Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

The rapid rise of Alex Greive continues unabated. How’s this for a month’s work?

• 18 January 2022 – Alex Greive’s transfer to St Mirren is confirmed

• 18 January 2022, evening – Alex Greive makes his Scottish Premiership debut off the bench in a 2-1 win over Dundee United

• 26 January 2022 – After a couple more subs appearances for St Mirren, Greive is called up to replace an unavailable Andre De Jong in the All Whites squad, his first senior call-up

• 28 January 2022 – Alex Greive makes his national team debut off the bench against Jordan

• 5 February 2022 – Alex Greive returns to St Mirren after international duty and immediately makes his starting debut in a 1-0 win over Hibernian

• 9 February 2022 – Alex Greive scores his first goal for St Mirren, the 49th minute winning goal in a 2-1 win over St Johnston having earlier won the penalty from which they’d equalised

There ya go. Alex Greive not only scored the winner for St Mirren in that game, a lovely bit of movement to the back post to earn a simple finish on the end of a superb Greg Kiltie cross, but he also won the penalty that equalised things for them late in the first half. Holding his own in the area and copping a shove in the back for it. Good solid centre-forward play as he continues to start in place of the injured Eamonn Brophy and continues to look like an absolute natural.

Probably shoulda had another assist deep into stoppage time too as he slide one wide for Kiltie on the counter attack but Kiltie put it into the stands with a heavy slice. No dramas. This was the fourth game that he’s appeared in and the fourth win that The Buddies have managed in those appearances. Suffice to say they weren’t ripping off wins like this earlier in the campaign.

It’s not only the end product that’s earned him his accolades either. It’s been more about the massive work rate that he’s shown since day one and, increasingly so as he gets more minutes, the hard yards that he’s doing holding the ball up and facilitating things. He’s making those angled runs to avoid defenders and he’s also using his body well in order to hold off defenders. That physical aspect to the Scottish Prem could easily have been the toughest transition for him but nah all goods. If you don’t believe it then just ask the gaffer because he’s absolutely loving what he’s seeing...

He wasn’t just saving that chat for the camera either, this was manager Jim Goodwin embracing Alex Greive immediately after the full time whistle...

Buzzing, brah.

And then, because why not, he went and scored the first in a 4-0 cup win over Kelty Hearts on the weekend. 15th minute strike, lurking with purpose after left-back Richard Tait acrobatically struck one off the post, Greivesy there to head it over the line from close range. Jordan Jones (50’) and Greg Kiltie (58’ & 85’) then added more in the second half for a comfortable win that puts them into the last eight.

Greieve’s pressing work shutting down the passing lane to the goalie also led directly to the fourth goal even if he didn’t actually touch the ball. And that was the in the 85th minute of his second game in four days. This is what the coach was talking about. Superb energy even late in a game where the result was already in the bag. Good times.

Up Next: Livingston vs St Mirren, Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

Here’s the bad news...

Yeah, she’s about to fly off for Football Ferns duty across the Atlantic Ocean. And Spurs were already seemingly gonna win this game against Birmingham. She’d done her job for the afternoon. But that late replacement did end Ria Percival’s status as an everpresent player in the WSL this season. Three missing minutes drops her to 99.6% status, the ninth-to-last player to step out of the race. Teammate Molly Bartrip is among the eight players left who’ve played every minute. Ah well.

Now that the stink part is out of the way, here’s the good news...

Second goal of the season for Percy, this one from a lot closer range than her first WSL goal against Man United. The Birmingham goalie was actually booked for arguing for an offside in the aftermath. Looked like she had a strong case too, to be fair, however the ball may have come off the defender (who wasn’t appealing) in which case no dramas. That’s what was ruled anyway. Note the late run into the area from midfield... pure Ria Percival. In the 85th minute too. No let up. She was then subbed before the ball was kicked off again.

Spurs had some trouble with Birmingham in the first half. Veatriki Sarri forced a save with a strong low effort after holding off Ria Percival in transition. 18 mins gone and they could easily have been down. Meanwhile they weren’t exactly setting the house on fire on attack either. Jess Naz had a nice run up the right, missing her cross and then heading wide as it came back in. Shelina Zadorsky headed into the side-netting from a corner kick. Not much doing.

But in the second half they found their groove. Percival looked like she might bring the breakthrough but was closed down in a hurry after Rachel Williams had played her in. That was after 60 mins. Five later she was there in the area trying to glance a chipped cross/shot from Naz but didn’t get a touch on it. Nevertheless, she might have obstructed the keeper’s vision because said keeper then spilled the ball at the feet of Ashleigh Neville who made no mistake. 1-0 to Spurs. One-way traffic from then on. Williams had a header saved. Neville hit the follow-up onto the bar. She later put one wide at the far post. But eventually Percival got that second goal and Spurs won it 2-0. Highlights here.

Good convincing win, especially in the second half. Ria Percival was excellent. 89.7% passing success, three blocks, three tackles, more than twenty defensive pressures... and a goal. With Manchester United losing to Manchester City in the derby, this 2-0 win over the bottom team was enough to lift Spurs up to third place again going into the international break.

Up Next: Bit of a wait until Reading vs Tottenham, 7 March at 3am (NZT)

Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)

He didn’t score but Chris Wood’s third game for Newcastle United was yet another huge step forward as he gets used to his new Geordie mates. Newcastle were up against Everton, who’d just sacked Rafa Benitez as manager in worry of slipping down towards that relegation scrap, and the Magpies did their bit to drag them down further with a 3-1 win in which Chris Wood’s physicality in the front line was a key undercover factor.

There were some sketchy moments in the first half. Jonjo Shelvey was lucky to escape with only a yellow after a hard foul on Anthony Gordon and soon afterwards Everton took the lead via a Jamaal Lascalles own goal in the 36th minute. Everton hanging on through some early pressure and then striking themselves. But 108 seconds after going behind, Newcastle were back level. Lascalles making amends with a header off the crossbar that then went in via Mason Holgate for an own goal. Trading oggies in the first half.

Everton lost both Demarai Gray and Yerri Mina to injuries in that opening stanza. Yet they were still level at the break after Joelinton missed a comical one in stoppage time following some typically scintillating work from Allan Saint-Maximin. Chris Wood had one great chance late first half too. Ryan Fraser’s partially blocked shot had looped up towards him but he couldn’t get the power or direction on his header and it was straight at Jordan Pickford for an easy save.

Ten minutes into the second spell, Newcastle took a deserved lead. Obviously ASM was crucial with a burst of speed to get to the byline and dink one over to where Ryan Fraser was hovering, just in front of Chris Wood, and the Scotsman buried it. Everton then rarely looked like threatening a second goal. Even if they had it wouldn’t have mattered because Kieran Trippier smacked a mint free kick right into the bottom corner in the 80th min to confirm the points in a 3-1 victory. Great win. Lifted them out of the relegation zone.

You do feel a bit stink for Chris Wood at times, knowing that he’s desperate for a goal and yet several times throughout these first few games he’s had to strike a pose with two arms raised screaming for a pass that never arrived. Allan Saint-Maximin is a regular culprit there, though to be fair ASM was outrageously good against Everton so can’t complain too much. There was a notable one earlier in the game too when Jonjo Shelvey shot instead of crossing. The integration of a new signing goes both ways after all. Wood’s getting used to these dudes, but these dudes are getting used to Wood too.

He did get the ball into the back of the net in the 77th minute but he was comfortably offside so it was never any chance of counting...

Needless to say, he probably woulda preferred the earlier cross from ASM rather than having to follow up on a shot by which time he’d strayed beyond.

Luckily goals aren’t the only things that matter in how Chris Wood performs for this team. His hold up play was once again really impressive as he was continually used as a target man – 21 aerial duels, far and away the most in this match. Not as successful passing out of those areas as he had been in the previous match but he was still an important outlet. Don’t have to look too far to see him dropping in to collect the ball and then spread it to Joelinton in the build up for the second goal.

No doubt plenty of folks have missed that impact... but his manager sure hasn’t. After confirming that Callum Wilson’s injury is worse than initially feared and that he may only return in time for the final few games of the campaign, Eddie Howe took the opportunity to lavish some praise upon his kiwi big man...

“It’s worth highlighting Chris Wood’s impact. I think his physicality and ability to make life very uncomfortable for the opposing centre-halves has been key as well in the last couple of games. The balance of the team’s been very good. He’ll want that goal, but, I think, it’s not lost on me the difference his presence and physicality have made to that front line. There’s been a lot of balls he’s had no right to get a touch on, or just knock a defender, than means we’re able to get up the pitch and spend longer in their half. Also his work rate and team work. He’s covered for Maxi [Allan Saint-Maximin] a couple of times when he’s out of position. For a striker of his type to do those unselfish things has made a big difference. I don’t think you can under-estimate all the aspects of his way that have helped the team.”

Choice there from Eddie. The Woodsman and friends were then back at it against Aston Villa at home on Monday morning NZT – a ground which has seen a lot of success against their opponents and their opponents’ manager. Apparently Steven Gerrard lost more games as a player at St James Park than he did at Old Trafford. Meanwhile the Villans haven’t won there since that infamous Lee Bowyer vs Kieron Dyer match (which Wellington Phoenix fans might choose to prefer to remember as the game in which Steven Taylor was sent off for a legendary handball).

Newcastle started okay, albeit neither team was creating a lot. Chris Wood made one lovely stuttered run to the near post after 12 mins but Ryan Fraser’s cross was too close to the keeper. Quarter of an hour after that Fraser did manage to lift a useful ball into the area that Wood got his head to but wasn’t able to get it on target. Still, his flick-ons were causing trouble whenever Fraser or Saint-Maximin were able to get on the end of them.

It was largely a midfield arm-wrestle but around 33 minutes into the fixture we did have ourselves a major moment. Joe Willock had the ball just outside the area and Wood made that angled run looking for the little touch in behind except Willock chose to dribble instead of pass (Wood’s fast getting used to that). It almost worked out perfectly for Wood as Willock was chopped down and a penalty was awarded.

With Callum Wilson being the usual spot kick taker, you’d have thought Wood was likely to get to do the honours... but that pesky VAR intervened and proved (conclusively) that the foul had occurred outside the area. Didn’t matter in the big picture. Kieran Tripper stepped up and smashed it in via a slight deflection. Second direct free kick goal in a week for Trips. Beckham-esque.

Wood had another chance late in the half when he collected the ball in space outside the box with the defence backtracking and, rather than slide the ball over to Ryan Fraser, he chose the greedy option of having a pop from distance. He dug it out. Put it high and wide – probably not an option he takes if he’s not feeling the pressure of not having scored for his new team yet. Granted, a centre-forward’s gotta have some licence to pull the trigger.

It was a deserved Newcastle lead at the break thanks largely down to how well they’d limited Villa’s attack. Coutinho was a mere spectator. However that changed in the second half as Newcastle’s attacking threat largely dried up. Didn’t help that they’d had to replace both fullbacks. Javier Manquillo went off late first half, Kieran Tripper went off early second. Matt Targett was already missing too. Thus they got a bit too narrow and Villa began playing higher up the pitch and after an hour it was 1-1.

Well, for a few minutes anyway. Lucas Digne with the overlap, Coutinho diverted his cross, Ollie Watkins nodded in an easy one at the far post... yet after a long VAR review it turned out he was offside by half a toe-length. Magpies survived and then ground it out from there in a game made disjointed by injuries, fouls, and even a medical event in the crowd that led to a pause in proceedings. All of which worked in Newcastle’s favour in holding on for another crucial three points. 1-0 final score.

Not at their most fluent by any means. ASM did have a few sizzling runs in the last half hour but nothing they could capitalise on. Chris Wood, as with last game, spent stretches at the end defending on the left wing covering for Saint-Maximin in his unselfish way. In fact, you know how Eddie Howe keeps shoehorning in Chris Wood praise? Well, he was asked about the clean sheet here and still managed to talk about his striker...

Up Next: One of Woodsy’s favourite opponents, West Ham United, away from home on Sunday at 1.30am (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

One more step towards the Championship title (and promotion) for Liverpool as they beat Sunderland 3-0. Keeps them 10 points clear of London City Lionesses. Also means they’ve still only conceded 5 league goals all season (15 games).

Meikayla Moore was subbed on for the last quarter of an hour. The score was still only 1-0 at that stage, after a Katie Stengel penalty early in the second half, although Neve Herron being sent off for the foul that led to that spottie meant the game was more in the Reds’ control than it might usually seem at 1-0. Sunderland had a few good moments in the first spell but nothing much to speak of after going down to ten women. Merely a matter of whether there’d be any more Liverpool goals.

Leanne Kiernan had hit the crossbar in the 70th min. Prior to that a throw-in from Megan Campbell had gone directly into the net but it didn’t count as a goal since nobody touched it. Finally Stengel set up Yana Daniels with five to play to clinch it. Then Missy Bo Kearns scored a stoppage time penalty after Stengel was fouled. Stengel with a goal and two assists – she’s been an outstanding midseason addition to the squad. 14 league games unbeaten now for Liverpool. They’re absolutely bossing it.

Up Next: International break first, then when they come back it’s Liverpool vs Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday 28 Feb at 1am (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

Quality yarns from Libby as he faced the media for the first time as an Empoli player. Does the presser predominantly in English too, if you’re wondering. Talks about how once Empoli expressed interest in him he was immediately down for a deal. Always been his dream to play in Italy. Reckons he only had 2-3 trainings prior to his debut but he felt he did well and was glad his coach showed faith in him. All them things.

Libby didn’t play on the weekend though. He was named on the bench as Empoli hosted Walter Mazzarri’s Cagliari, two teams expected to be down in the relegation scrap this season. Cagliari definitely are but Empoli have established themselves handily in the mid-table. Another start for Fabiano Parisi at left-back, Cacace not getting the summons this time. So it goes.

Empoli took the lead on 37 minutes as Andrea Pinamonti scooped up an inlet pass from Nedim Bajrami after a quick transition and Pinamonti was able to strike it under his marker and into the bottom corner. Clever finish despite the traffic. It was a goal that had been coming too, as Empoli increased the heat after a slow beginning. First ten minutes they were slow to get going but then the referee went off injured and there was a long break as a replacement got changed and warmed up and all that. Empoli were then much better after that restart.

But they were second best in the second half. Cagliari continually pestered them and other than a VAR check for a handball, Empoli just didn’t do nearly enough on attack. Cagliari were able to hold a lot more of the ball and after pecking away they finally levelled up with six minutes remaining. Substitute Leonardo Pavoletti got the final touch, turning the ball home from close range after a scramble that had included a deflected shot being headed off the line moments earlier. Finished as a 1-1 draw. Empoli should’ve won but at least they’re still ticking points over, the Azzurri remaining 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Up Next: Sampdoria vs Empoli, Sunday at 3am (NZT)

Nando Pijnaker – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

Throughout a thrilling January of transfers involving New Zealand footballers, it would have been nice to get a Ryan De Vries contract extension with Sligo Rovers after two fine years there. But considering that they’ve signed a new striker and reallocated his #9 jersey it seems that ain’t about to happen or it would have already done so by now. However there’s been fair consolation in the form of Nando Pijanker signing on loan from Rio Ave for the upcoming 2022 season.

Pijnaker doesn’t really appear to have a future at Rio Ave. He signed there from Grasshoppers Zürich in August 2020 but only played for the youth teams as the Portuguese side were relegated and then still wasn’t getting games in the second tier so he went out on loan to FC Helsingør to link up with the bros Callum McCowatt and Elijah Just... but only played one league game for them in his four-month loan. He only made two senior league appearances for Grasshoppers too – a club that was also relegated around his time there, just before he arrived in this case. Now he’s joined Sligo Rovers hoping for a little more luck this time.

The fact that this loan for the full 2022 Irish Premier League suggests that Rio Ave aren’t too worried about things given that it overlaps two Portuguese seasons. The end of this one and then the first few months of the next one – and most crucially the preseason in between. This does smell like trying to wind down the rest of his contract (although alternatively it could simply be that they want to see him get some extended senior level games first while they reserve judgement).

But that’s all good for Nando so long as he can actually get some senior games. Sligo Rovers finished third last season which was good enough to get them back into Europa Conference League qualifying for the second straight season. However Pijnaker may have a similar struggle as he had at Helsingør when it comes to game time, at least at first. Both his own quotes and especially those of his coach regarding this transfer made a point of acknowledging that he’s not exactly coming in at the top of the pecking order.

Nando Pijnaker: “It’s fantastic to be here. It’s a move that appealed to me and my main motivation is to play matches and help the team. I know the season is 36 games plus Cup football and European games so I know a chance will come at some point and I will take it. I spoke with the manager a couple of times and I was impressed by what he said. He had been speaking with my agent and I felt this was a good opportunity to go to a team playing European football at a good standard as well.”

Manager Liam Buckley: “We’re very pleased to bring in Nando. He’s done well with his country in the Olympics last year. Rio Ave are keen for him to get game time at this stage of his career so we’re delighted to have him with us this season. Nando has a lot of what you want from a defender in terms of his height, strength, his tackling and also his distribution as well. He’s coming into a new league but we feel he can do well here. We do have Garry Buckley, Shane Blaney, Robbie McCourt can slot in there, and young Peter Maguire is coming through, but with the loss of John Mahon it was important to bring in another defender at centre-half. He’s come in with a good level of fitness and we’ll integrate him into the group. He’ll be ready to play from the off and it’s great to have him training with us today. I’ve no doubt he’ll be contributing over the course of the year and I can see by the conversations we’ve had that he is extremely keen to make an impact with us.”

Sligo Rovers definitely feels like a positive environment based on RDV’s time there. They’re not gonna be struggling against the tide of relegation (where a young defender may be seen as too much of a risk) or steadfastly working towards promotion (and averse to line-up tinkering) like at his last three clubs. Although they did lose their top scorer, 18 year old Johnny Kenny, to Celtic last month so with De Vries also gone there’s pressure on their attack. But opportunities should arise over the course of a full season.

Pijnaker arrived just in time to make his unofficial club debut in Sligo Rovers’ final preseason fixture. A 3-1 win over Althone Town. He played the full ninety minutes and nearly scored early on off a cross that was just out of his reach. We’ll see if his performance (and the match fitness) was enough to get him into the matchday squad for the League of Ireland season opener next weekend.

Also funky that everywhere Pijnaker has gone in his career has come in the wake of other compatriots. When he signed for GZ Zurich, Max Mata was already there. When he went to Rio Ave, it was a year after Ollie Whyte had spent a season with their U19 team. When he went to FC Helsingør obviously he was reunited with Ole Academy mates McCowatt and Just. Now he’s at Sligo Rovers where Ryan De Vries played the last two seasons. Time to pop a bet on a Nando x Newcastle 2023 move.

Up Next: Home to Bohemians on Sunday at 8.45am (NZT)

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

Jahn Regensburg dropped out of the lead charge for promotion after some pretty mixed form going into the winter break but there’s no better way to revive those prospects than to drop the best team in the division. That’s the task they had ahead of them as St Pauli came to town. The same St Pauli that knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the German Cup recently. Sarpreet Singh amongst the starters as always. Good fun.

The fun didn’t last long though. Singh had a couple nice touches in transition early on but St Pauli weren’t messing around, Guido Burgstaller forcing a quality save inside three minutes with a long range strike and that early warning was not heeded. Seventh minute of the match and Etienne Amenyido was able to bring down a cross unmarked in the box and stab the ball home for the opening goal. Then the same bloke dashed into the area soon after and was chopped down by the Regensburg keeper for a penalty. Burgstaller stepped up and made it 2-0 from the spot. And they could’ve easily had another inside quarter of an hour. Kiiiinda disastrous start for Regensburg.

It settled down after that, it had to. But Singh was a distant figure for most of the first half as St Pauli always looked more likely to score the next goal. SSV Jahn survived through until the half without further damage but only thanks to a few crosses that went astray and a goalkeeping scramble off the line.

For a wee while, those missed opportunities from St Pauli threatened to let Regensburg right back into it. 56th minute and a Sarpreet Singh corner was lifted deep to where Max Besuschkow tried to drive it goalwards, unsuccessfully, and Andreas Albers was there to divert it on target with his head to make it 2-1. Not an assist for Singh but still a goal that came about through his set piece delivery at least.

In the wake of that goal, the Redshorts suddenly became a genuine participant in the contest. A couple threatening moments getting the ball in or around the penalty area. But St Pauli had been a threat all evening whenever they could find a little space for their attackers and before long they had that elusive third to stretch it back out again. Burgstaller with the simple square ball and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh with the tap-in finish after they’d scrambled that Jahn defence.

Singh put in a mint cross with twenty to play that was headed over. Regensburg not giving up the ghost quite yet. And in the 73rd minute they scored a second. Long ball by the keeper, flicked in behind the defensive line, and a slight hesitation from a defender allowed David Otto to slip it into the bottom corner. They subsequently survived a golden chance for St Pauli’s captain Burgstaller who blasted over after getting goalside of his marker. And then it really got fun.

Regensburg with cross after cross into the area. Besuschkow almost curled in a beauty. Singh was always a threat with those corner kick deliveries. Long throws were another outlet. It was full steam ahead for a prospective equaliser. Having sleepwalked through most of the first half, now SSV were the aggressors. Steve Breitkreuz drilled one narrowly wide. Albers couldn’t quite turn a long ball inside the far post. A lot of this directness made Singh a supporting act as he’d make a sneaky run into a pocket of space only to see the ball lifted deep over his head instead... but he was always lurking. Sadly they ran out of time. Despite the frantic final fifteen minutes of efforts they couldn’t find a third goal, going down 3-2 in defeat. A sixth defeat in their last eight games.

Up Next: Away to Nürnburg, Singh’s previous loan club, on Sunday at 8.30am (NZT)

Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

Two massive games this week, starting with a Prem clash away to Glasgow City, the perennial Scottish footy champs. With Celtic hanging off the end of the title race this was a match they needed to win to stay in the hunt... but they didn’t.

In all honesty they were pretty well beaten too. Went behind on 12 mins to an Ode Fulutudilu goal and weren’t able to find much of a spark throughout. Charlie Wellings did have a 1v1 opportunity that she couldn’t convert. Also it might’ve been a different game had a savage looking tackle attempt from Niamh Farrelly on Chloe Craig ended in a red card, which is surely should have. Both players needed treatment after colliding going for a bouncing ball but it was Farrelly’s boot that went sprigs up on Craig – who played on despite the incident drawing blood whereas Farrelly had to be replaced at the half.

Celtic did have some good spells to start the second half but then Glasgow City scored a decisive second through Tyler Dodds in the 57th min and also managed to hit both the post and the crossbar in that half. Any hope of a late comeback was then spoiled when Celtic had to finish the game with ten players and an outfielder in goal. Fran Alonso had already made his five changes in an attempt to get them back into the contest before Chloe Logan got hurt, causing Caitlin Hayes to have to pop on the gloves.

2-0 to Glasgow City the final score. Rangers should probably go on to win the title. They’re sitting seven points clear of Celtic with a game in hand. Glasgow City are second, two points behind Rangers having also played an extra fixture. This, of course, was also a major blow in Celtic’s Champions League hopes as only the top two go through to qualifiers.

But they bounced back smoothly on the weekend with a thrilling 2-1 win over Rangers. This was a Scottish Cup fourth round fixture and one of the best performances that the Ghirls have produced all season. Survived an early scare before striking in the 26th minute as Clarissa Larisey’s perseverance saw her poke a toe in between defender and goalie, as it looked like Rangers had the through ball covered, and it crept over the line. Liv Chance with the pass that led to the pass in that move, flicking it away from a midfielder so that Sarah Harkes could lift it into the area.

It seemed for sure that Rangers would equalise when Celtic’s backup keeper (17yo Rachael Johnstone) was caught out of position but Chloe Craig got back on the line to clear Brogan Hay’s attempt. However Demi Vance did eventually make it 1-1 before the half was over, nodding back across goal with a find header. Don’t panic. Celtic came out in a hurry for the second stanza and had Rangers on the ropes with a few chances. Before long that led to a lil dose of this...

Some back and forth in the area there but we’ll still give the assist to Liv Chance for the first-time cross. Picking up the scraps from the cleared corner and sending them back with interest. Chloe Craig was credited with the goal (deserved that after the week she’d had). Rangers did what they could in the time remaining but couldn’t break through. Celtic advance to the fifth round with a 2-1 win. Probably out of the league title race now but they’re still on for a cup double having already won the League Cup earlier in the season.

Up Next: Celtic vs Hearts , 3am on Monday though Liv Chance will miss that one on international duty (NZT)

Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

The Liigacup is basically a preseason tournament, the secondary cup competition which begins with a group stage before the Veikkausliiga. Same way they do it in Sweden. Anyway, FC Haka have played their first two Liigacup fixtures and bagged a 1-1 draw in each of them. Ollie Whyte came on with ten mins to play against FC Honka and actually set up the 89th minute leveller. It was a short corner hit to Janne-Pekka Laine who then scored a ripper of a striker from the edge of the box. Handy introduction.

Logan Rogerson didn’t play that match, not in the squad, but he came off the bench in the next one while Ollie Whyte was given his first start – the pair overlapping for about 10 mins. That game was a 1-1 draw with Ilves. Whyte wears 7, Rogerson wears 11. Rog had one decent turning volley on target in search of a winner. There’s one more group stage game and a win should put them through into the knockouts later in the campaign.

Up Next: Thursday 24 Feb at 4am, FC Lahti vs Haka, Liigacup footy (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

The struggle is real for Colchester but they keep managing to grind out just enough points to stay out of reach of any serious trouble. This week served up two fixtures. First off was a midweeker away against Mansfield Town, a team on a long unbeaten streak, who dutifully dominated a lot of that first half and took the lead on 19 mins as Rhys Oates sprinted straight at the CU defence on the break and then slammed in a quality finish from twenty yards out. Superb goal.

Colchester kept themselves in the match for quite a while. Tommy Smith started at CB and almost helped level things up straight after as he lost his marker off a corner but misplaced his header back across goal. He was also the one who nudged a kick back towards his goalie getting tangled up in a scramble, with Sam Hornby for some reason scooping it up and thus conceding a rare indirect free kick inside the area. The touch-and-shot went over the bar though.

Colchester’s best moment was a 58th minute intercept by Freddie Sears who wasn’t able to capitalise. At the other end Hornby made a couple sharp saves but ultimately the pressure did tell as Tom Eastman left a foot in to concede a late penalty which Jordan Bowery converted in the 92nd minute. There was still time for Alan Judge to pull one back in the sixth minute of stoppage time but there wasn’t enough time left for anything else. 2-1 to Mansfield the final score. Snaps a run of four games without a win for CUFC (albeit three were draws).

The U’s were back at home on the weekend for a visit from Carlisle. Tom Eastman returned to the starting line-up but Smithy still hung in there as they went with a back three. Good thing he did too. But first a word from the man himself...

After a quiet first half punctuated by a couple of rare chances, Colchester with the better of them, Carlisle took a 51st minute lead as Omari Patrick sliced inside from the left and curled in a fine strike. Yet the lead lasted only until the 69th minute. At which point a slice of cornerkickery led to this...

Get in there. Smithy’s always been a prominent goal scorer for a defender. He’d regularly pop up with a cheeky banger for Ipswich Town, going six straight seasons with 3+ goals during his peak. When he was playing MLS he scored 6 goals in 60 games – the two current kiwi MLS dudes, Michael Boxall and Bill Tuiloma, have 8 combined goals in 213 matches. This was his first of the current season but he did bag two for Colchester last campaign.

It got even better for the U’s when, five mins later, substitute Tyreik Wright was able to get a shot away at the third attempt and he thumped it into the roof of the net. Colchester coming from behind to lead 2-1 with quarter of an hour left... but in the 86th they left Tobi Sho-Silva unmarked in the box, everyone appealing for offside, and his low header ensured it ended 2-2.

Hard to see whether he was off or not from the highlights as Sho-Silva isn’t in the frame as the cross comes in from Joe Cook. In fairness, he was onside at the last moment you can see him and the closest defender, the right back, was the only dude who didn’t appeal. Ah well. Yet another draw for Colchester but at least they’re losing a lot less regularly now.

Up Next: Northampton Town vs Colchester, Sunday at 3am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

ED.nl: “At PSV, in addition to Ramalho, Maxi Romero (muscle injury) and Ryan Thomas (knee) are also out. Romero will return in April and there is no prognosis for Thomas yet. Schmidt hopes to see him in action this season, but is not sure if that will be possible.”

That’s... not good news. We’ve gone from hoping he’d be back soon after the winter break to hoping he’ll be back at all this season. Injuries have just been so savage for Thomas since he joined PSV. Meanwhile his teammates bounced back from consecutive losses to Ajax and AZ with a 5-0 win over Vitesse following a 4-0 KNVB Cup quarter-final triumph over NAC Breda. Semis of the cup, still second on the ladder. Five points behind Ajax, one point clear of Feyenoord. Not to mention the Europa Conference League. Still heaps to play for. Hopefully Thommo gets to play some further part in all of it.

Up Next: PSV resume their European commitments with a Conference League playoff home leg against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Friday at 6.45am (NZT)

Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)

Good win for Padova. Needed to bounce back after dropping points in a 0-0 draw with Fiorenzuola last week and they did so. Albeit they had to come from a goal down to do it. Niko Kirwan didn’t play the Fiorenzuola match, he was left on the bench after a bit of rotation having played earlier in the week, but he was back out there for the full ninety.

Away against Seregno Calcio, Padova had been on top from the start but they fell behind when Roberto Marino ran onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and first-time volleyed it into the net for a lovely goal. But they levelled up on 39’ thanks to a wonderful Cosimo Chirico free kick and then Fabio Ceravolo put them into the lead literally eight seconds into the second half. Caught ‘em sleeping and slotted it. Kirwan nearly had an assist as a fine cross was headed towards goal by Ceravolo only for a great close save to deny him. Seregno put a fair bit of pressure on them late however Padova held on to remain eight points behind Südtirol in their conference standings.

Up Next: Thursday at 6am against Lecco, Monday at 2.30am away to Trento (NZT)

Ben Stroud – FC Jazz (Finnish Kakkonen)

Sneaky one here. Ben Stroud joining Finnish third tier club FC Jazz (outstanding name) for the upcoming season, having already spent a bit of time there as a trialist. Stroud is a Canterbury native who most recently played for Western Suburbs in the South Central Series. The 24 year old had a fine career at Missouri State University before that. Good solid central defender with a positive style of play.

Jani Uotinen, FC Jazz maanger: “The aim has been to find two players per position to maintain the competitive balance throughout the season. The team at this point appears to be ready to begin working towards our season ambitions. The scouting report seems to have been pretty good for Ben. Ben adapted to the team from the first moment and his leadership is what need. On the field, he takes on a very good role and plays the game with confidence. His athleticism reflects well on what he does little in every moment.”

This is third tier in Finland so not the highest level out there. But it’s a foot on the ladder of the professional scene for Stroud... and another example of an Ole Academy affiliated player moving to Scandinavia.

Up Next: Still in preseason mode for now

Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)

Good chat. Brøndby have polished off their Atlantic Cup efforts in Portugal and are back in Denmark now ahead of the Superliga resumption this weekend. Bell met up with the BIF squad after international duty so this is the first time he’ll have been around the club facilities and his new community/city and all that. Based on those preseason games, there’s no reason to worry about them easing him in though. Bellinho was signed to play.

Up Next: Nordsjlland vs Brøndby, Monday 21 February at 4am (NZT)

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