Flying Kiwis – April 5
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
The pattern at Empoli has been to alternate left-backs with every game. Liberato Cacace and Fabiano Parisi performing a tag team routine (including subbing in for each other mid-games). That pattern may well have continued anyway given that Cacace only ended up starting one game in OFC World Cup Qualifying but there was no doubt about it here because Parisi was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow in the game prior to the international break.
Fiorentina were the opponents. Away from home. Quite a fun, open game from the outset which hasn’t always been the case with Empoli, who were specifically looking to get out on the counter. Granted their keeper was still the busier with a couple important saves to make inside fifteen minutes... but ‘twas nothing that Guglielmo Vicario couldn’t handle.
Cacace was able to get forward in support a few times but overlaps were hard to come by with his team attacking so swiftly. Some sharp passing in there to go with a few smart intercepts, although he did get caught on the ball on 18’ by Argentine international Nico Gonzalez which nearly led to trouble but Cacace was able to step in and take it back just before Gonzalez could get into the penalty area. Claims of a foul going unheeded. He did concede a couple other fouls for some strong aggressive defending but they were in the other half, no dramas. Also got a talking to for grabbing at Gonzalez’s shirt off the ball as he tracked the Argentine’s run. Cacace was a bit confused about it, bringing it up with the fourth official during an injury break soon after.
Remember Cacace’s previous Serie A starts have been against Juventus and AC Milan so while Fiorentina are definitely a good team, this was a chance to play a more prominent role in a more even contest. Do have to keep in mind that Empoli had not won a game since December though and scoring goals has been a worry for them. As the first half went on, it felt more and more like Empoli were a mistake away from trouble... but the mistake ended up happening up the other end. Fiorentina getting sloppy with a back pass that Andrea Pinamonti blocked off and then Federico Di Francesco quite superbly overhead kicked it into the empty net. First away goal for 480 minutes for Empoli. Or... it would have been had VAR not suggested a foul by Pinamonti on the keeper. Back to nil-all as we hit the break.
Important clearance by Cacace early 2H covering a cut-back that probably would’ve been an easy goal without his presence. Couldn’t do much about Arthur Cabral’s finish from a similar chance on 52’ but there was an earlier offside so it never stood. Plus there was another crucial shoulder-first challenge on Gonzalez after Libby had lost out in the first duel. But the game took a swing after 56 minutes when Sebastian Luperto got there late on Gonzalez and the Empoli CB had to take a march after his second yellow. Gonzalez then flicked a header (or shoulder-er) in off the resulting free kick for the lead. It was coming, gotta be honest.
Empoli hung on with ten men. Rode their luck via some sketchy Fiorentina finishing at times but kept themselves within range if they could only find that one big chance. Cacace made a great overlapping run with about quarter of an hour to go, taking the ball beautifully in stride with his first touch, but his cross was headed clear by a defender. Unfortunately even half-chances like that were few and far between. Cacace did have a very late shot in the 94th minute running onto a bouncing ball but it didn’t sit up for him and went over the top off his knee. A 13-game winless streak in Serie A became a 14-game winless streak for the Azzurri as they went down 1-0.
But on the plus side... first ninety minute game for Cacace in the Italian top flight. The legend grows.
Up Next: Empoli vs Spezia, Sunday at 1am (NZT)
Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Kvenna)
Didn’t quite get there in the ol’ League Cup final. Went down 2-1 to Breiðablik, albeit in a pretty enjoyable game and this whole preseason cup run should bode well for their upcoming Úrvalsdeild efforts.
Stjarnan started well, getting the first shot on target yet conceded early as Hildur Antonsdóttir pounced on a deflected ball into the area to score for BK. But it only took Stjarnan ten more minutes to find an equaliser. Betsy Hassett began the move with a quick switch out to Jasmín Erla Ingadóttir on the left wing, who fed it through for Karítas Tómasdóttir. KT turned past a defender and struck home for 1-1. Boom.
However BK hit back even quicker themselves. Taylor Marie Ziemer with the final touch after a corner kick. There were no goals in the second half, not a heap of open chances despite it being an open game. Definitely some preseason finishing on display from both teams but BK were just more clinical. Plus Stjarnan had lapses in defence for both goals. Ah well. Breiðablik got the trophy, Betsy Hassett with a silver medal in consolation.
Up Next: League season begins against IBV on 27 April at 6am (NZT)
Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)
A few of them All Whites jerries were rested as they returned from international duty. Not Chris Wood. He’s not missed a minute of Premier League action since signing for Newcastle hence, fresh from five goals at the Oceania World Cup Qualifying tournament, he was in there from the start away against Tottenham Hotspur.
Not sure he even touched the ball in the first ten minutes, to be fair. Not even the kickoff because Joe Willock takes those as Wood stands wide for the quick switch. Spurs began with heaps of possession and while the Magpies handled it pretty well it was slim pickings in terms of their own ball. Occasionally Allan Saint-Maximin found room to attack a defender but that was about it.
Granted, things did improve as the game went on and when Newcastle did get the ball forward they looked like they could get up to some mischief. Thus after 38 minutes of mostly staunch defending they won a free kick on the edge of the area and while most folks were probably looking at Jonjo Shelvey or Ryan Fraser up stepped centre-back Fabian Schär to curl it in for 1-0. Hugo Lloris got a big hand to it, probably should’ve stopped it. VAR also had a look to check that the ball hadn’t clipped Chris Wood’s hand on the way through. All clear. Newcastle with the lead against the run of play.
But it only lasted three mins before Son Heung-min earned a corner dribbling into the area, took the corner, saw that corner cleared back to him, then whipped in a gorgeous cross that Ben Davies buried with a glancing header. Back where we started all evens. 1-1 at half-time after some feistiness with Antonio Conte blowing up on the touchline over a decision or two and Saint-Maximin and Rodrigo Bentancur both being booked for retaliating against each other and causing a wee kerfuffle.
Terrible start to the second half. Dan Burn was booked inside a minute, then a curling Harry Kane cross skipped past Son and was turned in by Matt Doherty with a low header sneaking behind Schär. Spurs now in the lead... though Chris Wood nearly responded immediately as he took down a long ball on his chest and swung his foot through a volley that he didn’t quite catch, the ball flying past the post. No such dramas for Son on 54’ though. Cross in from Dejan Kulusevski and Sonny even had time to take a touch before rustling the net. 3-1 to Spurs all of a sudden. 40 mins gone and Newcastle were leading. 55 gone and they were down by two.
After which Eddie Howe made a couple subs and went to a back three with wing-backs. Matt Targett was on the left and he straight away drilled a low cross hunting for Wood that was cleared out for a corner. Good adjustments at first... but then Emerson Royal squeezed one in from a Doherty cross after MD had gotten into the area with a one-two. Son missed a great chance moments later. Newcastle had fallen to pieces. Therefore we saw something we hadn’t yet seen from Chris Wood in a Newcastle jersey... we saw him being subbed off. Twenty to play and Woodsy was replaced by defender Jamal Lascelles. Damage limitation.
They limited them to five. Spurs subs Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn combined with the former beating a man and sliding in the latter to score in the 83rd min. 5-1 the final score. That’s three straight defeats since Newcastle’s nine-game unbeaten streak. That streak gave them breathing room in the relegation scrap but they still only have 31 points. Gonna need another couple positive results to see this one out – the work’s not done yet.
Up Next: Newcastle vs Wolves on Saturday at 7am (NZT)
Emma Rolston - Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)
Rollo had been back in Aotearoa over the new year talking about hopefully heading off to England or maybe America for her next gig after initially choosing not to return to Arna-Bjørnar in Norway, where she’d made a pretty decent impression in 2021. But she had her eye on other opportunities same as the other two kiwis in the Toppserien last year: Vic Esson left Avaldsnes for SC Sand in Germany while CJ Bott left Vålerenga for Leicester City in England. Doesn’t appear that quite worked out for Rolston in the same way but no dramas because the Toppserien wasn’t going anywhere.
Rolston has signed up with Avaldsnes for the upcoming campaign. Switching clubs and joining a decent kiwi pedigree at the new one. Vic Esson was there most recently, spending the last three seasons with the club, but Rebekah Stott also played 20-odd games for Avaldsnes. Plus there’d been even more of an Australian signing pattern up until recently.
The 2022 Avaldsnes squad is one of the youngest in the division having undergone a fresh rebuild. Rolston is one of a few overseas players in their mid-20s but the bulk of the Norwegian locals are still teenagers. Could be a tricky campaign from that perspective however new coach John Arne Riise – the former Liverpool men’s defender and the all-time most capped Norwegian male footballer – ain’t having that. The chat is that he’s driven the team extremely hard in preseason and it has paid off in their fitness tests. Interesting note in the club’s announcement that Rolston trialled with the team in 2019 but they chose not to sign her at that time.
The Toppserien got underway two weeks back, Rolston arriving just in time to be a part from the start... although the first game was a bit of a write-off, going down 6-0 to Rosenborg. Tough match to begin with. Rolston started in an attacking midfield role but was replaced in the 59th minute directly after the fifth goal went in. Second game was at home to LSK and Rolston against started in the same position and lasted until the 85th minute, once again replaced just after a goal was conceded. In this case the decisive second in a 2-0 loss.
And then this weekend was the most frustrating of the lost. Against Rollo’s old club, Arna-Bjørnar, in their most winnable fixture yet... they conceded three times in the first half and Rolston was subbed off before the break. Could have been an injury, could have been a tactical sacrifice. The latter feels more likely given that Riise mentioned afterwards how pissed he was at HT. Also Sydney Blonquist who replaced her is usually a defender. Damn.
Three games, three defeats, zero goals scored, eleven conceded. That’s how Avaldsnes have begun. Handy two weeks off to recalibrate now at least.
Up Next: International duty, then away to Røa on Tuesday 19 April at 1am (NZT)
Ally Green – Vålerenga IF (Norwegian Toppserien)
And Emma Rolston is gonna have some company in the Toppserien because freshly minted kiwi Ally Green, currently with the Football Ferns squad as a training player ahead of her switch of allegiances, has signed with CJ Bott’s old club Vålerenga. She’d hinted that she was ready to head off to Europe after several promising seasons with Sydney FC in the A-League. Now she has.
VIF sports manager Eli Landsem: “We have scouted her for a while and we have clearly got a good impression. In Ally we get an energetic and hard-working wingback who is good with both feet and who can also score goals. She ended up on this year's team of the season (voted for by the players) and is mentioned as one of the most important contributors to Sydney's A-League premiership. Now she has also been selected for the national team of New Zealand. Ally will undoubtedly give us more strings to play throughout the spring and summer.”
Ally Green: “I am very happy to sign for Vålerenga Football. Playing abroad, and especially in the Norwegian league is something I have always dreamed of. I want to develop as a player, and look forward to learning a new style of play. I have heard only positive things about Oslo, and the club's facilities seem fantastic. I'm really looking forward to getting started and meeting the team. Hopefully I can help the team achieve success and win trophies. I would describe myself as a hard-working and motivated football player who gives everything I have on the field. I have great running power and like to join attacks. As a person, I try to bring positive energy into a group, and always want to help my teammates, both on and off the field.”
CJ Bott won a league title and two domestic cups with VIF before leaving to eventually sign with Leicester City in England. Played Champions League with them too however they won’t be there this year after a disappointing fourth place in 2021. Ally Green might as well be a direct replacement for Bott so this oughta be fun. VIF are one of three teams to have won each of their first three matches in 2022.
Up Next: Meet the Fernies... then it’s away to Arna-Bjørnar on Tuesday 19 April at 1am (NZT)
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
The MLS really does serve up some bonkers footballing happenings. Fair play. When the Portland Timbres hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy coming out of the international break we got another wild one courtesy of our mate Bill Tuiloma.
At half-time the Timbers were down two goals and playing with ten men. Lovely to see Bill Tuiloma straight back into the starting team alongside Dario Zuparic at CB despite having played the entirety of both the semi and the final of OFC WCQ with the All Whites. However it didn’t even take nine minutes before Chicharito Hernandez slipped free at the back stick to sneak in the opener for LAG. Tuiloma was dragged wide to challenge the cross, nothing more he could’ve done about it. But he probably could’ve done more about the own goal he scored seven mins later.
At first they gave it to Kévin Cabral as he was the closest attacker... but upon closer inspection it did clearly go in off Tuiloma’s hip as the pair tussled for the square cross. Less than ideal. 2-0 down after 16 minutes and despite some positive signs the rest of the half things got much worse in stoppage time when Pablo Bonilla was sent off for a retaliatory swinging arm. Tuiloma was one of the closest dudes there when the card came out and he looked surprised (the home fans certainly didn’t rate the call) but when he addressed the media afterwards he had a more philosophical view.
Bill Tuiloma: “We talked about this before the game. We’ve got to control ourselves. The reaction that Pablo [Bonilla] had was unacceptable, hurting the team. Being in a situation like that, ten men, is very hard. We got a red card last game. Gio was telling us to be careful with the referees, and now we know this season the referees are on to the players and how we react. This is just unacceptable for us.”
Coach said the same thing, basically. That it was a soft red but that they shouldn’t be putting themselves in those situations in the first place. 2-0 down at the half and with ten men. Long way back from there. Gonna take something special to get them back into the game. Something special... like this?
Yeah, that’ll do. That will do. A goal and an own goal in the same game lol. Keeping it interesting.
Fun fact: after his three goals for the All Whites recently and his winner for Portland against Austin recently that makes it four of his last six games for club and country in which Tuiloma has scored. Billy has goals in every MLS season that he’s played though surprisingly this is the first time he’s scored more than once in a season. Plenty more where this came from based on current form though.
Stink buzz incoming... Javier Hernandez scored again eight minutes later. His second of the day. Marco Delgado then picked up a second yellow for LAG to mean that both teams would see out the last half hour with ten men and the Timbers definitely carved out a few good attacks in that time. They just didn’t have the final flourish to make one count and the Galaxy were able to keep them at arm’s length for a 3-1 final result.
Way too many defeats in FKs this week and the Timbers were no exception... at least Bill Tuiloma scored that wonder goal. He also scored a free kick in preseason, plus his only goal last season was a free kick. Bagged a deflected one for the All Whites last October as well. The man is a menace with a dead ball.
Up Next: Vancouver vs Portland, Sunday at 2pm (NZT)
Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)
So close to a third goal of the season. Ria Percival drifting into space, smashing one past the keeper... but having cleared the shot off the line by Aston Villa’s Rachel Corsie. It would have capped a typically robust Percy performance if that had gone in. Six tackles, three interceptions, a heap of pressing from midfield, a couple shots created for others. All those things she does so well but that shot was denied and Spurs weren’t able to find a winner against the Villans in their first game back after a flurry of covid cases within the squad.
Not only did they not find a winner but they ended up conceding one instead. 87th minute goal by Ramona Petzelberger. Villa’s only shot on target all game... it wasn’t one-way traffic like that stat suggests but for sure it was a game that was there for Tottenham to win and instead they made it three games in a row without a win thanks to a 1-0 loss. Having spent the whole season in the top four it’s now gonna be hard for them to cap this season off righteously given they’ve got some really tough fixtures still to play.
Up Next: Spurs vs Chelsea on 25 April at 1.30am (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - SSV Jahn Regensburg (German 2. Liga)
Good to see Sarpreet Singh back in there for his first start since late February after some time off for injury reasons. Came off the bench for 25 mins last time and lasted 60 mins this time. Working his way back.
The latest match was away against Hannover and things started great when Andreas Albers headed them into the lead on 22’ from a corner. In-swinging delivery off the left foot... but not by Sarpreet Singh who was posted on the edge of the area. No worries. A goal is a goal. Team first.
Some worries about what happened five mins later though: a red card for Carlo Boukhalfa raking his leg down an opponent whilst going for a bouncing ball. Accidental but dangerous. SSV were aghast at the decision but so it goes. Hannover equalised from a corner of their own on 39’ with Sebastian Stolze getting the goal and it was fair reward given how they took control of the game after the red card. Regensburg ended up with only 37% of possession but they did clamp on to a point, the deep-lying backline at least getting them something from a tough day at the office. 1-1 final score.
A couple off target shots and some decent crosses from Singh but didn’t come particularly close to adding to his 5 goals/8 assists tally. But promising signs from the team overall as they try to claw their way out of their down buzz stretch in 2022.
Up Next: 4.30am on Saturday against Ingolstadt (NZT)
Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)
Not used to this kinda thing from Joe Bell but he’s having to deal with an adjustment period early in his Brondby days. Went directly into the eleven with a few influential performances but now that initial headwind has slowed down. BIF’s run of clean sheets was never gonna last forever and their lack of goals up the other end has really savaged them since. Times have gotten darker.
Bell gave away a penalty and was subbed off before the hour in a 3-0 loss to AaB before the international break. He was all good to start the next one despite coming back from All Whites duty... but at home against Randers in the first round of the championship phase they conceded on 22 mins as Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati converted from a quick run to the near post and then missed chance after chance to get back into the match – like Anis Ben Slimani hitting the crossbar for example – and went on to lose to that single goal. Joe Bell was subbed off at half-time. Sacrificed for attacker Simon Hedlund in a tactical switch.
A 1-0 defeat means they’ve only taken 1 point from their last three games and you can probably scratch them off the list of title challengers now. Even second place and a Champions League spot is unlikely... in fact they’ll do well to hold on to third the way things have gone the last few weeks. Don’t think that Joe Bell has escaped criticism either. Nobody ever does when the team hits the slide.
Up Next: Silkeborg vs BIF, Monday at 2am (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)
Mouse was an unused sub again so no need to get into the specifics... but the inevitable finally came to pass this weekend as Liverpool’s 4-2 win over second-placed Bristol City officially meant they cannot be caught for the Championship title and, even more importantly with it, promotion to the WSL. Done it with two games to spare too which hopefully means a bit of rotation in the coming weeks. Either way, Meikayla Moore’s now got herself a Championship winners’ medal and as long as they keep her around for next season she’ll be playing in the English top flight.
Up Next: Some Footy Ferns first, then games against Sheffield United (25 Apr @ 1am) and Lewes (2 May @ 1am) to close the campaign (NZT)
Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Allsvenskan)
FDV was on the bench for Värnamo’s first ever Allsvenskan game but he did get the summons with quarter of an hour to play. A solid 15 mins and a debut in the Swedish top flight. Unless there were some old boys way back in the day, pretty sure that makes him the fourth kiwi to play in the Allsvenskan. Dan Keat had a couple seasons with Falkenbergs, while Craig Henderson preceded him. Then more recently Matt Garbett made 13 apps for Falkenbergs the season before last. Good yarns.
As for the game itself, Värnamo went down 2-1 to Göteborg. Simon Thern scored the first one with a sharp left-footed finish after a lovely backheel from Marcus Berg on 22 mins. Weird coincidence there: Thern’s father Jonas is actually the coach of IFKV. Took the club to the top flight and in game number one his son scores against them, what a strange world. The Varnies did hit back on 62’ when Abdussalam Magashy gave them their maiden Allsvenskan goal. His header hit the crossbar so he followed it up and smashed a volley off the crossbar as well... but that one did bounce over the line. However Marcus Berg scored a few mins later and that proved to be the winner.
Up Next: Tuesday 12 April at 5am against Sirius (NZT)
Abby Erceg & Katie Bowen – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
There was one that got away in the midweek. Away to Washington Spirit, the North Carolina Courage started excellently as Debinha followed up on a parried save to give them the lead in the fifth minute and then on 26’ they doubled that lead when Taylor Smith finished 1v1 after a super pass from Carson Pickett. Great start, already up by a couple goals. Yet it didn’t last.
It was still 2-0 at the half but the defending champs kept on ramping it up from there. Abby Erceg was on hand to clear one away in the second minute of the second half after an Ashley Sanchez shot had been saved. However a great finish from Trinity Rodman on 58’ finally broke them down. First goal that NCC had conceded in the Challenge Cup after 237 minutes. Ten minutes later Ashley Hatch beat Erceg to a header and levelled things up.
At which point you’re thinking the Spirit will probably roll on by towards victory... but not quite. Despite being up against a bit of a barrage the Courage held on to at least take home a draw. Didn’t create bugger all on attack in that second half and let a two-goal lead slip but still came away with a draw. Katie Bowen, for the third straight game, was an unused sub. 2-2 final score.
Ah but that moment we’d been waiting for across three full games finally occurred late in the fourth opportunity. Let loose the fireworks because Katie Bowen has finally made her North Carolina Courage debut...
This was in a game against Gotham, who the Courage had beaten in game one of the Challenge Cup with Abby Erceg getting on the scoresheet. On this occasion they were 1-0 up with five minutes remaining. Debinha had scored a beauty of a free kick midway through the first half and the Courage were looking good. Probably shoulda been up by more given their statistical dominance.
Bowen, oddly, was subbed on for someone who started the game alongside her on the bench. Malia Berkely was chucked on into the midfield for Brianna Pinto on 66 mins, picked up a yellow card that suspends her for the next game, and was later replaced by Bowen. We’ll see how that goes next game when KB returns from Ferns duty.
The second goal that NCC never scored ended up being a problem. Pretty much straight after the Bowen change they conceded as Ifeoma Onumonu beat Abby Erceg to a header from a corner kick and that’ll do it. The Courage held to a 1-1 draw in their second away game of the week. Should have won... but still undefeated through four Challenge Cup games and atop their group with two games remaining so no need to freak.
Up Next: Week off for internationals, then Orlando Pride away on Sunday 17 April at 11am (NZT)
Ali Riley - Angel City FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
So... guess who popped up on Jimmy Kimmel’s show the other day?
Ali Riley, as always, being a media superstar. Never disappoints.
Might be worth focusing more on that appearance than the midweek game they played away to Portland Thorns in which Angel City lost 3-0. Sophia Smith (31’), Yazmeen Ryan (53’), and Morgan Weaver (78’) with the goals. Angel City began decently with Christen Press having a couple good moments but then once they conceded it was pretty one-sided. Another bump on the learning curve for the expansion team in LA. Full game at left back for captain Ali Riley.
Then they were back at it with another crack at fellow expansionites San Diego Wave, whom they drew against in week gameweek one of the Challenge Cup. This time it was away from home and things didn’t start too flash as Jodie Taylor put one away on the second follow up attempt (following up her own follow up) on Riley’s side. AR was a bit too far infield and while she did recover to challenge the shot, she couldn’t prevent Taylor from striking it home. 19 mins gone and Angel City were behind.
They only trailed for about twenty minutes because San Diego gifted them an equaliser on 38’ as Tegan McGrady passed one beyond her own goalie for an OG. But Alex Morgan, Riley’s teammate in Orlando last year, restored the lead with basically the last touch of the half as Ali Riley’s heavy touch in the area bounced straight to her. Not exactly covered in glory that half, sadly.
Angel City drew level once more on 59’ and this time it was by their own doing. Christen Press with her first for the club. However a lovely volley from Morgan on 72’ put the Wave back in front and then they made sure of it when Amirah Ali scored with eight left. Deserved win for San Diego, who had 11 shots on target this game. 4-2 the final score. Angel City still awaiting that first ever win.
At least the Kimmel cameo was awesome. Salvaged the week.
Up Next: OL Reign vs Angel City, Monday at 10am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Boxy wasn’t quite able to pre-empt Bill Tuiloma’s goal-scoring form as Minnesota United went down 2-1 to Seattle Sounders. Not a game to dwell on. Conceded either side of the half, the second a Brett Kallman OG, and although an 82nd minute Emanuel Reynoso penalty did give them a late lifeline it ended up being false hope. Weren’t quite good enough in either penalty area and it cost them. First loss of 2022 for the Loons. Boxall picked up a yellow card but has still played every minute to date.
Fella looked sharper as a knife as he rolled up to the stadium though, tell ya what...
Up Next: Monday at 11.30am away to Austin FC (NZT)
Erin Nayler - Umeå IK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Glad to see that Erin Nayler didn’t have to play in the middle of a snowstorm in her second Damallsvenskan match... but that’s where the glowing positives end after a 3-0 loss to BP in week two. It was a tough one. Nayler began well enough dealing with whatever came her way. She punched crosses and caught shots (not always convincingly but good enough)... yet there were already ominous signs there in how much work she had to do. Eventually they conceded a runaway which Nayler couldn’t do anything about. Three attackers against one defender in front of her. You know how that ends.
Umeå almost scored late in the first half with a shot from range that was tipped over the top but that was about as close as they came. BP scored again on 74’ with a ball in behind that left the keeper with little chance. Then another quick transition goal with five to play and UIK caught overcommitted on attack. Disappointing. International break next. Highlights here.
Up Next: Umeå vs Vittsjö on Saturday 16 April at 3am (NZT)
Callum McCowatt & Elijah Just - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 1)
Dunno who those other two are. Anyway, strange and unfamiliar week for FCH as they lost their first game in more than five months. October 4 was the last time they tasted the sourness of defeat – going down 3-0 to Nykøbing that day.
Here they were dropped 1-0 at home to Horsens with the winning goal coming from the penalty spot after FCH had been reduced to ten men about an hour into the match, the goalie seeing red. Whoops. Just and McCowatt both started. Just was subbed off soon after the penalty. McCowatt with about quarter of an hour to go. Poor game. Disappointing result in the first match of the championship rounds. Might be a title race in the Danish first division after all.
Up Next: Away to Nykøbing at 1am on Sunday (NZT)
Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Some other week this might have been a headliner affair with three kiwis amongst the starters. Yet this particular week, annoyingly, saw Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne take place with none of them starting. Adam Thomas wasn’t in the squad for Shelbourne while Nando Pijanker and Max Mata were only on the bench for Sligo. Pijnaker because he had only just returned from All Whites duty within the previous 24-48 hours and Mata because he’s usually on the bench.
Mata was the one bloke of the trio who actually played, subbed on at HT for Aidan Keena with Rovers trailing 1-0 thanks to a silly penalty conceded with ten to go in the stanza. Wasn’t able to bag a winner though as the game ended in the same state as it had been in when Mata joined it. Not the best game to be honest. Largely devoid of attacking prowess. Such is football sometimes.
Up Next: Weds at 6.45am against Bohemians, then Sun at 6.45 against UCD (NZT)
Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)
A curious thing happened while Niko Kirwan was away on international duty: Südtirol lost. Went down 1-0 to FeralpiSalò thanks to a stoppage time penalty (no kidding) and since then they’ve also drawn 1-1 at home to Lecco - needing an 87th minute goal just to get that much. Five points dropped in two weeks by tehir biggest rivals and suddenly Padova are right back in the hunt for the conference championship and with it automatic promotion to Serie B.
Kirwan was on the bench his first game back but was subbed on at the break with the scores all even against Pro Vercelli. First thing he did was to try score a screamer on the volley, a ball cleared in his direction at LWB... he sent it about a kilometre over the top. All goods because Padova took the lead on the hour mark. Cosimo Chiricò finished off a slick counter. Pro Vercelli did come super close to levelling it up with a late header but otherwise Padova were well worth the win for the chances they created, even if it was only 1-0 in the end.
That result gets them within three points of Südtirol on the ladder and it just so happens that they face them next. That’s in the second leg of the Coppa Italia Lega Pro cup final with a trophy on the line after a 0-0 draw in the first leg... but they pair also play in the league in two weeks, a game that will probably decide which of the two clubs takes the title and which goes into the labyrinth of the playoffs.
Only four games left in the season (excluding any potential playoffs) and two trophies still out there to be won. It’s where any player wants to be at this stage of the campaign.
Up Next: Südtirol vs Padova, COLPC final on Thursday at 6am; then Monday at 12.30am against Giana Erminio in Serie C (NZT)
Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)
Did AFC Wimbledon win a game this week? Sad to say that they did not. Went down 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday. It was 1-1 at the half after Jack Hunt (SW) and Ayoub Assal (AFCW) traded goals and at that point the Dons were deservedly right in the contest. Missed a chance or two to win it – Assal had a 1v1 with ten to play that was saved – but still at least on pace for a very useful point... when Lee Gregory stole the biscuits for Wednesday in the 92nd minute with a well-placed header.
A 2-1 defeat means that the Dons still have not won since beating Accrington Stanley on 7 December. 22 winless games in all competitions, now four points adrift from safety. They sacked manager Mark Robinson earlier in the week and replaced him with Mark Bowen so maybe he’ll be able to spark something over the rest of the campaign. Got six games left to salvage their League One status.
Up Next: Dons vs Charlton on Weds at 6.45am; Dons vs MK Dons on Sun at 2am (NZT)
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