Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

Serie A ain’t no joke. We’re talking about one of the biggest leagues on the planet right here and Liberato Cacace popping up in the incoming transfer list for a top flight Italian club is what’s commonly referred to in the business as A Pretty Big Deal. Speaking of which, here’s a great quote here from the Empoli Sporting Director Pietro Accardi on the Cacace transfer:

“Initially we weren't looking for a full-back but we have always been vigilant because during the transfer market. You need flexibility and to be ready for something that wasn’t planned. We knew that [Riccardo] Marchizza was being talked about by other teams but we did not want to intervene in that department until the injury that forced us to do so arrived. Within the squad we know we have flexible players who could still fill that role, but at the in the end we decided to take a pure full-back like Cacace. The name is perhaps unknown to you but in the football scene it is a well-known name: we have been following him for some time, we have seen that he has grown a lot in recent years and today there was the possibility of signing him. I can say that he fits the expectations of an Empoli player: he is young, he has perspective, characteristics that go very well with [coach Aurelio] Andreazzoli's football philosophies. And when I talked to the boy, I found him ready to start, with the dream of playing in Italy and happy to do it in Empoli because he knew the history of this city and of this club.”

Yeah so Riccardo Marchizza is their first choice left-back, a fella in on loan from Sassuolo, but he suffered an anterior cruciate injury in their most recent game which will keep him out for the rest of the season. That was the impetus for Empoli going after Cacace as late in the window as they did – he would not have been an immediate target until that injury was confirmed with a week left before the deadline. But fascinating to see Accardi speak of Cacace as a “well-known name” within the football scene. Football scouting is pretty intense at top flight clubs. If you’re playing regularly in any decent European top division aged under 24 then people at least know who you are. Don’t even worry about that.

As for Andreazzoli himself, this is what he had to say specifically about Cacace ahead of the match against Bologna: “I didn't know of Cacace but I got a good impression from him that has been confirmed since he arrived here with us. The boy has very good qualities, strength, and experience for his age.”

All good yarns thus sure enough the fella was there on the bench as the team was named for the Bologna trip. Immediately into a Serie A matchday squad, that’s the one. Wearing the 21 jersey. Fabiano Parisi started at left-back in Empoli’s Christmas Tree formation (4-3-2-1), a young fullback the same age as Cacace who played 20-odd times last season as they were promoted but who has been back-up to the on-loan Marchizza this campaign.

Empoli have impressed with their smooth passing since making it back up into the top flight and there was plenty of that on show as they started this game nicely, able to work a few half-chances for striker Andrea Pinamonti. But Bologna proved to have more punch once they found their feet, with old mate Marko Arnautovic rattling the crossbar from miles out to go with a couple of tough saves forced. Not a first half with an overflow of shooting moments but Bologna had the edge... even if Nedim Bajrami did almost strike late for Empoli as he dinked one wide after a sneaky angled run into the area.

The second half was a better as Empoli evened out the balance of the contest although the constant fouls ensured that neither team was really able to get into their flow. It was still 0-0 with a little over twenty minutes to play when Bologna threw on Gambian AFCON hero Moussa Barrow while Empoli made a double change that just so happened to feature our headline act. Liberato Cacace on for his Serie A debut, the first New Zealander to ever play in the Italian top flight (La Liga in Spain is the only top five European league remaining without a kiwi in his history)...

His first direct action, typical for a fullback, was to take a throw in. He also fouled his opposite number on his first venture over halfway, let ‘em know you’re there, before having to do a bit of defending as Bologna threatened a breakthrough. Bounced off Marko Arnautovic at one point which is no soft feat (that moment is the feature pic for the highlights package below lol).

It had been an uneventful second half up until the substitutions were made but things opened up excitingly down the stretch as the teams sought a winner. Filippo Bandinelli forced a close-up save before Federico Di Francesco clipped the outside of the bar with a curler for Empoli and then it was Bologna’s turn to finish strong in their quest for a goal. Neither side managed to score in the end. Finished as a fairly split 0-0 draw. But at least it was fun.

Cacace earned a yellow card late on after getting beaten on the slice-turn down by his own corner flag, dragging his dude down rather than allowing him to carry on into the area. Blatant yellow card, no arguments. Empoli were able to deal with the set piece. Other than that he was really impressive from Libby. Showed a willingness to get on the ball, held his defensive position well including against a couple counter attacks, made good decisions with his passing, provided some energy. He definitely didn’t look out of place... this for a team he only signed for last week at a level above what he’s ever played before. The fella’s special, man.

Up Next: Chance for a home debut on Monday at 3am against Cagliari (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

Conti Cup semi-final time, a Thursday evening match in Manchester up against Man City. A team that they beat earlier on in the season and who they’re currently ahead of on the league table... but City have definitely roared back into form in recent times after overcoming a heap of injuries which had been holding them back. Ria Percival made an FA Cup final with West Ham a couple years back, now she had a chance to make a League Cup final with Spurs.

You already knew what shape this match was going to take as soon as it kicked off. City had a heap of possession while Spurs sat deep and compact and tried to hit them on the counter attack. It caused some cautious footy initially but the plan almost worked to perfection as Tottenham’s Jess Naz nicked the ball off the high City backline and ran through 1v1 with the keeper... only to slide it wide of the goal. Maybe needed to try and get around Ellie Roebuck instead. Massive chance gone awry.

Obviously they were going to pay for that and it wasn’t too much longer before City took the lead. 21st minute and the constantly dangerous Jess Park was able to receive the ball on the inside of Kerrys Harrop and the 20 year old glided her way into the area, Harrop unable to do anything for the risk of fouling, and Park drilled it across Becky Spencer in goal to open the scoring. Ten minutes later a deflected cross was kept alive at the back post by Park and Bunny Shaw was there to tap it in with no dramas. 2-0 to Man City.

Tottenham were able to tighten things back up the rest of the way into the half, one of the features of that being Ria Percival’s tireless coverage in the midfield – she took a stomp on the foot from Georgia Stanway inside the first couple minutes and as you’d expect that only fired her up more. Not as much of an attacking output from her though as she was tasked with playing deeper in a dual pivot with Maeva Clemaron rather than the more advanced role she’ll play against less ball-dominant teams.

Spurs kept up that scrappy trend throughout the second half without ever looking like they’d find the goal that’d get them back into the contest. Meanwhile City kept on pushing and probing. Lucy Bronze hit the post with a header. Plenty of other close calls. Finally, with twenty to play, Bronze chipped in a deep cross from the byline and Lauren Hemp headed it home to make it 3-0 and kill this one off for good. Spurs were never able to create any sustained pressure thus City were always comfortable. Percival was subbed with a couple of minutes remaining, teenaged Isabella Lane on in her place, and she looked exhausted as she got a pat on the back form the coach. 3-0 the final score.

So that was a bummer... but they did get a chance to make swift amends on the weekend when Brighton & Hove Albion came to visit and they didn’t take long in asserting themselves. Three changes to the League Cup semi but you don’t ever need to worry about the everpresent Ria Percival being one of them. Spurs had been bounced from both domestic cups in the previous seven days to go with their dipping WSL form. They needed a resurgent win. And in the 12th minute of this match they struck through Kyah Simon, lifting it over the advancing keeper after an excellent long ball from Molly Bartrip. Good reward for Spurs following a positive start.

It was a while before they could find another one though. Rachel Williams powered a header off the bar later in the first half but despite being in solid control for most of this match – Brighton have been struggling for results lately and only had 5 totals shots here with 0 on target – it wasn’t until Ashleigh Neville came off the bench to score in the 57th minute that Tottenham were able to reflect that. Neville dashing through onto a perfectly weighted ball from Ria Percival, bagging herself a cheeky assist...

After that Spurs ran rampant. Five minutes later it was a Percival deep free kick into the area which eventually led to Shelina Zadorsky tapping home their third goal of the arvo, following a bit of pinball in the area. And only one minute later Kyah Simon had her second goal with an easy back post finish after a lovely ball from Neville. Three or four 50/50s won in the build up to that goal showing the difference between the team in the ascendency and the team who knew they were beaten. Three goals in six minutes doing the trick for Tottenham’s biggest league win of the season, 4-0 the final score. Catch some highlights on the FA Player.

That assist was only Percy’s second of the WSL season, however with a 2.9 xA tally (fifth best in the comp) it’s clear that she’s been creating more than those two assists suggest. She has four Goal Creating Actions according to FB-Ref so maybe that’s more reflective when you look deeper than simply the final pass. As a team, Spurs have struggled to put goals away, tending to get results by those single-goal margins when they do. Hence why this blowout win over Brighton was huge for them.

Up Next: Birmingham vs Spurs, Monday at 3am (NZT)

Anna Leat – West Ham United (English Super League)

Australia’s Asian Cup trip didn’t last quite as long as they’d planned, going out to a late goal in a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to South Korea. That meant that West Ham’s Aussie internationals Mackenzie Arnold and Tameka Yallop were both back in London in time for the trip to Aston Villa. Yallop was rested having recently dealt with a bout of covid, something that gaffer Olli Harder can sympathise with having only just recovered from coronavirus himself. However Mackenzie Arnold was good to go which officially marked an end to Anna Leat’s stint as WHU’s starting goalkeeper. Ah well, so it goes. Might still get a game in the FA Cup away to Reading in a couple weeks.

The Hammers struck first. Scramble from a corner after the Villa keeper was unable to hold the initial ball in and Abbey-Leigh Stringer was eventually there to punch it home. 12 minutes played, West Ham 1-0 up. But this was far from a vintage outing and Aston Villa had them under a fair lot of pressure. Just before the half was out, they drew level. Penalty for the Villans. Kinda debatable but that’s football for ya. Alisha Lehmann, a former Hammer herself, stepped up to score.

But West Ham began the second half as well as they did the first with the in-form Kateřina Svitková scoring yet another banger in the 52nd minute and then Mackenzie Arnold did her best Anna Leat impression with some quality late saves to ensure that West Ham held on for the 2-1 victory. Olli Harder called it a “gritty” win. Up to seventh on the ladder now.

Up Next: Monday at 3am away to Leicester City (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

The rapid rise of Alex Greive continues. After appearing off the bench three times immediately after signing for St Mirren, then being selected for the All Whites where he made his international debut, he’s gone back to the Saints and straight away been given the start up front for a Premiership match away to Hibernian. Did so to some mean acclaim too, how about it...

Regular starting striker Eamonn Brophy was injured so Greive played at the top of a 4-2-3-1 formation where his main task was to run. A lot. Leading the press and trying to get in behind the Hibernian defence. That last bit wasn’t always possible against a pretty good team and as such, with Hibernian having almost double the total amount of shots as St Mirren managed to go with a very comfortable possession advantage, Greive was limited in what he could do. His 27 touches were the fewest of any of his teammates.

But that comes with the territory. The key thing was that he worked his arse off for as long as he was out there, showing a bit of tenacity when needed, and when St Mirren took the lead an hour in through a wonderful Connor Ronan strike after he’d won back the ball on the press... it was Alex Greive’s initial close-down movement that forced the defender into trouble and allowed Ronan to make the tackle. Sneakily crucial from the kiwi striker.

Greive was replaced with a little over twenty minutes remaining and The Buddies (wholesome nickname alert) were able to hang on (thanks in large part to their goalkeeper) for the 1-0 upset victory away from home. Another positive result going hand in hand with an Alex Greive appearance, what do ya know? AG did have one shot himself, a decent crack on target which forced a solid save.

Alex Greive to the Scottish D**** M***: “When you’re a kid, playing for your country is the one real thing you dream about. It’s real special, my parents were proud and all my friends back home were watching me make by debut. To get into the New Zealand squad, all the players are professional now and are playing overseas. Obviously, I felt coming to St Mirren would give me a better chance to make that team. However, I really didn’t expect it would happen quite so quickly. It was great to come back and get a win here on my first start for the club, very pleasing. The move has been a bit crazy but I’ve been here a couple of months now so I’ve had time to settle in.”

Up Next: Thursday at 8,4am against St Johnstone (NZT)

Katie Rood - Southampton (English National League Southern Premier)

Quarter-final of the National League Cup. Subbed on with quarter of an hour to play in a 0-0 match against Hashtag United. Both teams had missed plenty of chances to score along the way, with the Saints having the better of them along with their possession advantage. Katie Rood herself whipped one in towards goal, which the keeper was able to haul in at the second attempt, soon after she came on. But with mere minutes remaining it looked like it was gonna take extra time to split the two sides.

Then Katie Rood did this...

SouthamptonFC.com: “Just as the game appeared to be slowing in advance of extra-time, a long ball over the top was misjudged by backtracking defender Grace Gillard, allowing the ever-dangerous Rood to burst through before powering her right-footed effort off the underside of Riches’ crossbar and in at her near post. Jubilation.”

88th minute winner. After setting up an extra time winner last week in the FA Cup. Southampton won it 1-0 and advance into the semis of the National League Cup. Katie Rood now has three goals and two assists in her last four Saints appearances – all four matches coming in different competitions, funnily enough.

There’s a funky Flying Kiwis situation going on in the National League divisions. Only one team gets promoted between the Northern and Southern Premier conferences meaning there’s a playoff between the winners at the end of things. Southampton have to win a heap of games in hand if they’re going to finish first but it’s all in their own hands as things stand. That’s the South. And who is top in the North? Well, currently that’d be Wolves but Laura Merrin’s Fylde are only a couple points back. You never know.

Meanwhile in Division One, Newcastle United just went top of the Northern conference (there are four prongs to the fourth tier). They’ve played a game more than Liverpool Feds but are right there in the running after kiwi Rosie Missen came off the bench to set up an 86th minute Katie Barker winner in a 2-1 victory away to Durham this week. Go on then. Ashleigh Ward’s Actonians had a 2-1 win this week too in Division One South East, though they’re a way off from challenging for promotion as things stand.

Up Next: Bridgwater United vs Southampton on Monday at 3am in the NL South (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

Only got a cheeky three minutes at the end but the most important thing was that it was three more points for Liverpool. A 3-0 win (threes everywhere) over Coventry thanks to first half goals from Taylor Hinds (13’) and Leanne Kiernan (38’ + 45’). That makes it six wins in a row in the Championship; after 14 games they’re nine points clear at the top and with each subsequent win the likelihood of them getting promoted feels more and more inevitable. They’ve only conceded one goal in their last seven league games.

Up Next: Monday at 3am, home to Sunderland (NZT)

Vic Esson – SC Sand (German Bundesliga)

Victoria Esson x SC Sand. Confirmation of another transfer sneaking in just under the radar after Esson featured in a friendly match for SC Sand a few weeks back. She’s now signed through until the end of the season having been off contract at Norwegian club Avaldsnes.

The Bundesliga club were on the lookout for goalies after their regular starter, Sasmine Pal, suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier on in the year and the club also has a bit of a habit of turning towards kiwi players with Betsy Hassett, Rebekah Stott, and Paige Satchell all having featured for them in past seasons. In comes Vic Esson now and there ya go.

SC Sand coach Alexander Fischinger: “We can, in terms of the goalkeeper position, be confident heading into the second half of the season, that we have three top ranked players here.”

Haaaaving said that... this is a bit of an odd situation that Esson finds herself in now. For one thing, at the time she signed SC Sand had only taken 2 points from their first 12 fixtures and were only clear of last-place thanks to goal difference. With a 9-point buffer between them and safety it kinda looks like a formality that they’ll be relegated. And that predicament has only gotten worse after they returned from the winter break to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich - to be expected against one of the nation’s top clubs but it sure doesn’t help them much.

Esson didn’t play that game. Existing backup keeper Sarah-Lisa Dübel got the start instead, just as she had in each of the more recent friendlies after the lone appearance that Esson made as a trialist. At least the writing was on the wall there. The only quote in Esson’s signing announcement translated as the coach talking up how they have three quality options in the goalkeeping position so he certainly wasn’t coming out and promising her games (the third option is 18 year old Isabella Scheerder, very much the third option of three but nice of the boss to include her). To be fair, this is probably only a six-month stint anyway given SC Sand’s relegation dramas.

Which is something that Hannah Wilkinson did this time a year ago. Signed with MSV Duisburg, wasn’t able to save them from the inevitable drop, but she did play some games and score some goals and find some form that she was subsequently able to take to Melbourne City where she’s currently the A-League’s top scorer. Maybe Esson can do the same. Good to have a kiwi woman back in the Bundesliga once again. There had been at least two in each of the last four seasons and the last Bundesliga term without a kiwi woman would’ve been at least a decade ago.

Up Next: SC Sand vs Wolfsburg, 1am on Monday (NZT)

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

Sarpreet Singh was set to miss the second All Whites game with a minor niggle (he’d played through it in the first game but never a good look to send players back to their clubs in worse shape than you found them after mere friendlies). But he was all good to start for Regensburg in a tough match away to Schalke. One of the several prestigious clubs of yore that currently find themselves in the second division. Curious to note him starting on the right wing instead of the left where he usually posts up... though they were swapping sides throughout so it didn’t really matter.

He had nothing to do with the goal when SSV Jahn took the lead. That was pure Andreas Albers as the Danish forward carried the ball to within about five metres of the penalty area and then figured, bugger it, just gonna smash this thing, and he deposited it into the top corner with force for a stunner of a goal. But typical Regensburg, they were able to keep that lead into the break but their levels in the second forty-five didn’t match the first and the game got away from them.

Simon Terodde was there at the near post to divert in an equaliser, catching the keeper wrong-footed in the 63rd minute. Ten minutes later Malick Thiaw nodded in a winner after a free kick delivery had been flicked on into his path. Then ten minutes after that, Sarpreet Singh was subbed off – so 83 mins here as Schalke won 2-1 to leave Regensburg back in eighth place, trailing third (and the promotion playoff) by seven points – and they play first-placed St Pauli next (who knocked Borussia Dortmund out of the DFB Pokal a couple weeks back).

In fairness, Schalke were always the better team. They hit the crossbar early on amongst several other decent chances. Other than the goal, Regensburg’s only decent first half chance was a Singh cross that picked out Albers whose header wasn’t up to scratch... but after surviving a tough spell early in the second stanza they had a solid period around the hour mark where Carlo Boukhalfa twice went close to making it 2-0. If only. Schalke then wrung the changes and very soon they equalised and not so long after that they won it.

Damn.

Up Next: Sunday at 8.30am, Regensburg vs St Pauli (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)

Midweeker up against Cheltenham. One of those undercover massive games against a team within range of them on the table... and the Dons took the lead inside eight minutes thanks to emerging young star Ayoub Assal, firing low into the bottom corner through a crowd on the second phase of a corner kick. But they were undone by four poor minutes later in the half. In the 31st min Cheltenham drew level as Alfie May tapped in after Spurs-loanee Kion Etete had outmuscled a Wimbledon defender against a long ball over the top.

Then another long ball, down the middle this time, caught them short causing Nik Tzanev to have to rush out and, well... penalty. Didn’t gather the ball cleanly and took out May in the process. Might have gotten away with it had he held onto the round thing. May buried the spottie himself with Tzanev diving the wrong way and Cheltenham held that lead deep into the second half.

However Wimbledon did apply a fair bit of pressure to try and salvage something. They weren’t settling. Finally in the 80th minute there was some reward for all that. Aaron Cosgrave found space on the end of a sharp run and was able to fire back across the goal to score. 2-2 was the way it ended.

Aaaand then they lost 3-2 to Charlton. Again the Dons took an early lead with Ethan Chislett finishing in the third minute after the Charlton keeper had dropped a ball in the area. Claimed a foul but it didn’t arrive. However the lead only lasted quarter of an hour before Ryan Inniss flicked in a header from a corner at the near post, the ball going in off the shins of a defender who maybe could have done more to prevent it. Then, after half an hour, Conor Washington got in behind the high defensive line and Tzanev was left stranded as Washington slid it past him to put Charlton into the lead.

That lead only lasted five minutes. In the 36th min, Anthony Hartigan swung in a simply gorgeous free kick towards the back stick from deep which Ben Heneghan nodded across the keeper to make it 2-2. A fascinating first half of footy. But a weakness against corner kicks grinded on them all afternoon and on the hour mark an in-swinger was met by the head of Akin Famewo inside the six yard box with Tzanev hesitant and that was 3-2. There was your winning goal. The Dons came super close to another equaliser when George Marsh smashed one off the post from distance but nah wasn’t to be. AFC Wimbledon have not won a game of football since December 8. It’s getting bleak.

Up Next: Another double banger week, starting with Rotherham at home on Weds at 8.45am and then finishing with Sunderland at home on Sun at 4am (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

Colchester United, who sacked their manager a couple weeks back, all of a sudden found a much needed jolt of form in the absence of Tommy Smith lately. Smithy disappeared for some All Whites duty but even before that he’d been rotated/rested a couple times amidst hefty fixture congestion with the U’s performing well without him. They beat Salford City 3-0 two weeks back with Smith on the bench as an unused sub (after being subbed off late the previous match so could’ve been a minor injury concern tbf). Then while he was away they drew 1-1 with Swindon thanks to an injury time leveller, then drew 1-1 with Rochdale as well.

Smithy was then back in there for the trip to Leyton Orient having just got back from the UAE. And happy days because a fourth minute goal from Freddie Sears was enough to earn them the victory. Crazy goal as their keeper had just made a strong save defending a corner kick and Colchester spilled forward on the counter with Sears eventually stroking in that decisive early goal via a slight deflection and an unsighted goalie. Certainly not the flashiest game you’ve ever seen but Smithy and the boys held on for that clean sheet and the 1-0 win – their goalie making an outstanding 1v1 save in the second half in amongst. Massive points for the U’s as they try to edge clear of the relegation void.

However Tommy Smith almost didn’t play this game either. New defensive signing Tom Dallison, in from Crawley Town in January, has been really impressive for them next to Tom Eastman at CB and he was initially named to start against Leyton Orient only to pull up with an injury in warm-ups. Thus the club captain Smithy was summoned at late notice... delivering a reliably professional performance in the win. Might get more games in a hurry now too as Dallison’s injury could keep him out for a spell.

Wayne Brown, interim CUFC manager: “Tommy is the ultimate pro. He’s been made club captain for a reason. He’d been on his travels last week and only arrived back on Tuesday or Wednesday. When called upon, he was mentally in the right frame of mind to go out there and do a fantastic job for the team. We’ll assess Tom (Dallison) on Tuesday to see the severity of it. But it’s not looking great, at the moment.”

Up Next: Away to Mansfield Town on Wednesday at 8.45am, then home against Carlisle at 4am on Sunday (NZT)

Deklan Wynne - OKC Energy (American USL Championship)

Another USL signing. Deklan Wynne missed more than two years of his career due to injury and being out of favour at two different clubs but he finally got a run of games for OKC Energy last season on loan. The OKC Energy aren’t even gonna enter a team this year, taking a season off because their home stadium (which is owned by a public schooling agency) is undergoing renovations. And... apparently they can’t find anywhere else to play? Bit of a weird one.

Not that it matters because Wynne’s signed with Detroit City for the 2022 USL term. The fifth kiwi to have signed on with a USL Championship team this year. Curious that they seemed to have focussed on his South African side. His last All Whites appearances were the World Cup intercontinental playoffs against Peru in November 2017 if you were wondering.

Up Next: Crack into a bit of preseason now

Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)

Look who’s ready to rock with his new squad...

Exciting times as Bellinho takes his talents to Denmark. The Superliga is without doubt a step up for Bell, although arguably not as big of a step up as he might have made. Brøndby have definitely gotten themselves a bargain here. Anyway, Bell’s getting to know the lads away in winter break training camp in Portugal, getting a few friendlies in there and settling in.

Up Next: First proper game back is on Monday 21 February away to Nordsjælland at 4am (NZT)

Ali Riley - Angel City FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Up Next: More preseason yarns

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