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

Shall we start the week off with some high praise for Abby Erceg from her coach? Yeah alrighty then...

There really aren’t too many better practitioners of the leadership arts than Abby Erceg. Her prowess for lifting others up around her was on full display as the Courage took on Washington Spirit in their final Challenge Cup group stage match, knowing that if they avoided defeat then they’d finish top of Group A. Cheers to the broadcasters for recognising an opportunity here...

First off, this was another game in which Katie Bowen was an unused sub. Only been able to get on the pitch for one of these six CC games despite being in every squad so that’s a tad annoying. But Abby Erceg did her usual thing leading from the back – by contrast playing every single minute of the group stage. Sorta needed to with a rebuilt defence around her and that was clear by some of the sloppy build-up play we saw from them in this Washington game... most specifically for the opening goal that Ashley Hatch scored after 15 minutes, dispatching the ball into the bottom corner after dispossessing Denise O'Sullivan on the edge of the area.

Should also mention a tactical yellow card from Abby Erceg for chopping down Trinity Rodman on the wing to prevent a better opportunity as Rodman tried to turn the corner towards goal. One of those ones where Erceg knew exactly what she was doing and was more than happy to cop a yellow for it. That was in the 37th minute of the game.

The Courage hit back in 1H stoppage time. New Brazilian striker Kerolin produced some superb footwork in the area to draw a foul and it was her compatriot Debinha who put it away from the penalty spot for 1-1. Then early in the second stanza they were in front. Malia Berkeley with an intercept in the attacking third and then a beauty of a finish from distance. Lovely yarns.

It could have been more after Kerolin won another penalty on 71’... however this time Debinha’s effort was saved. Perfect for the first attempt, pretty poor at the second attempt. Ah well. Within a few minutes Washington won a spot kick of their own as keeper Katelyn Rowland barged over an attack. Smashed over Trinity Rodman when she wasn’t any shooting danger and Ashley Hatch made it 2-2 which was how it ended.

A drawn game between two unbeaten teams... feels about right. Plus the point was enough for NCC to finish first in the group. Washington also made it through to the semis as the best third-placed team thanks to a result we’ll talk about very soon. The Courage will face Kansas City Currents in the semis while it’s OL Reign vs Washington Spirit in the other match (which the Spirit will host, ironically, thanks to Reign’s home ground being in use for an already-scheduled Seattle Sounders MLS game that day and... apparently there are no other grounds in the area? Or other days on which to play the game? Bit weird).

But before that it’s the start of the NWSL regular season where the Courage will meet Angel City in Los Angeles for a match which is very likely to feature two New Zealand internationals as opposing captains. Gonna go out on a limb here and assume that’s very rarely happened in any professional football match ever in history, male or female. That’s going to be a spectacle.

Up Next: Angel City FC vs North Carolina Courage, Saturday at 2.30pm (NZT)

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

Angel City will be fired up for that NC Courage tie, no doubt about it. Not only because it’s their first ever proper NWSL match but also because they’ll be coming in on a high after bagging their first ever win. Took down the Portland Thorns 1-0 despite the Thorns needing a result to make the Challenge Cup semis. It’s been a rough old time of it for Angel City who had lost four on the trot after a draw in game one (against fellow expansion team San Diego Wave, who later beat them) but this one’ll live long in the memory.

Wouldn’t call it a classic match or anything. The lone goal was a penalty scored by Christen Press on 29’ after Vanessa Gilles had been taken down in the area, caught in a tangle running onto a deflected shot. Savannah McCaskill had a chance to add a second straight after which was closed down. Tyler Lussi also had a header cleared off the line with quarter of an hour to go. Couldn’t make the most of those but they didn’t have to as Ali Riley and company produced the team’s best defensive showing yet to shut out the Thorns, who had beaten them 3-0 when they met a few weeks back. Hell of a turnaround.

By the way, that win means that the only team who didn’t register a win during the six-game Challenge Cup group stage... was Ali Riley’s old club Orlando Pride. Who, to be fair, are in rebuild mode (which is why they traded her).

Up Next: Angel City FC vs North Carolina Courage, Saturday at 2.30pm (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

Libby Cacace’s love for the Napoli football club is a thing of legend in the kiwi football community. There aren’t that many players who make it to the pro levels still holding onto that boyhood passion but when you’re born into an Italian immigrant family living in Aotearoa for whom supporting Napoli might as well be part of the DNA... those things run deeper. On Monday morning NZT he found himself playing against them. Incredible.

Interesting point is that Napoli were actually the last team that Empoli beat in Serie A. Got them with a 1-0 win back in mid-December but that’s been followed with 15 winless league games ever since. Even the signing of Liberato Cacace hasn’t changed that (yet).

With half an hour to go, as Cacace was subbed on alongside Liam Henderson (a Scottish attacking midfielder who Cacace seems to get on really well with – probably stemming from a shared propensity for the English language), it looked as though 15 would become 16 with Napoli leading 2-0. Andrea Pinamonti had missed a great chance for Empoli with a header in the third minute and the visitors eventually made them pay for that as Dries Mertens scored on 44’ thanks to a slick late run into the area and a finish that Empoli GK Vicario couldn’t quite get enough of a hand onto. Then Lorenzo Insigne doubled that lead on 53’ polishing off after a cheap Empoli concession in the midfield. Another one of those days.

Parisi didn’t look too happy to be replaced - this was actually the earliest that Cacace has been introduced when he’s begun a game on the bench. It proved a timely injection of energy with Libby’s fresh legs carrying him on a few rapid overlaps including one where he whipped in a super-looking cross that only narrowly avoided the lunge of Patrick Cutrone. Definitely some life left in Empoli despite the scoreline and despite their poor attacking form. Napoli may have been leading but they were far at from their best.

With ten minutes to go Empoli pulled one back. Liam Henderson with a driven low finish after Cacace had squared the ball from the left to Nedim Bajrami who was tackled but the ball fell to Hendo on the right edge in space. Napoli had conceded a stoppage time equaliser to 10-man Roma last week so the tension instantly rose with that goal. Empoli quickly got back on the attack and Bajrami blasted a wonderful opportunity over the bar from about 12 yards out... but after the resulting goal kick the Napoli keeper lingered on the ball too long and Pinamonto charged him down for the equaliser.

Napoli are trying to hang in a title race so they came back hard at Empoli. Cacace made a crucial recovering challenge to take the ball off Victor Osimhen and away for a corner before the Nigerian striker could get a shot away in the box. Several rapid back-stick crosses were dealt with. Then Empoli made a break up the right wing and Bajrami delivered a superb early ball across for that man Pinamonti to stab into the net and make it 3-2. A treble of goals in the space of eight minutes. The whole damn stadium went ballistic.

Empoli settled into a very flat, very condensed back four and closed out the six minutes of stoppage time without any worries. A first Serie A victory for Liberato Cacace and it came against his family’s club. Might have some unhappy aunts and uncles now given that this result pretty much ends any remaining hope that Napoli could still win the Scudetto (though Champions League qualification is basically sorted). Funnily enough, Andrea Pinamonti is on loan from Inter who are now in control of the title race after Napoli took just one point from their last three matches. They’ll be stoked with his efforts.

Cacace’s team were 2-0 down when he was introduced. They ended up winning 3-2. This was his eighth appearance and finally he gets to experience a win... and what a win. Shout out to The Narrative. Still lost all four games that he’s started but to be fair two of those were against Juventus and AC Milan and he should get the chance to put that one to rest next week against Torino... which would be a hell of a time for Matt Garbett to make a debut, right? Garbs wasn’t on the bench for Torino this week after two straight matchday squads though so don’t bet on it or anything.

Up Next: Monday 2 May at 1am, Empoli versus Torino (NZT)

Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

Liv Chance getting things going as Celtic cruised to a 6-0 win over Hamilton Academical. Had a rest last week after international duty but was back in the team for a tune-up ahead of their Scottish Cup semi-final next week and made it count. Popping up in the right place to finish that one off after 22 minutes, putting the Ghirls into the lead. She later picked out Charlie Wellings for couple gorgeous assists too – those were for the third and fourth goal as Wellings bagged a hat-trick. Clarissa Larisey also scored plus there was an own goal with ten to play. Nice and convincing. Just what they needed to get the confidence popping.

Charlie Wellings: “They find me wherever I am. It’s their quality that lets me score my goals and I was having a laugh with Liv (Chance) there because she knows me through and through which is unreal for me because she’ll find me and her ability to get that ball through any amount of players.”

Up Next: Hearts vs Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi on Sunday at 11pm (NZT)

Katie Rood - Southampton (English National League Southern Premier)

There are many good weeks in football. There are few this great though.

Katie Rood’s been out injured for a little while but she was back in the matchday squad for the derby day clash with Portsmouth in the midweek, subbed on near the end to mark a return to the park. Just in time too. The Saints were two goals up by that stage, a ripping strike from Sophia Pharoah just before the half and then a Lucia Kendall finish soon after it were the difference, and they had chances to score more. A strong performance from Southampton against a tough rival leading to a 2-0 win.

Roodie was introduced in the 89th minute for Ella Pusey. A pretty massive time to join the action as by then the win was pretty much secured and the 5000-strong crowd was bubbling for that final whistle which would send them an unassailable seven points clear at the top and thus crown Southampton as champions of the National League Southern Premier Division. Final whistle dutifully followed. One more title for a Saints team that seems to just eat them up. Absolutely dominated their way up the tiers over the last half-decade.

But wait there’s more. Because that was only their midweek fixture... on the weekend they had their National League Cup final against Huddersfield too and guess what? They won that too. Tricky match against a tough team with the sides trading cautious blows throughout the first half before Alisha Ware scored to put the Saints into a 45th minute lead, tapping home after some great work from Georgia Freeman on the wing. Lucia Kendall then added a couple more in the second half as the Saints won 3-0.

No Katie Rood in the squad for this match but there was still a well-deserved medal in it for her having played a significant role in this team advancing through the earlier rounds – including scoring the winner in the quarters (1-0 vs Hashtag Utd) and getting the first goal in a 2-0 win over Crawley Town in the semis.

It really has been a superb season for Southampton. The only reason they’re celebrating a double and not a treble is that they had to withdraw from their County Cup final due to fixture congestion (and the league/promotion taking precedence). They’ve only lost two games all season: a 2-0 league loss to Ipswich in November which pretty sure was the first time that Southampton has lost a league game since being formed in 2017, and then a defeat on penalties to the same opposition in the FA Cup.

Southampton have two matches left to polish off their NL Southern campaign. Both take place over the next week and then there’s a wee break. After that they take on Northern Premier champs Wolverhampton Wanderers for the lone promotion ticket to the second-tier Championship. One last game to basically define the entire season. No pressure, aye.

Up Next: Southampton vs Oxford United, Thursday at 6.45 (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)

Solid twenty-odd minutes off the bench for Mouse this week in a 6-1 Liverpool win over Sheffield United. Doing what needs doing... but more importantly this was a first home game since the title was guaranteed and therefore they got to lift the trophy. Also got a guard of honour from the Blades before kick off which is always a nice touch. Moore played on the right of a back three when she came on. The Reds have one more Championship game to play before going up to the Super League next season and are currently on a 20-game unbeaten streak since losing in week one. Superb.

Up Next: Away to Lewes on Monday at 1am to complete the season (NZT)

Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)

Love a bit of midweek footy, Chris Wood here we go. Newcastle seeking to continue their sizzling home form with a visit from Crystal Palace and they started brightly with Allan Saint-Maximin heavily involved with his rapid feet and mazy dribbles. Typically there was nothing even resembling an end product to any of it but it was still thrilling to watch.

Chris Wood got in behind the defensive line on 18’ with an attacking run but a heavy touch dragged him wide and his 1v1 finished was pushed across the goal past the far post. Bit disappointing though a belated offside flag meant it wouldn’t have counted anyway. Other than that it was mostly the usual anchor striker stuff from The Woodsman, competing for aerials and holding the ball up, though he did manage to summon a rare early cross from Emil Krafth... which the keeper came out and claimed before he could get there.

All goods because his right winger Miguel Almiron scored a beauty on 32 mins. Bruno Guimaraes with the ball up the wing and then Almiron’s pace was enough to beat Tyrick Mitchell to the ball and then round the corner towards goal where he stroked in a super finish. Lovely goal. Almiron and Bruno also forced low saves before the half was done with optimistic volleys. The Magpies singing a tune since the goal went in, enough so that Palace boss Patrick Vieira chose to make a tactical sub after only 40 mins.

Wood was involved in a give-and-go with ASM in the midst of another one of those mazy runs inside two mins of the second half kickoff. That came to nothing while Joelinton missed a great headed chance for a second Newcastle goal soon after. Vieira went to the bench again for a couple more subs. This time the balance seemed to improve. Newcastle had been unable to add a second in time and now the last half hour of this contest would largely be played in their own half. Wood was dropping deeper and helping out. There were a few crucial defensive headers from him. It was cross after cross from Palace, Newcastle in that familiar position of needing to hang onto a narrow lead late on.

So many times they’ve messed up that assignment. Not this time. A last-gasp Wilfried Zaha attempt was fired over the top and Newcastle hung on for that 1-0 win that marked their sixth in a row at St James’ Park and there were 52,000 fans there to witness it – the last time they won six homers in on the trot was back in 2004 under the guidance of the great Sir Bobby Robson.

And then... Chris Wood was left out of the team for the weekend’s match with Norwich. Not dropped, to be clear. He was one of four changes from the Palace match with in-form regulars Fabian Schär and Jonjo Shelvey amongst them. Miguel Almiron was also rotated despite his goal in the previous match. Just one of those ones where the fixture congestion has been real rough and with their relegation worries deep in the rear-view mirror Eddie Howe can afford to rest a few blokes here and there.

Eddie Howe on the changes: “Three games in six days. Norwich had a free week so we couldn’t come here lethargic, tired or mentally fatigued after the week we had - two tough home games where we had long spells without the ball. We needed fresh bodies, one or two players had a few niggles as well so we didn’t want to risk them. I was really pleased with the guys that came in. I thought they did refresh the team and thought we looked very good physically today for certain points in the game. Also, I think it’s healthy for the group to do that as well, it shows we do have a capable squad and that I’ve got options to choose from, plus competition for places as well which is absolutely vital.”

Makes sense. Only drama is that this was a great chance for Chris Wood to add to his goal tally and give himself a little more hope of reaching that 10-goal mark for the season. He’s on five goals with four matches left so probably not gonna happen, especially not with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Burnley to face in those four games. Might need to score them all against the Clarets which may be awkward.

Newcastle beat Norwich 3-0 with Joelinton scoring a double (35’ & 41’) and Bruno Guimaraes adding another (49’) as the semi-rotated Magpies saw off the relegation-looming Canaries with relative comfort. Amazingly, considering where they were a few months ago, that win lifts Newcastle into the top half of the table.

Up Next: Newcastle vs Liverpool, Saturday at 11.30pm (NZT)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

How about a goal on debut for Jacqui Hand? Not just her club debut but her professional debut. And not just a goal but an 89th minute equaliser from outside the area. The cosmic script-writers got that one right. Can’t argue with it.

Hand was subbed on away to HPS with half an hour to play. It was 1-1 at the time although the home team very quickly retook the lead and held it into the last ten minutes of action when things suddenly went bonkers. First Åland tied it up with a cross to the back stick converted by Sarah Troccoli in the 83rd minute. Then a defensive error/injury allowed Ella Andberg to strike for HPS on 86’. But Jacqueline Hand was hovering waiting for her big moment too and in the 89th she pounced on a chance and smashed it towards goal.

Now, if you’re watching closely it is kinda hard to tell if the ball actually crossed the line. The ref ruled that it did, that the goalie flicked it away too late, yet you obviously cannot tell from that angle. Eh, we’ll take it. Åland United sure did.

Up Next: Åland vs ONS on Sunday at 1am (NZT)

Michael Woud – Kyoto Sanga (Japanese J-League)

That right there is what the man is capable of. Another J-League Cup game meant another start for Michael Woud, away to Consadole Sapporo, and that first half save was definitely the highlight of his afternoon. Magnificent stop. However he might have had another clip to tweet out had he gotten an assist later in the half as he rushed out on a ball in behind and lifted it deep enough downfield that his striker was able to get onto it and poke it past the keeper... but a recovering defender cleared it away before it could cross the line.

Unfortunately from 0-0 at HT things quickly went awry for Sanga. Genki Omae’s excellent running volley (54’) was able to cancel out Gabriel Xavier’s well-worked opener (51’) but then Consadole Sapporo struck again through a Taika Nakashima header on 67’ and a deflected shot from Gabriel Xavier on 75’ didn’t give Woudy any chance either. Nakashima then scored another header with a couple mins to go to cap it off at 4-1.

Kyoto Sanga then played their fifth group stage game a few days later but they went back to the usual number one instead. Naoto Kamifukumoto with his first J-L Cup appearance of the year. Didn’t help them as they lost 3-0 to Sagan Tosu and are going to need to win their last cup match now to advance.

Up Next: Kyoto Sanga vs Avispa Fukuoka on Friday at 6pm (NZT)

Vic Esson – SC Sand (German Bundesliga)

Vic Esson joined SC Sand until the end of the season knowing that they were probably gonna get relegated but it was a good gig with nothing to lose and a chance to experience a new country. Sand’s top keeper Jasmin Pal had just done an ACL and thus Esson was brought in to compete with incumbent backup Sarah Dübel to start the rest of the way. Unfortunately Dübel won that contest during the winter break to emerge as the number one with Esson backing her up. Esson still got one cup game to flex her worth, which they lost 7-0 to Wolfsburg, though that could’ve been all she got from this spell.

That is, had it not been for an injury to Dübel before the international break which allowed Esson to make a Bundesliga debut in a 1-1 draw with SGS Essen. Then this week she backed that up with a start against Freiburg and... for the second time in three games for SC Sand she conceded seven times. They lost 7-1. A disastrous result against a mid-table Bundesliga team rather than a powerhouse like UCL semi-finalists Wolfsburg and one which all but mathematically confirms their impending relegation. One or two of those goals maybe Esson might have done slightly better with but nothing that you’d blame her for. Her defence just got ripped to shreds is all.

Up Next: Week off, then its home to Köln on Sunday 8 May at 11pm (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

It was a loss in game one of the relegation rounds. Went down 1-0 to Hibernian which drops St Mirren to tenth on the ladder overall with a five point buffer above the relegation zone and four games left to play. St Mirren probably shaded a poor first half with a couple half decent looks that they didn’t do much with but Hibernian sharpened up in the second. The good thing about that is Alex Greive was subbed on nice and early, given a full forty-odd minutes to try bring some energy to this Saints team... but then Ewan Henderson ran onto a convenient ball that took him into the St Mirren penalty area and he buried it past a rushing keeper.

Bit of a fortunate break for Hibs but the Saints cannot complain given how little they offered on the day. Did at least muster something after the concession, Alex Greive claiming a penalty for a push in the back just before a teammate rocked one off the crossbar. That was about it though and the boos rang out at full time. Should still have enough juice in the tank to avoid relegation with the buffer they’ve got but the way they’ve fallen off a cliff since their manager got head-hunted by Aberdeen has been shocking. It’s now five losses in a row in all comps. Only one win in their last ten. Yikes.

At least the 41 mins that Greive got here are the most he’s played in a month and a half. Get him back in the starting team, surely. Also it appears that St Mirren has signed Aussie international and Western Sydney midfielder Keanu Baccus for next season. Another A-League to Scottish Premiership transfer.

Up Next: Sunday at 2am away to St Johnstone (NZT)

Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)

It keeps happening. Another loss for BIF. This one to title challengers FC Midtjylland was at least an expected one but they can’t excuse another game in which they dug their own holes. Andreas Maxsø’s eighth minute ref card was the problem here. Last man tackle just as a bloke was about to pull the trigger, slightly outside the area at least so they avoided a penalty... but he still left his team with 82 mins to play with ten men.

Having said that, they soon took the lead. Simon Hedlund converting from the penalty spot on 24’ after he’d won the spottie himself with a burst of pace and an intercept and a slicing turn in the area. But then a handball spotted by VAR just inside the box allowed Evander to tie it up from twelve yards and then Gustav Isaksen curled in a fine goal three mins later to put the visitors up. Evander hit the bar early second half, then eventually a defensive turnover allowed Anders Dreyer to make it 3-1. Some decent battling stuff from BIF with the man disadvantage in there but bottom line is that it’s now six defeats in a row. From challenging for the title to now sitting outside the European spots with five matches left. Not ideal. Full game for Bellinho though who worked hard for little reward in this match.

It’s been a similarly stunning fade down a division from FC Helsingør too. They were dropped 2-1 by Hvidovre this week to make it five defeats in a row. From cruising towards the Division 1 title two months ago to now being just one point clear of the three three teams tied for second place. Only the top two get promoted so this thing’s in danger of really going to pieces for FCH.

Again, they dominated this game. But they struggled to score after Tonni Adamsen’s 8th min opener and then conceded goals on Hvidovre’s only two shots on target. Christoffer Boateng with a double. Just and McCowatt both started, CMC subbed on 72’ while EJ got the full ninety. Still time for both these teams to turn it around, certainly for FCH who despite it all are still top of the table and in control of their own destiny. Better happen quickly though.

Up Next: Lyngby vs FCH on Saturday at 10.45pm / Randers vs BIF on Monday at 2am (NZT)

Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Allsvenskan)

Sneaky FDV sighting in the background there. It was a memorable week for his Värnamo team. Double header on Thursday night/Monday night local time from which they first held Malmö to a clean sheet and a 0-0 draw, then kept another cleanie in beating Degefors 2-0. Oscar Johansson (5’) and Marcus Antonsson (56’) with a pair of timely goals in that one.

Best part of it all is that Francis De Vries played all 180 minutes of those two matches. Almost set up a winner in the Malmö game with a 73rd min free kick crossed into a great area which was fired over the top on the stretch by a teammate. Highlights here. Got into some good attacking areas in the Degefors match too although wasn’t involved in either goal. Highlights here. That was IFKV’s first ever Allsvenskan win.

Up Next: Norrköping vs Värnamo on Monday at 5am (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Nothing too dramatic here. The Loons cruised to a US Open Cup win over Forward Madison with Michael Boxall rested. Had to work harder for their goals than they’d have liked but they won it 2-0 and were never in much danger of conceding. Then Boxy returned to the line-up as they reverted to the top guns for the meeting with Chicago Fire... and he was his usual commanding self as Minnesota rolled to a 3-0 victory. Granted, the rolling didn’t start until the last twenty mins. It was tough yakka up until Manny Reynoso’s 72nd minute strike and then Kervin Arriaga (84’) and Robin Lod (88’) made sure of things after Chicago got a red card.

Now here’s Boxy talking about basketball. Big fan of hoops, shouts out Sean Marks in there. Ironic factor is that he’s in Minnesota and the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently playing up against Steven Adams’ Memphis Grizzlies (although Steve-o’s not getting a lot of court time tbf).

Up Next: LAFC vs Minny Utd on Monday at 2pm (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Meanwhile here’s Bill Tuiloma and his Timbers drawing 0-0 with Real Salt Lake. Not a particularly interesting game although we did get a long range Tuiloma free kick in the first half. Heaps of power on it but straight at the goalie. He tried another one on for size from open play late in the half, drilling a low shot from what would’ve been about 35 yards out but it went wide of the mark.

The Timbers should have won for the weight of possession and shots that they had though arguably the two best moments fell for RSL thanks to defensive lapses from the Portland fullbacks. So maybe nil-all was okay in the end. It was good enough to get Bill Tuiloma a spot on the MLS Team of the Week bench regardless...

Up Next: Away to Colorado on Sunday at 1pm (NZT)

Ally Green - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)

Good yarns. VIF had the first game of the round this week and that was probably still a little early for Ally Green to be involved, not in the squad as goals from Janni Bøgild Thomsen (28’) and Runa Lillegård (90’) earned a 2-0 home win over Kolbotn to keep Vålerenga perfect through five matches. Fingers crossed we get an Ally Green debut in game six.

Up Next: Away to LSK on Thursday at 6am (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)

Did AFC Wimbledon win a game this week? Nope... but they came agonisingly close. A first half goal from Luke McCormick had them right there on the brink of a crucial, potentially season-saving win over Fleetwood Town... only for Joe Garner to equaliser in the 88th minute.

It had been a sloppy game full of errors between two teams very aware of the looming relegation shadow hovering around them. But that one moment of class with McCormick’s finish coupled with a few nice Tzanev saves and some not-quite-good-enough Fleetwood finishing had the Dons in the position where they were protecting that invaluable late lead. Then came a moment of extreme strangeness and of all the ways that AFC Wimbledon have blown leads this season, this might be the one that folks remember most cursedly.

Nik Tzanev had the ball in his area with everyone cleared out for his big hoofing clearance. He thought it was a drop ball so he carried it forward a little to draw in an attacker and use up some precious extra seconds. But the ref had actually given a free kick. Meaning that Tzanev had illegally passed the ball to himself. An indirect free kick was awarded just inside the area and after a nudge across Garner was able to curl it past Nik Tzanev for the leveller. Not even sure how to classify something like that. When your luck is out, it’s really out.

Up Next: Dons vs Accrington Stanley on Saturday at 11.30pm (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

Good news: The U’s won 2-1 in that Newport County game with Tommy Smith playing the full game at centre-back. They were 1-0 down at the break but goals from John Akinde (68’) and Noah Chilvers (77’) did the trick. Colchester are already safe from relegation but that win did shoot them up the table a couple spots and with two games to go if they can repeat the dose they could still get as high as thirteenth.

Up Next: Colchester vs Walsall on Sunday at 2am (NZT)

Elliot Collier - San Antonio (American USL Championship)

Yeah nah that’s just Elliot Collier scoring an 82nd minute equaliser for USL team San Antonio FC against MLS team Austin FC in the US Open Cup. Carter Manley then went on to score in extra time (96’) as San Antonio did the upset thing. Only had 34% of possession all game but they made it count with plenty of swift attacks and all sorts of chances created. Brilliant result.

That also made it three games in a row in which Elliot Collier had scored, a streak that sadly came to an end in a 1-0 win over New Mexico United back in the league on Sunday NZT but that’s all good because they still won. Nine wins in a row in all competitions. Oh and EC also won USL Goal of the Week for his mint dribble and finish last time...

Up Next: San Antonio vs Monterey Bay, Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)

Deklan Wynne - Detroit City (American USL Championship)

Have a bit of that. Deklan Wynne was also on the right end of a US Open cup upset as Detroit City beat Columbus Crew 2-1 to advance. Log it in the book as a Good Week for him.

Up Next: Sunday at 8am against NY Red Bulls II (NZT)

Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)

Just a cheeky 6-1 win in which Moses Dyer scored a double. First was the opener from the penalty spot then this nifty near post finish in the second half. He also scored a late consolation from the penalty spot in a 3-2 loss last week so that’s three goals already on the board for newly converted striker Moses Dyer. This was Valour’s first win of the season coming in their third match.

Meanwhile his Cavalry team may have lost but Myer Bevan made his first CPL start this week so shan’t be long before he’s joining Moses in the golden boot standings either, surely.

Up Next: Valour vs Forge, Monday at 6.30am (NZT)

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