of the latter stages of a knockout competition. Spurs had the best opportunities in the first half with Esther Morgan and Rosella Ayane each forcing saves. After the break Jess Naz shot just wide as well early in the second half, yet Liverpool were achingly close to to taking the lead when Leighanne Robe’s scrambling attempt was blocked in close. Both teams went to the bench in search of attacking answers and for Spurs that meant the introduction of Ria Percival with twenty to play...
And, folks, the impact was instantaneous. Spurs hit ‘em down the right side of the Liverpool defence with Meikayla Moore one of two defenders who couldn’t stay with Jessica Naz for pace. Her ball into the middle was then touched back by Ayane for Rachel Williams rushing up and there may have even been a wee deflection from her shot off the leg of Ria Percival on its way into the back of the net. Not enough for Ria to get to claim the goal or anything, mind you.
That goal was the only one of the evening. Melissa Lawley did fire a shot over the bar for Liverpool down the stretch but nah they weren’t able to break down a Tottenham defence that most WSL teams have struggled to break down this season. 1-0 to Spurs who advance to the semis while Liverpool’s 16-game unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end. As Meikayla said though, they proved in this one that they can hang with a very strong WSL opposition. Further validation as they push for promotion. Ninety much needed minutes for Moore in this match.
Ah well... promotion from the Championship was always the main target for the Reds and that quest saw another step towards its completion as the Reds strolled to a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on the weekend. Yana Daniels (x2) and Katie Stengel put Palace to bed inside the first half with a flurry of goals before Rachel Furness added another midway through the second half. Moore was on the bench for that one but did get subbed on with ten to play as they cleared the decks, helping keep that clean sheet in tact. Liverpool extend their Champo win streak to five games as well as being 12 games unbeaten in the competition. Looking good for getting another kiwi into the WSL next season.
Up Next: Monday at 3am against Nettleham in the FA Cup fourth round (NZT)
Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)
Already covered the League Cup win over Liverpool, in which Ria Percival got twenty minutes at the end. Spurs will face Manchester City in the semi-finals next Friday NZT. Chelsea play Manchester United in the other semi. There are no easier draws at this stage of the competition, it’s the hard way from here on out... but to be fair Spurs did beat Man City back in September so that’s helpful. Percival had a blinder that day too.
On the weekend they were up against the other half of Manchester. Man United away, a team that Ria Percival scored against in a 1-1 draw in the home fixture – her only WSL goal – but she wasn’t able to repeat the dose this time. In fact it’s not a game worth putting too much emphasis on as United strolled to a 3-0 win. Vilde Bøe Risa (38’) and Hayley Ladd (42’) scored late in the first half to put MUFC into the driver’s seat and Spurs never really mustered the weapons for a comeback. Leah Galton (62’) added another in the second half to be sure of it.
Five rough minutes dooming Tottenham and allowing United to move up to second on the ladder with their sixth win in a row. Not that United weren’t entirely worth it – Spurs had a mere six total shots and only one was on target. Should have pulled one back through Rachel Williams late on but she headed wide. At least City’s draw with Arsenal keeps Spurs in fourth place for now. Check out the highlights on FA Player.
That was a bit of a buzzkill so how about this for a stat...
That was from before the United game. Percy had another ‘shot creating action’ in that one to move up to 40 for the season... eighth equal in the WSL but she’s the only played with more than 30 from outside the big four of Arsenal, Chelsea, and the two Manchester clubs. Percival’s also fourth in tackles won (25), third in defensive pressures (292), third in fouls committed (24 – the top three are all Spurs players), tenth in recoveries (125), and she’s one of 13 players left in the WSL to have played every single minute for their clubs so far. The scope of those stats, from high end attacking efforts to defensive coverage, is just nuts.
Up Next: Monday at 3am against Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round (NZT)
Alex Greive – St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)
Been waiting for this one to happen and now it has. Adding another to the January tally of signings, Alex Greive has joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on an 18 month contract after a successful trial period. He went over there as part of Birkenhead United’s sister club arrangement with St Mirren (Nelson Suburbs also has a similar gig going) and impressed enough that he’s gone straight into the first team. No reserve prep, no loan outs... about eight hours after his signing was confirmed he was making his debut off the bench against Dundee United.
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: “We are delighted to have another addition to the squad at the top end of the pitch. Alex is one we have been working with for the last wee while but couldn't get him registered until the January window opened up. He's brings creativity, he's a little bit different to some of the other strikers we have at the moment, he's quite dynamic and he's a decent footballer so we're excited to have him involved. He's a very good professional. He's looked very sharp in training and I think he's surprised one or two. With the extra couple of squad members we can include in the match day squad, Alex might find himself involved tonight.”
Greive was a standout player at North Kentucky University during his time there and returned to absolutely boss the show for Waitakere United in the Premiership and subsequently Birkenhead United in the revamped National League – where he was Northern League MVP, though obviously Northern League clubs didn’t get to join in the South Central Series festivities. By most accounts, AG has been over with St Mirren for a decent amount of time but as the gaffer says they had to wait for the window to open.
Only got about two minutes plus stoppage time in his St Mirren debut, coming on with his team nursing a 2-1 lead, but he was heavily involved. Lots of energy with those angled runs trying to stretch things. Bore the brunt of a few large central defender aerial challenges but that’s all part of the process. At one stage a loose ball fell to him in the area which he sliced wide off his left boot, perhaps a better chance that it first seemed because of how suddenly it happened. He also nearly got through on the break but the ball towards him was behind him and he couldn’t control it. Promising overall. His manager did say he offers something different to the team’s other striking options so hopefully this is a sign that he’s going to get plenty of opportunities.
It’s so far so good on that front because a few days later St Mirren took on Ayr United in the Scottish Cup fourth round, with Alex Greive subbed on for the last 27 minutes of that one as the Saints advanced with a 2-0 win. First half goals from Kyle McAllister and Greg Kiltie did the damage there. Greive obviously came on after all that but judging by the St Mirren fans reactions it sounds like he’s already winning plenty of them over. Getting well amongst it already.
Up Next: St Mirren vs Aberdeen, Weds at 8.45am... then Dundee vs St Mirren at 4am on Sat (NZT)
Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)
See that? He may not have scored against Leeds on his second Newcastle appearance but Chris Wood is starting to look more comfortable in his new team after what was a slightly disjointed debut (particularly in the second half). Eddie Howe’s a clever manager and he bought The Woodsman with a plan in mind. That’s beginning to become clearer now. Not only the aerial stuff but also the lay-offs and flick-ons and switches that he’s able to provide from that strong hold-up base of his. His 47 touches here were the most he’s had in any game this season (and he attempted more passes here than he did in any Burnley match recently too, albeit a few of them were a wee bit wayward).
However we can’t bury the lede and ignore the result. That’s the most important thing for the Magpies at the moment, especially in a week where Burnley took a point off Arsenal, Norwich won for the second time in a row (matching their win tally for the entire first 20 games), and Watford... well, they lost and they sacked Claudio Ranieri so they’re about to be onto their third manager of the season.
Newcastle were by no means at their sharpest, whatever that’s supposed to look like. Leeds were able to pass through the Magpies pretty easily for a lot of this game but as has often been the case with Marcelo Bielsa’s team this season they didn’t have a fit striker to put things away. Martin Dubravka made a super stop off Dan James early on at close range. Raphinha was doing some sizzling things on the wing. And with Leeds playing well on the wing they were able to hold back the Newcastle fullbacks from getting up and whipping balls into the area for Wood.
Fabian Schär had a great game at the back for Newcastle though. Picking off a heap of those attempted final passes and also making a wonderful block off Jack Harrison (with James unable to finish from the follow up). And so the game went on at 0-0 for longer and longer. Chris Wood’s best chance was a low ball in on the break from Ryan Fraser which was just beyond him, Wood then fetching the seconds for Sean Longstaff to drive wide. It felt like a 0-0 draw in the making... until Jonjo Shelvey’s 75th minute free kick snuck inside the far post and who cares how it happens as long as it happens. 1-0 to Newcastle, only their second win of the season. Undefeated since they signed Chris Wood, how about that?
Up Next: All Whites duty, mate
Liberato Cacace – Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League)
On ya go with the valuable relegation battle three points. Not really a Cacace game of note but his team got what they needed from the visit of RFC Seraing. Took the lead on 40 mins when Daichi Hayashi beat the offside trap and then megged the keeper 1v1... but then were dragged back on even terms four mins later when Yahya Nadrani whipped in a cut-back after finding a pocket of space in the box. 1-1 at half-time which is a nervous place to be, especially when you’re the team that just conceded.
Hence why Cacace was replaced in the 67th minute with STVV chasing goals. Aboubakary Koita, who had that period where he was starting ahead of Cacace late last year, replaced him to provide more attacking input. Seraing didn’t have another shot on target after their goal yet STVV still needed to find a winner from somewhere.
Finally they did so in the 78th minute. From the penalty spot. Christian Brüls with a nudge in the back, going down lick a sack of potatoes, and he converted it himself for the lead. Then Taichi Hara converted a breakaway deep in stoppage time for the 3-1 victory. Buys STVV some breathing room as they rise into the mid-table – though not enough comfort that they felt they could release Libby Cacace for the All Whites.
Up Next: Wednesday at 6.45am away to Antwerp, then Saturday at 8.45am against Charleroi (NZT)
Abby Erceg & Katie Bowen – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
As the two kiwis with by far the most NWSL appearances, Abby Erceg (138 games) and Katie Bowen (89 games) have come up against each other many times. Now they’ll be playing alongside each other same as they do for the national team. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Katie Bowen was recently waived by the Kansas City Currents even after they initially offered her new terms to stay. So as the Currents go about hoarding a whole heap of former Courage players (there’s been multiple recent trades between the two teams), the Courage have gotten back a Currents player of their own. NCC are seemingly undertaking a bit of a rebuild after their championship dynasty, trading away several world class internationals for draft picks and prospect players, and when that’s the case you want a few players to set a tone for those youngsters. Can’t go wrong there with an Abby Erceg and Katie Bowen leadership group (yeah, sure, chuck in Debinha and Denise O’Sullivan and Casey Murphy and whoever else too).
Katie Bowen signing with the Courage made lovely sense due to a number of aligning factors. For one thing, there’s the Erceg x Bowen compatriot status. Also Katie Bowen spent several years in North Carolina attending university there once upon a time. Plus after trading away Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald, it seems that Amy Rodriguez will be the lead striker for the Courage in 2022. Well, Rodriguez just so happens to be great mates with Bowen from their time together in Kansas and Utah. Chuck in some experience, some energy, some passion, and some versatility (all the coach’s words) and there ya go.
Katie Bowen: “My US soccer career started here as a Tar Heel ten years ago and it’s always been a dream to get back. I’m so excited to join the Courage and bring home the 2022 championship.”
NCC Head Coach Sean Nahas: “We are thrilled to add someone of Katie’s experience. She is a very versatile player who will add so much to our environment. She brings a great energy and passion to the game, which is something I know our players can and will feed off of. When I spoke to Katie on the phone, I could sense the excitement for her to come to North Carolina, a place where she went to college, and now a place she can call home in her professional career.”
Up Next: Preseason begins in early February
Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Yes sir, yet another fresh signing in 2022. This time it’s Ollie Whyte’s turn. Coming off a National League season with Miramar Rangers in which he was pretty much the best player in the entire South Central Series, Whyte has signed with FC Haka in Finland where he’ll join Logan Rogerson at the club. Two lads from Aotearoa at a club called Haka. It can only be fate.
Whyte has signed a 1+1 deal. In other words, a one-year contract with the club having the option of a second year if he goes well. Given the success of Logan Rogerson at the club, coming from a similar pedigree, he’s got a very solid chance of doing exactly that. Although there is a one-month probationary period in the contract which presumably means they can void it within that period if he turns out to be a bit of an Ali Dia. That won’t happen.
Ollie Whyte: “My agent has a good connection with the club. I heard through him what kind of team is being built here and the project sounded very appealing to me. I have really enjoyed my time here already and have been warmly received which has helped me to settle. The club is like a close-knit family, which I find absolutely wonderful. I believe I will offer good organised play to the team, setting things up for both my teammates and myself. We have a young and talented team that plays good football and is hungry for the coming season!”
Up Next: The preseason Liigacup begins this week so get excited
Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)
There was no need for Liv Chance to be starting in Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Edinburgh City. This was a tie that the Ghirls were always gonna run away with and sure enough when Chance was subbed on to stretch her legs for the last half hour they were already ten goals up. No typo. It ended 12-0 with Charlie Wellings scoring five of them so that was pretty emphatic.
Celtic cannot afford to drop many more points in the SWPL so that’s where Liv Chance was prioritised... and as you can see she delivered. Scored the first on 14 mins to get the Hoops rolling against Partick Thistle. Then once they started rolling they never stopped. It ended up as a 7-0 victory. Chance also set up the third goal, an attempted shot that was turned in by Chloe Craig with a header that just crossed the line coming down off the underside of the bar. She was eventually subbed with quarter of an hour to go and a job well done (they added the seventh after she went off).
In summary: Celtic won both games this week and by a combined scoreline of 19-0. Emphatic. Guarantee the mascot enjoyed it...
Up Next: Monday at 3am at home to Hamilton Academical (NZT)
Katie Rood - Southampton (English National League Southern Premier)
On the scoresheet with the first goal no less. Helping Southampton to a 3-0 win over Bournemouth to qualify for the FA Senior Cup final... where they’ll face local rivals Portsmouth. Rood struck in the ninth minute, with an own goal (set up by Ella Morris’ free kick) on 17 mins and then a 62nd min strike for Georgie Freeland completed the scoring. This from the Southampton website...
“The first to take full advantage was the abundantly talented Rood in the ninth minute, who, following some neat play down the left wing, drove inside on her right foot before arrowing an effort which speared over the head of a helpless Sam Chrippes and into her top left corner. A sublime strike to open the scoring.”
A sublime strike, mate, they weren’t kidding...
What a way to score your first goal for the club, aye? Roodie has come so close to banging one away so many times before this. Constantly seeing the word ‘almost’ mentioned with her name in match reports. But there was nothing almost about that ripper of a goal, thus we can only assume the floodgates are now open.
While the Saints were taking care of their affairs in the cup, Ipswich and Oxford both won to extend the gap between them and Southampton at the top of the National League Southern Premier division... but Southampton do have enough games in hand to overtake them each with maximum points. Gonna be some busy weeks ahead to catch up on those matches, however.
Up Next: Chichester & Selsey at home on Thursday at 8.45am on Thursday (NZT)
Rosie Missen - Newcastle United (English National League Division One North)
Rosie Missen: “Every game is important in this league and points are precious. The condition of the pitch meant we were unable to play the sort of football we know and love playing, but that didn't stop us from adapting to the conditions to get the win. Our team mentality has been excellent this season and that shows in our results. We are all on the same page and we are a positive and supportive team with a huge desire to win.”
That was in response to last week’s 3-0 win over Barnsley... in which Missen made her first start since November. Spent some time out with a ‘grade two ankle sprain’ in between so that’ll do it.
The Magpies chased that Barnsley win with an even more convincing effort away against Bradford City on the weekend. 6-1 was the final score – sending them top of the division thanks to Liverpool Feds not having a game. Rosie Missen didn’t play against Bradford.
Meanwhile on another side of the Div 1 scene, Ashleigh Ward’s Actonians had a 2-1 loss to QPR and a 6-0 win over Norwich. Disappointing and then impressive in quick succession like that. Ward had a couple chances to score in that 6-0 win but wasn’t quite to be. Assuming she was well involved in the build up to a goal or two though, surely. Funny thing there is it was only 1-0 after an hour’s play.
Up Next: Newcastle vs Ipswich in the FA Cup fourth round, Monday at 3am (NZT)
Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)
One cleanie in the league all season and then Tzanev and mates rip off two in a row, those are the kind of improvements that this Dons defence need to stay in this division. If only it wasn’t coming as their goals dry up at the same time. This is a team that’s had 3-2, 4-3 & 5-3 wins this season but there wasn’t a goal to be found against Portsmouth in the midweek.
Best chance came early after a delicious chip into the area from Ollie Palmer was hit on the cut-back by Jack Rudoni but it was too close to the goalie who saved it. Wimbledon would have a few more speccies as the game went along but that proved to be their only shot on target. And by the time we got to the second half it was promotion-challenging Portsmouth who were bossing the show. Luckily that’s where Nik Tzanev comes into focus. A couple pouncing saves combined with Mahlon Romeo’s effort off the crossbar with quarter of an hour left meant that Wimbledon got outta there with a 0-0 draw and another handy point.
Couldn’t make it three on the trot away to Burton Albion though. If he had then they’d have won because with twenty mins to play in a game otherwise shy on decent shots, Tzanev’s looooong punt out of his hands led his team directly onto the attack with Ollie Palmer driving in a slick finish at the end of the move. Dig that. Turned out to be Palmer’s final goal for the club as he was sold to Wrexham a couple days later – the club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElheney (aka Deadpool and Mac from Always Sunny) for a very hefty non-league fee of £300k.
Anyway, it wasn’t a winning goal because in the 77th minute Burton grabbed what was probably a deserved equaliser, Daniel Jebbison bundling it over the line after a great run from Joe Powell. 1-1 the final score. The Dons with their third consecutive draw. Tzanev did make another good stop after the equaliser to at least save the point that they got.
Up Next: A couple home games, Ipswich at 8.45am on Weds and then Shrewsbury at 4am on Sun (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)
Smithy had a rest last week but was back in the team for their midweeker against Sutton United. The team that had knocked them out of the EFL Trophy a couple games earlier so a chance for revenge in League Two. And things were going good when Owura Edwards (on debut after signing on loan from Bristol City) gave them the lead in only the third minute. Keeper misjudged his low shot from range and there ya go.
Sutton levelled it up again in the ninth minute. Miscommunication between keeper and defender allowed Omar Bugiel to nip in and flick an effort onto the post which Isaac Oloafe was first to react to for the tap in. But a handball gave Freddie Sears the opportunity to make it 2-1 from the penalty spot on 44 mins, Colchester back in the lead... until the 64th min when Oloafe got his second of the day from a close range header. To be fair, a point would have been fine for the U’s. Unfortunately they didn’t even get that as Sutton United found a stoppage time winner through Will Randall. Fired in from the edge of the box. Three defenders around him but still got the shot off.
Colchester went down 3-2 to make it six straight defeats in all competitions and they’re without a league win since 24 November. Not too much of a surprise then that manager Hayden Mullins got the sack soon afterwards. Wayne Brown has taken over as interim – a former Ipswich player back in his day, coming up through the academy there, to go with Smithy and all his old Ipswich teammates in town. By the way, Smith was subbed off as the ninetieth minute ticked over into injury time so he missed the final goal. Doesn’t sound like an injury despite him being replaced by another defender... but he had been booked about ten mins earlier so may have been that.
Hold the phone though because Colchester followed that up with a belter of a 3-0 win over Salford City. Finally snapped out of their slump with a couple quickfire goals for Luke Chambers (30’) and Myles Kenlock (33’) before Corie Andrews (82’) polished things off towards the end. Who even needs a manager? Even before the goals they’d already seen Cole Skuse hit the post inside two minutes (though he later had to go off injured) and Alan Judge missed a great chance with an open header.
A much better performance for the club’s first win since November, including a very controlled second half with that lead in place. Only drama was that Tommy Smith didn’t play. With The U’s reverting to a back four he was the man to miss out, dropped to the bench as punishment for some poor form amidst the team’s struggles. Important win though.
Up Next: Colchester vs Swindon Town, Sunday at 4am (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
That there is a (copyrighted) image of Ryan Thomas and a few other PSV teammates having to watch the big derby game against Ajax from the stands. In the lead up to their KNVB Cup win over Telstar in the midweek (coming from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Bruma and Joey Veerman) coach Roger Schmidt spoke about his squad being without several important players. Thomas was one of them. As were Andre Ramahlo, Noni Madueke, Carlos Vinicius, and Ibrahim Sangare. But at least Eran Zahavi was back after the striker had previously demanded to leave after a home robbery left his family feeling unsafe in the Netherlands.
Therefore not quite PSV at full strength as they met Ajax for the second and final time this Eredivisie season (both are still in the KNVB Cup). PSV had a one point lead at kickoff. Massive game. So massive that it’s getting covered here even as Thommo is still at least a week away from returning to training, let alone playing. And that’s going by reports from the start of the month which might not even be accurate any more. Playing or not, this was a crucial match in the course of the Eredivisie title race and a possible winners medal for Ryan Thomas.
Not a lot of action early on. Wasn’t until the 27th minute when a Steven Berghuis/Ajax free kick was poked onto the crossbar on the bounce that anything drastic happened. Yet before much longer Brian Brobbey rose up on the end of Dusan Tadic’s cross with ten mins to go in the first half to give Ajax the lead. Dude had taken a knock five minutes earlier and had to be replaced straight after his goal but it was a nice finish off the head and a nice reward for Ajax amidst a strong spell for them.
PSV responded with fire and fury. Olivier Boscagli nearly levelled from a corner before the break but shot straight at the goalie. Ritsu Doan had a decent crack second half too, also sliding his shot too close to Ajax’s 38 year old keeper Remko Pasveer. Then in the 53rd minute a mistake playing out from the back by Ajax allowed Cody Gakpo to steal the ball and Mario Gotze ended up equalising, get in there. Back on even terms at 1-1... knowing a draw would keep PSV in first place of the table.
That, sorry to say, was not the final act. The teams traded half-chances, each afraid to lose but also knowing the value of a win in this fixture... up until the 74th minute when Noussair Mazraoui utterly lashed in a wonderful goal. Left foot. Just outside the area. Coming from a slick bit of passing. Blasted inside the post. Super goal, that one. Granted, there was some significant controversy involved as Daley Blind appeared to carry the ball out of play on the left sideline earlier in the move. There wasn’t really a camera angle that could conclusively prove it so the goal stood and almost ten minutes of injury time wasn’t enough for PSV to find a second equaliser. 2-1 to Ajax the final score. They regain top spot in the Eredivisie. Bugger.
Up Next: Sunday 6 February against AZ Alkmaar at 8am (NZT)
Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)
Good win for Niko Kirwan’s Padova as they played their first league game since before Christmas, beating Triestina 2-0. Kirwan was on the bench as they took a 14th minute lead from the penalty spot but was subbed on midway through the second stanza with his team under considerable pressure away against a pretty decent team. Kirwan didn’t then play any part in the second goal, a lovely counter attack stemming from their own defensive corner, but no dramas. Padova need all the points they can get to stay in touch with Südtirol for the automatic promotion spot – they’re only two points behind but have played two additional games – covid postponements have been rough this last month.
But that wasn’t the big result this week. Nope, the big one was right here...
Padova with the 1-0 win away to US Catanzaro in the second leg of their Coppa Italia Serie C semi-final – which is a cup competition for all the teams in the Serie C, if you didn’t already figure that out. The two teams drew 1-1 in the first leg back in mid-December so a tenth minute goal for Alfredo Bifulco in the second leg was enough to decide the tie.
Kirwan started this one at right back in a four and while he did swing in one tasty cross early on it was his defensive work that was more essential as Padova rode their luck a few times, especially in the second half. Kirwan’s got good pace and energy. Did what he had to do even as Catanzaro kept attacking down his end.
Catanzaro were reduced to ten men for a last man foul (it was soft but he definitely tried to drag the bloke back) with sixteen mins remaining and Padova probably should have scored a second afterwards. They hit the crossbar from the free kick and went close a couple other times. The important thing was that the red card steadied the game and then deep into stoppage time a bad foul meant a second booking for another Catanzaro bloke and thus they finished with nine men. Padova closed it out to advance to the final where they’ll play... Südtirol of course.
Up Next: Sunday at 2.30pm, Padova vs Pro Patria (NZT)
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Back at it again for 2022.
Up Next: No sooner does preseason start than Billy T’s off on national team duty
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