Claudia Bunge – Melbourne Victory (Australian A-League)

Claudia Bunge is a two-time A-League champion after going back to back with the Melbourne Victory, how about that? Wouldn’t usually include Aussie stuff here in Flying Kiwis, although the ALW did once have a place in these pages before the Wellington Phoenix entered the arena and crowded it out (which is fine, the A-League is its own thing and still gets plenty of write-ups). But this is a weird week where the men are mostly all on international duty and an annoying amount of the women didn’t play either so there’s room in the piece and, well, Bungey’s earned it.

The ALW grand final was an absolute ripper. Such an entertaining game played at a rapid pace from minute one to ninety, an amazing advertisement for the league. And it was a no-lose Flying Kiwis scenario too with Paige Satchell and soon-to-be NZ eligible Ally Green both playing for Sydney FC. Fascinating match-up: Sydney FC won the minor premiership after setting the standard from week one whereas Melbourne Victory limped into the playoffs but hit top form when it mattered most.

Absolutely no idea how this game was still 0-0 at the break. Melbourne Victory had a couple nice moments though it was Sydney FC making most of the play and if it weren’t for MVC’s superb keeper Casey Dumont then it could have gotten messy. Remy Siemsen did put one away but she was retreating from an offside position and the whistle had already gone. To be fair the Victory had a corner kick cleared off the line too.

All even at the break... then the Victory let loose the carnage. A Melinda Ayres shot was blocked however Kyra Cooney-Cross lifted the ball back in towards the far post where Amy Jackson leapt above Ally Green to nod in the opening goal in the 49th minute. Green took an elbow to the head in the process but she was alright after a check-up from the physio. In fact Green very nearly set up an equaliser ten mins later with a long low ball into the area picking out Mackenzie Hawkesby but the shot on the spin was saved by Dumont again. Then in the 64th minute the Victory struck again. Another Ayres shot blocked, this time Catherine Zimmerman followed it up to score.

Before Sydney could panic (or sub on Paige Satchell), they dragged one back as Cortney Vine tapped in from close range following up on a Dumont save. Three goals all from second phase stuff. That goal came a mere two minutes after the second Victory strike. Sydney were right back in it.

Which is about when Claudia Bunge’s already impressive afternoon took another step forward. Clearance after block after clearance after block. Satchell did finally get a run for SFC with five mins plus stoppage time to go and twice she burned a defender down the right wing to get a cross in... but Sydney FC didn’t have another one in them. Melbourne Victory beat them at this stage last season and they did it again to make it two championships on the trot. 2-1 the final score. What a game.

And of course Aotearoa’s Gareth Turnbull is on the coaching staff of the Victory too so he’s also tallying up titles with this club. Will be very interesting to see if Bunge is back for the three-peat attempt or not because her agent is bound to have a fair few incoming emails over the coming weeks. She was excellent in this game just as she was excellent all season. You’d better believe her teammates know it too...

Those end of season team awards are slowly filtering in now. Can’t overlook Hannah Wilkinson, who also won the Golden Boot for Melbourne City (no surprises there)...

Up Next: Footy Ferns mode, friends

Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

Another goal for Liv Chance, storming into the area from midfield and finishing nicely. Also a poignant moment after the passing of her grandmother during the last Football Ferns tour (the team wore armbands in tribute for the Czechia match). Pretty sure that’s her sixth goal this season.

That strike was the second of what proved to be four goals as Celtic produced a strong home performance to beat Hibernian 4-0. Previous meetings between the two sides have been extremely close, Celtic twice winning 2-1 (including the League Cup semi-final) as well as a 1-1 draw two months ago. But here they took the lead inside two minutes through Clarissa Larisey and then Chance’s 25th min strike had them well in control at the half. Jodie Bartle (53’) and Chloe Warrington (84’) went on to seal the deal.

Celtic are long gone in the title race and even second place is going to be beyond them but that’s two big wins in a row now which should prepare them for the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen that’s to follow. The Ghirls have already won one cup this season, now to focus on the other one.

Up Next: Aberdeen vs Celtic, Scottish Cup quarters, Saturday at 7am (NZT)

Erin Nayler - Umeå IK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

Dunno what Erin had to say in that interview since it’s paywalled but no doubt she was stoked to make that Damallsvenskan debut after such a frustrating couple years of club footy. The last league appearance that she made was for Bordeaux in November 2019 so she must have been fired up for this one after a couple impressive appearances in the League Cup already. To be fair, she needed to be fired up just to stay warm. That’s Erin Nayler in the green jersey there...

This was Umeå’s first match back in the top flight after being promoted and the city sure turned on the weather. It was freezing cold and covered in snow. Doubt too many opponents were chuffed to see Umeå back in there as one of the more northern-situated clubs in Sweden. Welcome to the Damallsvenskan, aye?

It actually wasn’t so bad to begin with but it did conditions did get steadily worse to the point where they had to extend the half-time break to deal with the snowy disruptions. Didn’t help that BK Häcken were wearing a white kit and that they were playing with a white ball. Eventually they found an orange ball to make it a bit easier but they still needed to pause again with twenty minutes to go so they could carve the lines of the pitch back out again.

There has been chat in Sweden as to why the game went ahead at all. Apparently there was a simple answer to that: neither team requested it be called off. The local rules only say that a game can’t go ahead below -15°C temperatures but there’s no rule about snowfall, it’s up to the ref’s discretion and without a major complaint things simply carried on. There’s some video here of what they had to deal with – from a tractor sweeping the pitch at HT to a bloke with a snow shovel to players warming up with blankets around them.

As for the game itself, as Champions League qualifiers last season (knocking out CJ Bott’s Vålerenga in the final qualifying round) Häcken were big favourites against newly-promoted Umeå and sure enough they took the lead inside six minutes thanks to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – Nayler beaten at the near post, not ideal. But the snow disruptions helped the home team. Made it tough for BKH to play, tough to get a rhythm going, tough to stay focussed. And with ten minutes to go Henna-Riikka Honkanen equalised. 1-1 the final score, a very useful point in the end. The highlights are something to behold.

Up Next: Brommapojkarna vs UIK, Sunday at 11pm (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Kvenna)

Yeah nah just Betsy Hassett scoring a third minute goal to help Stjarnan win their League Cup semi-final against Valur. This was a Valur team that had cruised through the group stages with maximum points and zero goals conceded... and Hassett broke them within three minutes.

From there the Stars simply kept up the pace, scoring again on 34’ through Katrín Ásbjörnsdóttir and a second half Jasmín Erla Ingadóttir goal (64’) complete the sale on a 3-0 victory. As well as their dominant group stage to this comp, Valur are also defending Úrvalsdeild champs so that’s a hell of a win for Stjarnan. Takes them into the final to be played this weekend. Breiðablik will be their opponents in that one.

Stjarnan had begun their League Cup group with a 5-0 win over Selfoss, simple enough. That was chased (after a long break with an international window in the middle) by a 3-2 loss to Breiðablik but a couple of 2-1 wins followed and that was enough to book their place in the semis with a game to spare. They lost that last group game mixing things up a little... no worries because then they pounced in that semi. Hassett missed a bit of time travelling to the United States to be a part of the last Football Ferns squad and then getting injured. Info on these matches is bloody hard to find so can’t say if this was her first game back or not but either way it was prime Betsy Hassett.

Up Next: League Cup final, Stjarnan vs Breiðablik, Saturday at 8.15am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

ED.nl: “[A return to fitness] is not yet the case for Ryan Thomas, but he is also on his way to be ready to play again in the coming weeks. The New Zealander trained individually yesterday.”

Right. Good. That’s what we wanna hear; Thommo on track to play again sooner rather than later as PSV continue to challenge for a couple of trophies. They recently beat FC Copenhagen 4-0 after a 4-4 draw in the home leg (thrilling tie) to advance to the Europa Conference League quarters where they’ll face Leicester City. Plus they’ve gone on a winning streak in the Eredivise which has kept them only two points off Ajax in the title race with seven games remaining. They’re nine clear of Feyenoord in third so Champions League qualifiers are very much on the cards for next term barring something drastic. Also there’s a KNVB Cup final against Ajax to be played in three weeks. Hectic time at the business end of the campaign and a bit of Ryan Thomas magic sure would not go astray.

Up Next: FC Twente vs PSV on Sunday at 4.45am (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)

Did AFC Wimbledon win this week? Nope. Lost 1-0 to Cambridge United thanks to a wonder goal from Adam May within a minute of the second half starting. Makes it five straight defeats for the Dons whose winless streak is now up to a ridiculous 20 consecutive League One matches.

Up Next: Sunday at 2am away to Sheffield Wednesday (NZT)

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

Outstanding. Love that.

Didn’t love the second Angel City fixture though, as a strong and experienced OL Reign team came to town and took zero prisoners. Ali Riley captained the team from left back again and showed a few nice glimpses getting forward. Excited to see that trend on the increase in 2022. But the Reign scored early goals via Veronica Latsko (12’) and Alana Cook (17’) and then when Savannah McCaskill was sent off after half an hour for a clumsy challenge it was pretty much goneskees already.

Angel City conceded again five mins into the second half (Angelina on 50’) but at least they did pull one back in the 67th when Tyler Lussi slammed in on the cut-back. That was useful. Only lost 3-1 in the end. That second game in existence always seems to be a wake-up call for expansion teams. Remember the Welly Nix had that instant comedown in game two as well. No worries. Vibes are still good.

Up Next: Thursday at 3pm away to Portland Thorns (NZT)

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

We’re still waiting for a Katie Bowen debut in NCC colours. Both Challenge Cup games so far she’s been an unused sub which is obviously subpar from a Flying Kiwis perspective. But we do still have certified legend Abby Erceg captaining the team to consecutive clean sheet victories and that story never gets old.

NCC were up against Orlando Pride and it wasn’t a game that went all their own way. The Courage started sharply with Erceg amongst those with early chances, having a low shot blocked after a corner kick fell her way. But Orlando dug in deep and ensured that NCC’s 61% of possession wasn’t as effective as it might have been. It was tough work and you could see the ways in which the Courage are still trying to figure out their attacking identity since trading away Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald. But they do still have Debinha who stormed into the area and had a cross deflected by an Orlando hand just before the hour. Merritt Mathias emphatically smashed the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

That goal proved all they’d need. Survived an Orlando attack or two down the stretch and held on for a 1-0 win that probably should’ve been more but a win is a win. Maybe get Katie Bowen in there to whip in some better crosses next time (might well get a chance with two games coming up this week). Still, can’t complain about a couple good wins and a strong start to the new campaign from Abby Erceg.

Up Next: Thursday at 12.30pm, Washington Spirit vs NC Courage (NZT)

James Musa – Phoenix Rising (American USL Championship)

Rare chance to fit in some USL stuff this week and The Moose certainly took his cue. This was actually against Kyle Adams and the San Diego Loyal, his 66th minute goal getting his team back into the contest. Phoenix Rising had a magical year last time around but then bottled it in the playoffs to end with disappointment. They began this season with a 4-2 win over Monterey Bay but were beaten 2-1 by Las Vega Lights next up and then found themselves 2-0 down to SDL after an hour of this one. They needed that goal. And The Moose delivered.

Kyle Adams and James Musa didn’t get to interact too much being on opposite central defences. In fact Adams didn’t have to do too much at all as San Diego bossed the first half away from home and scored twice in the ten mins prior to the half-time whistle. Phoenix upped their game in the second and Musa’s goal on 66’ gave them a way back into it. Great downwards header, making an immediate impact in his first game of the season having missed the previous couple due to injury. Then five mins later Luis Manuel Seijas smashed one in from distance (keeper making a mess of the swerve) and it was 2-2.

But the emotions of the comeback got the better of them and on 76’ they botched their marking to allow Alejandro Guido to charge into the area and smash one into the top corner for the winner. 3-2 to San Diego. First home defeat for Phoenix Rising since September 2020 – breaking a streak of 19 matches. Also their first back to back defeats since the 2018 season. But a great bounce back victory for Adams and the Loyal, who have now won three out of four to begin the campaign. Adams with a full game and a yellow card. Musa also getting all ninety.

Up Next: San Antonio vs Phoenix on Sunday at 12.30pm; San Diego vs El Paso on Monday at 9am (NZT)

Elliot Collier - San Antonio (American USL Championship)

Staying in the USL and this was a thing that happened...

The tale there is that EC was harshly issued a red in the 55th minute of a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy reserves. LAG2 had gone down to ten themselves just a couple minutes earlier (second yellow for a foul on the edge of the area) and SA had scored from the resulting free kick with a chip to the back post. Collier’s drama was that he was tangled up in a wrestle trying to mark a dude on a defensive corner kick. Fell over and dragged the bloke down. Out comes the red card for... no apparent reason? You literally see that kinda thing all the time and the ref didn’t even award a penalty. Madness.

But they held on to win that game and then got the red card suspension overturned. Meaning that EC was available for the game against RGV Toros on the weekend. A game that San Antonio again won 2-1 thanks in part to the opening goal scored by none other than Elliot Collier...

On the board for the new team, get in there. Already had Collier, Musa, and Kyle Adams on the scoresheet in USL games this year. Nikko Boxall will get his chance when he returns from international duty. Deklan Wynne’s getting good minutes for Detroit City too so maybe there’s a goal in there for him one of these days. Keep the trend going.

Meanwhile over in MLS Next Pro, Trevor Zwetsloot got a full game in the defensive line for their inaugural game in that competition. It ended as a 2-2 draw and then Zwetsloot scored in the penalty shootout that followed, NE2 winning that for a bonus point. Yes, the Next Pro has penalty shootouts for league games.

Anyway, back to the main course, shout out to Collier for also whipping out a sneaky celebration...

Pretty sure this is what he was going for...

Three wins from three has San Antonio only goal difference off first place in the Western Conference in the early days of this fresh 2022 season.

Up Next: James Musa’s Kiwi-USL tour continues with San Antonio vs Phoenix, Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)

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

https://twitter.com/ollie_whyte/status/1506972546276769797?s=20&t=4OA4JVro3YVVrUF0-Ujqyg

OW: “We have a pretty young team, but at the same time it has a lot of skill and potential. We haven’t lost a game during the winter except for the penalty shootout. Hopefully we will be able to continue with the same momentum during the season as well.”

New season starts this upcoming week. FC Haka finished eighth in 2021, missing out on the championship rounds cut-off but going undefeated through their five relegation round matches to finish with a flurry. Since then they’ve gone as far as the semis in the preseason League Cup and with Logan Rogerson joining the club permanently and Ollie Whyte linking up with them too it should be an exciting fresh campaign for a team that certainly has it in their capabilities to surprise many this year.

Up Next: Haka vs Ilves, Sunday at 2am (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

Up Next: Motherwell vs St Mirren, Sunday at 2am (NZT)

If you rate the reads, and reckon we deserve to get paid for ‘em, then get amongst our Patreon clan

Plus smack an ad, sign up to our top notch Substack, and spread that good TNC gospel far and wide

Keep cool but care