Flying Kiwis – October 26
Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo (Chilean Primera División)
The task was simple for Marco Rojas and Colo-Colo: avoid defeat against Coquimbo Unido in their third-to-last match of the Primera División season and they’d be champions of Chile. Once more for the club that calls themselves the Eternal Champions. Marco Rojas was of course seeking his first title in his ancestral homeland... and was named to start on the right wing as they chased that trophy. Only his second start for the club and his first in the league.
And they scored in a right old hurry. Six minutes gone and a long ball from a defender on halfway found Juan Martin Lucero in the area. He took it down behind the defensive line and slipped it in, cue some mad celebrations. They knew what was at stake. With the early lead Colo-Colo could control the game but that didn’t stop them looking to attack at pace. A few times Marco Rojas was involved trying to link things up or manipulate defenders. The home side did have a couple frisky moments on attack but nothing too drastic hence it remained 1-0 into the break.
Coquimbo did a few sneaky things as the game resumed which was enough to get the home crowd going. Colo-Colo were able to get back forward and anchor themselves there with a few set pieces but with that lead looking more fragile than ever both teams chose to hit up their benches after an hour... which unfortunately meant the end of Marco Rojas’ evening (part of a double substitution, with their opponents making a triple). Then the Colocinos scored again. Great time for it. Cross in from the right by Marcos Bolados and Agustin Bouzat was there to put it where it needed to go after Coquimbo failed to clear. The two blokes who’d come on when Rojas was replaced, coincidentally. 2-0 to CC. Put the champagne on ice, folks.
There were no more goals although there were a few injuries. Eventually the clock ran out and the whistle blew and a 2-0 win meant that Colo-Colo were crowned champions of Chile for a record 33rd time in their history – although it was their first title since 2017, ending a run of four straight league trophies for Universidad Catolica. Yeah boys. Get amongst it.
An extra good thing is that there’s still two more games left for the Colocinos which allows them to rotate things a bit more and hopefully that means plenty more minutes for Rojas following on from his first Primera División start.
Up Next: Colo-Colo vs O’Higgins at 9.30am on Monday (NZT)
Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)
Yeah that’s right, for the second time in a matter of weeks Alex Greive has come off the bench and scored a winner for St Mirren. He did it against Livingstone at the start of the month where he was subbed on after an hour and ended up scoring a 90th minute goal to earn the points. This time they were up against Dundee United and he’d only been on the pitch four minutes when he popped up with that clutch header.
That’s all it takes, one shot for one goal. St Mirren had taken the lead through an own goal just before the break, the header from Connor Main coming back off the post and going in off the back of the goalie, but Dundee threw on the veteran Steven Fletcher (formerly of Stoke City) who scored a 58th minute leveller. The Buddies should probably have been out of sight by then such were their chances. Especially in the first half – hitting the bar twice (plus the post leading to the OG). Then hitting the post again early second half before having a goal ruled out for a (somewhat debatable) foul by the VAR.
But they weren’t out of sight. Therefore they had to turn to a super sub of their own and luckily they had someone fit for purpose. Alex Greive, glancing header. Quality delivery from Ethan Erhahon. Give it as a 2-1 win for St Mirren who move up to fourth on the ladder having taken 10 points from their last five games despite playing both Celtic and Rangers during that spell.
Up Next: Sunday at 3am away to Hibernian (NZT)
Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
What a crazy ending to this one. Sligo Rovers vs Dundalk away and it was Rovers who scored first through Frank Liivak on 22’... but they conceded a ripper of a goal before the half to tie things up. Ten mins into the second stanza they fell behind and it was looking like defeat might be on the cards away for the team from Sligo. Frustrating because this was the team they beat a few weeks back only to have the result overturned for playing a suspended fella. Rovers have since slumped to be competing for fifth place at best whereas Dundalk are still scrapping for second, potentially.
Nando Pijnaker started and did fine. Some raking long passes and a few good defensive actions. Max Mata did not start but an hour into the match he was summoned. Chucked on up front to try and spark something. Actually, it was Aidan Keena who sparked something with a wonderful solo goal dribbling past a couple defenders on his way into the box then finishing beautifully on 76’. But Max Mata got his moment soon enough...
Have some of that. They’d been struggling big time twenty minutes earlier now they were 3-2 up and on course for victory. Max Mata with his seventh goal of the season, another lovely finish. Alas... they went on to concede a stoppage time equaliser. Thus it ended 3-3. That was a shame... but we’ll take that given it came with a Mata goal.
That wasn’t all. Sligo Rovers also took on Derry City at home three days later and... drew 0-0. Mata was again on the bench in expectation (correct expectation) of a game where defensive solidity would be more important. Derry did get the ball over the line on 15’ but the whistle had gone for a foul. There was a big shout for a penalty against Pijnaker too but ref said nah bro. By the end of the half it was actually Sligo who’d forged the best couple chances though.
Mata came on for the last half hour... and he had one huge chance to win it late. Second minute of stoppage time and Sligo got out on the break having absorbed a fair bit of pressure in the latter stages. O’Sullivan down the right wing. Over went the cross. But Mata got the contact all wrong with his low volley and it bobbled off his shin. Head in hands moment. A goalless draw in the end.
And now, Aotearoa, do your thing...
Up Next: Sligo Rovers vs St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday at 7.45am (NZT)
Anna Leat – Aston Villa (English Super League)
Turns out that Hannah Hampton (England squad member and Villa’s number one) is recovering from a head knock, hence why Leat got the start for Villa last week... and also why Leat got the start for Villa again this week. That’s why you carry a top notch reserve goalie, aye? Luckily Aston Villa has one of the best.
Unfortunately that hasn’t translated into WSL wins yet. The Villans lost a narrow one 2-1 to West Ham last week in Leat’s first league appearance for the club and in her second appearance they lost a narrow one 1-0 to Everton. The goal was scored by Lucy Graham in the 57th minute with a tide side-footer on the half-volley after a cross to the far post. Nothing Leat could do about it.
Which was annoying because Villa were clearly the stronger side in the first half having most of the chances but somehow failing to put any way – the biggest culprit was Laura Blindkilde who inexplicably shot wide from about seven yards out after a great run onto a great cross. Leat made one simple save in the first half from a shot straight at her and otherwise had nothing much to worry about. But Everton switched things up in the second half and the Villans didn’t respond well enough to conceding when they did. Leat with a good stop to keep it at one but they never found an equaliser. Bummer.
Up Next: Should get another game in the WSL Cup away to Everton at 6.30am Thursday (NZT)
CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)
CJ Bott didn’t get to make consecutive WSL starts like Leat did as the Foxes reverted to their usual back three with wing-backs. That meant Bott was squeezed back on the bench for the visit by Manchester United. So it goes.
She did get subbed on for the last six minutes though, with Leicester hoping against hope for a goal down 1-0 to a 33rd min Nikita Parris effort – a header from a free kick. They didn’t get that equalising goal and therefore Leicester City remain without a point at the bottom of the table after five games... but only losing 1-0 to Man United (four wins outta four) was still a commendable effort. Bott played as a left midfielder. Gave a bit of energy to the press... they just didn’t have enough of the ball to get anywhere near the United penalty area in those latter stages.
Elsewhere Rebekah Stott was an unused sub for the second week in a row as Brighton lost 2-0 to Chelsea. Getting closer to that return after preseason ankle surgery.
Up Next: Leicester City vs Liverpool on Thursday at 7am in the WSL Cup (NZT)
Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)
Midweek footy against a battling Everton team with Alexander Isak out injured and Callum Wilson permanently on the verge of his own next knock. You might have thought this was a decent chance for Chris Wood to make a second Premier League start of the season... but he didn’t. On the bench as Callum Wilson produced another strong centre-forward’s performance and it wasn’t until the last few minutes that he finally got out there.
87th minute, on for Wilson. Newcastle leading 1-0 thanks to a first half banger from Miguel Almiron whose fine form continues. As we’ve come to expect it was more of a defensive move to throw Woodsy out there than anything with Newcastle making sure they capped of a really good defensive evening. So good that they restricted Everton to one mere shot off target. That was it. That was all they mustered. Newcastle still don’t look amazing going forward but they’re so good at protecting their own net and this was another nice win in which Wood had a small role. The six added-on minutes did at least allow him to stretch his legs... and he might’ve had a great chance if Elliot Anderson had passed. But all goods, three more points.
Frustratingly it was more of the same as the Geordies visited Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend. Eddie Howe only made one change from the Everton game and it was Joe Willock in for Jacob Murphy. Less frustratingly there was good reason for that as Newcastle played very well to win 2-1, particularly in the first half when both of their goals were scored.
The first goal came after 31 minutes as Callum Wilson and Hugo Lloris ran into each other outside Lloris’ area. Wilson stayed on his feet, turned to recover the ball, and chipped it over the prone Spurs goalie amidst unheeded cries of a foul from the Tottenham defenders. Nothing in that. Ten minutes later Miguel Almiron’s sparkling form continued as he picked up the ball from a soft Lloris clearance then waxed a defender to get into the box and straightened to beat Lloris from a tight angle on his left foot. Harry Kane headed in from a Son Heung-min corner ten mins into the second spell but Newcastle’s defence held firm from there.
It wasn’t until the 88th minute that Chris Wood finally got his summons. Only a couple of minutes to flex his wares and almost a full minute of that was wasted in the substitution itself as Wilson applauded each and every fan during his very slow exit (Newcastle leading by a goal, remember), causing a couple Spurs dudes to angrily shove him along on his way. Wood earned a big cheer from the travelling supporters when he held off Rodrigo Bentancur and then drew a foul on halfway as Emerson Royal clipped his heels, getting booked for his crime. The Woodsman wasn’t able to hold the ball up in the corner the chance he got but he competed for a bunch of headers and probably should’ve had another free kick when Eric Dier held him back. Newcastle safely negotiating the five added-on minutes without incident to put that 2-1 win in the bag, taking them all the way up to fourth on the ladder.
Up Next: Sunday at 3am at home to Aston Villa (NZT)
Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)
Jacqui Hand missed the last Footy Ferns tour with an injury niggle and didn’t play last week for Åland United. But she returned for the last game of the season with AU needing to avoid defeat away to PK-35 Vantaa in order to finish third in the Kansallinen Liiga... and as you can see they did exactly that.
Not that it came easy. Fell behind after 53 mins as Wilma Forsblom finished off after latching onto the rebound from a shot that had hit the post. But a mere three minutes later they equalised as Kit Loferski brilliantly lobbed the keeper from the right wing (possibly intended as a cross but there was nobody in the middle so why not). Then Loferski scored again from the penalty spot soon after and Åland were winning.
With 72 minutes played, Jacqui Hand was subbed off to conclude her first season as a pro. A fantastic season in which she scored 7 goals and bagged 5 assists across all competitions. Won the Suomen Cup, getting an assist in the final. Lovely work. Unfortunately AU conceded again after she was replaced which left them on the slippery slope in the closing stages... but they held on for that 2-2 draw to cop those bronze medals. It’s been a blast.
Up Next: Gotta be Footy Ferns duty in November, surely
Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)
Ooh would you look at that? Lovely team goal from FCK and Marko Stamenic played a very small (but crucial, of course... from our perspective) role within it.
This was in a huge game at home to FC Midtjylland – the two top teams from last season yet neither were even in the top four coming into this match-up. Stamenic holding in the midfield. His ninth start in a row in all competitions... although we already knew he wasn’t going to make it ten thanks to his yellow card suspension for the subsequent Champions League game away to Sevilla.
The Midtjylland game was all sorts of feisty. A couple old rivals both desperate for points... needless to say Stamenic got a yellow card in amongst it all. First man in the book after 25 minutes for arriving slightly late on the scene for a tackle, stepping across Gustav Isaksen and gently chopping him down. Wasn’t too much in it, clear foul, though the ref allowed play to continue for an advantage before coming back to give Marko a shock when he realised the card was coming...
That was his only foul all game though. Made five interceptions. Completed his passes at 84.6%. It was another assured and impressive performance from the 20 year old kiwi midfielder and after his team took the lead 31’ they were in a great spot to push on for a massive three points. FCM didn’t hold back, getting the ball in the net after an hour but an obvious free kick was called after they’d clattered into the FCK goalie. More niggle in a very niggly game (there were five yellow cards for each team). Enjoyable footballing activities.
Then Midtjylland smashed both the crossbar and the post from the one free kick before a brilliant defensive challenge prevented the follow-up being converted. Big vibes for Copenhagen, celebrating that clearance like it was a goal. And then it was a goal. Because the VAR took a peek and spotted that the ball had actually crossed the line by a tiny margin off the post. 1-1 after 72 minutes. But all goods because FCK went and won a penalty with five to play... oh no wait Viktor Claesson missed it. Bugger. There were further chances for Copenhagen as they finished the stronger team but couldn’t make those count either. Gotta settle for the 1-1 draw instead.
Then they lost 3-0 to Sevilla in the Champions League. No Marko Stamenic due to his suspension and without him it didn’t go fantastic. The midfield injury plague at the club has been very beneficial to Stamenic but it was another indication of that plague that without MS they started an 18 year old academy debutant, William Clem, in his place. Granted that fella actually played really well.
Sevilla looked the stronger team throughout yet it was still 0-0 after an hour. FCK had their chances in there too – including Clem hitting the woodwork. Then Youssef En-Nesyri scored for the home team but even then it was only at the very end that things got out of reach for Copenhagen, who rattled the frame again soon after conceding.
Sadly, late goals for Isco (88’) and Gonzalo Montiel (90+2’) as well as a stoppage time red card for Davit Khocholava (90+5’) turned that into an unflattering 3-0 defeat which not only eliminates them from any hope of making the knockouts but almost surely means they won’t finish third either for the Europa League parachute. There is one more UCL game against Dortmund next week and Stamenic will be back for that bad boy. Just gonna have to make the most of it.
Up Next: 3am on Sunday away to Randers in the Superliga, then 9am on Thursday at home against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League (NZT)
Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)
A midweeker away against Dundee United was a game that Celtic expected to win and it didn’t take them long to prove it. Jacynta and Clarissa Larisey both scored within the first ten minutes as Celtic took an emphatic lead (Liv Chance played a part in the build up for the second goal). Things carried on that way until the second half despite plenty of opportunities then eventually Caitlin Hayes headed in from a corner after 69 mins. Chance was replaced with quarter of an hour to go. Tegan Bowie added another for a 4-0 Celtic win to have them top of the ladder on goal difference. Pretty routine, to be honest.
But there was a shocker to follow in the Sky Sports Cup. Celtic won both cup competitions last season (finishing third in the league) but their defence of this one, the secondary cup, is already over as they went out on penalties to Spartans. Clarissa Larisey had given them another early lead after only 12 minutes but a straight red card for Jacynta later in the half proved a spanner in the works.
Liv Chance had originally been left on the bench but was subbed on at half-time after what had happened. Celtic still created some good moments with ten women only they weren’t able to convert any which left them vulnerable to the 92nd minute equaliser that they shipped back the other way. Chance herself had a couple decent shots, including one in extra time. Nothing that stuck. 1-1 after 120 minutes (82 of those minutes played with only ten players) and they subsequently went down 4-2 on penalties. Chance didn’t take one.
Up Next: Massive game, the first meeting of any of the top three as Celtic travels to face Glasgow City at 5.10am on Monday (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)
There were no such SPFL Cup hiccups for Vic Esson or Meikayla Moore. Rangers won 5-0 against Motherwell in their quarter-final while Glasgow City beat Glasgow Women 9-0. Except neither of them actually played. Esson was also an unused sub for the 1-0 midweek league win away to Hibernian – she played all the Champions League qualifiers so now the coach is probably making it up to Jenna Fife with a run of matches.
Meanwhile Moore was suspended. And the reason for that came in a 5-0 midweek win over the same Glasgow Women opponents a few days earlier. Beat them 14-0 combined over a couple of days lol. But amidst an otherwise comprehensive victory there was an incident in the second half that didn’t quite go as planned.
Glasgow City FC: “Shortly afterwards, a rare furrow forward from the home side would result in defender Meikayla Moore being red carded. The New Zealand international was originally booked for the offence, but the card was upgraded a straight red shortly afterwards after the linesman intervened as he informed the referee that he believed she was the last defender.”
It occurred after Moore was left to clean up some sloppy play out from the back. With the goalie out of position after a pass across goal had been intercepted, Moore chopped down her opponent for an instant whistle... but as the match report said it was only a yellow initially. Mouse copped it on the chin and helped the forward up. Then she took her place in the defensive wall as the ref talked it over with the assistant before returning to upgrade it to a red. Somewhat harsh as the touch was leading the play back towards the left back though you can understand why they saw it that way.
Watch the foul (and the aftermath) from around 6:24 in the highlights package...
It was 3-0 when Moore was sent off. Glasgow City ended up scoring twice more on the road to victory and thanks to the quick turnaround for the League Cup quarter-final, which was likely to see a rotated XI anyway, she’s already now served her suspension.
Up Next: Once again, it’s GC vs Celtic at 5.10am on Monday (NZT)
Erin Nayler - Umeå IK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Wild scenes in the Eskilstuna vs Umeå game. Nayler’s team are trying to pick up valuable points to stay in the top division of Sweden and they very nearly scored first but for the opposition keeper to make a strong save rushing out on a 1v1. That was after 15 mins. Soon afterwards they conceded instead. Good cross from the right wing and Nayler couldn’t do much as a fizzed past her for a tap-in at the back post but only minutes later they were level as Emma Santamäki smashed in a tidy finish.
Unfortunately then came two screamer long-range goals from Eskilstuna, one a looping curler and the other a grass-cutter, both of which eluded Nayler’s dives and it was 3-1 to the home side. Umeå kept battling and pulled one back on 63’ as Sarah Katariina Kosola beat a defender and curled in a beauty of a goal. Yet Eskilstuna finished stronger with another goal for a 4-2 win. Gave it a good crack however the quality of those goals they allowed was a bit much to handle. Highlights here.
That result was expected. Other more targettable games are the ones which that’ll define UIK’s quest to avoid relegation. The problem this week occurred elsewhere as Kalmar, the only team they can catch in order to guarantee their safety, were able to draw 2-2 away at Linköping. There’s now a three-point difference between those two teams on the ladder with UIK being three goals worse on their GD. Two weeks remain in the season.
Up Next: Umeå vs Brommapojkarna at midnight on Saturday/Sunday in their most winnable remaining match (NZT)
Stefan Marinovic - Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israeli Premier League)
A second consecutive clean sheet for Stefan Marinovic. His team didn’t win, held to a 0-0 draw away to Hapoel Hadera, but that’s because his strikers couldn’t put the ball in the net. And when they did with two minutes remaining it was offside. Couple superb saves by Marinovic in the highlights including one diving to tip a shot onto the post. It’s been an awful start to the season for HTA so hopefully this means they’re sorting things out now.
Up Next: Home to H.Kiryat Shmona at 7.15am on Monday (NZT)
Max Crocombe - Grimsby Town (English League Two)
More goalkeeping yarns as Max Crocombe continued his excellent run of performances with a midweeker against Barrow in which he made about 4-5 wonderful saves/claims/punches including this belter from a first half penalty. Kept his team in it for most of the match... until he was finally beaten by a 75th minute Billy Waters effort as Barrow went on to win 1-0. He also kept a clean sheet on the weekend in a 0-0 home draw against Bradford City.
Up Next: Hartlepool vs Grimsby Town on Sunday at 3am (NZT)
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