Flying Kiwis – May 31
Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)
Back in December, Celtic lifted the SWPL Cup thanks to a 1-0 win over Glasgow City in the final with a 25th minute Caitlyn Hayes header from a corner the difference between the two teams. This time around they met Glasgow City again in the Scottish Women’s Cup and there were a fair few more goals.
Celtic went close early on as Charlie Wellings cut in and shot from six yards but was shut down by City keeper Lee Alexander. However it wasn’t too much longer before a lovely dink into the area from Jacynta saw Shen Mengyu pick up the ball in enough space to pummel her shot in off the frame at the near stick. Perfect angles and Celtic led after 18 mins.
That lead only lasted five minutes before a perfect free kick delivery from out wide allowed Jenna Clark to convert from close range... but Clark undid that good work when she chopped down Clarissa Larisey in the box after 35 mins, allowing Charlie Wellings to put Celtic back into the lead from the penalty spot for her 40th goal of the season in all comps, incredibly. Except then five mins later Celtic gave up a penalty of their own, Jodie Bartle dragging down Priscila Chinchilla before she could get to a low cross, and that incident was not only deemed a spot kick but also a deliberate attempt to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity thus Bartle was sent off. Controversial one for sure.
Glasgow City scored the spottie so it was 2-2 at the half and Celtic had to play a woman down the rest of the way, having already lost two leads. And yet... they didn’t revert into their shells and play for penalties. It helped that a lot of their best attacks stemmed from speed in behind the line so they didn’t need to overcommit players forward. They could remain sturdy at the back and still threaten goals. Liv Chance was amongst those who went close to something special...
She also played this absolute stunner of a through ball...
Meanwhile both goalies made killer saves, City having just as many chances to win it as Celtic produced, and thus we were off to extra time. Which was where Izzy Atkinson did this...
113th minute of the match, Celtic up 3-2. Glasgow City were unable to find a response in the time that remained. The Ghirls may have finished 17 points off Rangers in first place in the SWPL and they may have finished 10 points back from Glasgow City in second, missing out on the Champions League qualifiers, but they beat City in the SWPL Cup final and they’ve beaten City in the Scottish Cup final. League Cup and Scottish Cup double in the bag. This was the club’s first ever Scottish Cup title and they hadn’t won a trophy of any description for 11 years prior to this season. Get amongst it.
Up Next: Season’s end, party on
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
You’re not going to believe this (jokes, you will) but he’s done it again...
He scores when he wants. That’s now five goals for the season in only 14 matches, more than he’d scored in his previous four seasons combined (77 matches). And once again it was an acrobatic header that did the trick. Once again from a set piece, albeit this particular corner was taken short and then crossed in. The MLS is entering a three-week break around the international window now and as it stands Tuiloma is two goals clear as leading scorer for the Timbers.
Tuiloma didn’t even start this game. For only the second time this season he was left on the bench by the Timbers (he did also miss an additional match for All Whites duty), having to watch the first 65 mins as his team dug themselves into a 0-2 hole away against Inter Miami. Leonardo Campana (27’) and Robert Taylor (59’) with the goals. Portland staring at a third straight defeat if that scoreline held and based on how they’d been playing they couldn’t really have any arguments.
But they did have a few trump cards on the bench so on came Bill Tuiloma, Santiago Moreno, and Sebastian Blanco on 66’. It was then Moreno who set up Tuiloma’s goal a dozen mins later to spark potential for an unlikely comeback. Tuiloma found himself splitting time between central midfield and left-back so he was plenty involved as the team pushed forward for the equaliser. Nathan Fogaça had a couple close calls. Cristhian Paredes walloped a shot off the frame of the goal.
But they couldn’t make it happen, going down to a 2-1 defeat that leaves the Timbers in a frustrating place ahead of the break. As remarkable as the Bill Tuiloma stuff is, the team as a whole have been struggling recently and the fact that he’s the team’s top scorer is both a credit to Bill... and an indictment of the rest of the Timbers attack.
Bill Tuiloma: “We kind of struggled a little bit. We picked it up again and figured out what to do on the pitch and where they were hurting us. We basically locked that down and the subs who came on put a lot more energy into the game. Happy to get the goal, but still, we didn’t get the result that we wanted.”
Up Next: All Whites, forget the rest
Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Midweek cup footy and down 2-0 away to a lower tier KTP. Things were looking kinda dire. So Ollie Whyte and Logan Rogerson, both starting, got busy. Whyte skipped past a couple defenders and worked a few one-twos. Rogerson tried a cut-back. Whyte had a shot blocked. Finally on 40 mins it was Whyte who picked up the ball on halfway and sent Rogerson down the left wing, Rogerson then waxed his marker a couple times and chipped a ball over which the keeper pushed onto the bar and then Donaldo Acka finished the rebound from close range. Back in it.
Five mins after the half it was all level. Stavros Zarokostas smacking one through the crowd from the second phase after a deep free kick. 2-2 and FC Haka were rolling. In the 64th minute they won a free kick just outside the penalty area and old mate Oliver Whyte did this...
Fantastic goal. Zarokostas then went and scored another deep into stoppage time after Whyte and Rogerson had each been replaced. 4-2 was the final score. Had to come back and do it the hard way but FC Haka were eventually able to overcome KTP to advance to the sixth round of the Suomen Cup thanks in large part to an assist from Logan Rogerson and a wonderful goal from Ollie Whyte.
But wait there’s more. FC Haka also had a league game to get through before Logan Rogerson could jet off to Spain to join the All Whites for the international break. At home against FC Lahti. Whyte was an unused sub for this match despite his heroics a few days earlier but Rogerson got all ninety mins in what was an interesting game with both teams having decent chances. Rogerson’s pace and trickery on the right wing was definitely a big factor for Haka and he went so close to scoring on 56’ as he forced a great low save from the Lahti goalie cutting in on the break. But the thing to know is that it was still 0-0 with five mins remaining when old mate Logan Rogerson did this...
Not his most convincing finish but who cares. In off the crossbar via the noggin. Lol at the teammate who didn’t realise the ball had crossed the line until everyone else started celebrating. That’s Whyte and Rogerson both with important goals this past week.
Sadly it wasn’t as important as it should have been because having taken an 85th minute lead, FC Haka then conceded a 94th minute equaliser. Allowing a ball to bounce inside their six yard box and a Lahti attacker got to it first. Sloppy stuff trying to protect a lead, ah well. 1-1 the final score. Haka sit seventh out of 12 teams heading into the international break.
Up Next: Couple weeks off for international break then it’s Haka vs Mariehamn at midnight on 19 June (NZT)
Abby Erceg & Katie Bowen – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Sneakily massive game for the Courage this week. Away to Houston Dash there was nothing specifically definitive on the line but due to covid troubles, their victorious Challenge Cup run, and a couple of slippery upsets the Courage have begun the league term with three consecutive defeats. Clearly that could not be allowed to continue.
Houston are a quality team and they threatened early as Rachel Daly angled a run into the area but her shot was saved. Though Erceg herself went close before much longer, a header from a corner that looked like it was travelling on target before he was cleared away near the line. Both teams traded corners in the opening phases. NCC did look dangerous whenever Debinha could find some open field but they were having trouble playing out from the back, at least until a move in the 24th min where Erceg drifted wide and instigated a move down the left wing which worked around the Dash press and led to Diana Ordonez picking up the ball in the box, skipping past one defender, drawing out the keeper, and sliding it past her for the opening goal. There ya go.
That lead held for most of the half with the shots really drying up from both teams in the aftermath. A Houston injury then meant that first half stoppage time got dragged out and dammit deep in the added-on stuff the Dash got forward in transition and Erceg wasn’t able to win the ball stepping up. That created an overload and Rachel Daly rounded the keeper before holding her nerve with a quality finish as recovery defenders closed in. 1-1 on the stroke of HT.
The Courage hadn’t gotten much going after their goal and they continued to not get much going into the second half. Moving the ball around at the back was fine for NCC so Erceg got plenty of touches but progressing into the attacking third was tough business. Houston were the team playing more advanced. Erceg made a key block at one stage. Also an important tackle on Narelle Prince later on. Crucial couple headers off a Daly free kick. A necessary interception near the end. Not to mention some sharp offside trappings. Game ended 1-1. Katie Bowen with another unused sub afternoon.
Bit of an annoying one for North Carolina as the draw keeps them winless but at least they didn’t lose. Some of the concerns about all the important attacking players they’ve traded away in the last two years have certainly come to the fore since fresh signing Kerolin got injured in the Challenge Cup final. Without her the inexperience elsewhere has been exposed. Still, a decent battling point away from home in a game they could easily have lost... although the silver linings were dulled a day later when Kansas City won to leave NCC as the only winless team remaining.
Up Next: Sunday at midday away to Racing Louisville (NZT)
Ali Riley - Angel City FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Ali Riley was back in the starting line-up and captaining Angel City having made her return from a pesky ‘rona isolation a week ago off the bench. Back in her rightful position as ACFC took on Gotham FC and for the fourth game in a row, the Angels game finished with a 1-0 scoreline. But which way did it go?
AC had a few decent looks in the first half. Not much was going on but Jun Endo did force a save early on while Simone Charley arguably shoulda gotten a head on a deflected ball near the goal line only her defender nodded it to safety without even jumping. City the more aggressive team to that point but it was goalless at the break.
Then it wasn’t goalless any more. 57th minute and... it was Gotham who got it. ACFC unable to deal with a bouncing ball in the area. CB Vanessa Gilles stepped out and won it but she only nudged it as far as Ifeoma Onumonu who smashed it through the keeper to score. The Angels stepped it up in search of a goal of their own and somehow didn’t find one with ten to play when Christen Press’ effort was tipped onto the post and then Endo’s follow up was also saved. They had 23 shots in total compared to only 7 for Gotham. Ali Riley was subbed off with five left, an extra attacking player sent on. But Angel City went down 1-0.
Up Next: Away to Portland Thorns on Saturday at 2.30pm (NZT)
Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)
With many European seasons coming to an end around this time of the year you can expect a heap more contract/transfer news in Flying Kiwis over the next wee while. Already had a few good yarns last week in those areas and there’ll be plenty more to come. Such as this one, for example.
Jacqui Hand’s season isn’t finishing any time soon but she has signed a new contract. Initially she only signed with Åland United until the end of June which was going to add up to about 8-9 games. Only half the campaign, taking her up to the month-long summer break in the Finnish league. It looks like that was probably so that the club could stay cautious and cut their losses if things didn’t work out but that’s not something they’ve had to worry about as Jacqui Hand has hit the ground running as a professional footballer with goals and assists and that’s culminated in a contract extension to take her through until the end of the 2022 season. Sweet as.
Up Next: Weds at 3.30am they’re away to Honka (NZT)
Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Consecutive wins for the first time ever in the top flight for the Varnies and a 1-0 win over Hammarby, who had been top of the ladder coming into this round, probably ranks up there as one of the most famous wins the club has ever had. How about them apples? Francis De Vries played the full game too.
Marcus Antonsson scored the decisive goal in the 49th minute. Made that run in between the central defenders and managed to take in a beautiful first touch on the run to set up his shot which he buried past the goalie and into the bottom corner. On ya, son. The goal happened in transition but FDV was gunning it up that left wing in support at pace so he was the first to get there to celebrate with Antonsson, who ten minutes later nearly had a second from a similar position after FDV had centred the play and then Antonsson had been picked out with a shorter-range through ball. Good save by the keeper though.
Hammarby’s best attacking stuff came right at the end as they pestered for a leveller to no avail. FDV and that Varny defence keeping another Allsvenskan clean sheet despite the team only having 34% of possession. Neatly limited one of the leading teams in the nation to only one shot on target and with that win they move comfortably up within range of the mid-table muddle as the league takes a month off.
Up Next: Kalmar vs Värnamo on 28 June at 5am (NZT)
Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)
Joe Bell and Brøndby did not have a game this week, which was exactly what they were hoping for. After last week confirmed their fourth place finish they didn’t know if that was the end of the term or not as they may still have needed to partake in a playoff for their European footy qualification depending on the outcome of the Danish Cup final. If Midtjylland won then, with FCM having already made the Champions League qualifiers due to their Superliga position, that extra spot would be given to Brøndby in fourth and then fifth-placed Aalborg would face top of the relegation round Viborg in the playoff. But if underdogs OB won then Brøndby would drop into that playoff instead.
Well, it was a bloody close one. Nothing between the two sides as FCM were unable to breakdown the OB defences over 120 minutes despite a gluttony of chances (OB had a few of their own too, defs not one way traffic) and in the end it took penalties to split them. But Midtjylland came through the shootout fire to lift the trophy and ensure that Joe Bell’s first half season in Denmark came to an end then and there. Brøndby will enter the Europa Conference League in the second qualifying round next season. Viborg beat Aab 3-1 in the playoff so they’ll join them.
Bell ends his campaign having played 15 matches for his new club, 13 of them as a starter. No goals or assists (he didn’t even have a shot on target and averaged less than a shot every two games due to his mostly defensive midfield role) and unfortunately he was out there across the seven-game losing streak that derailed their season – going from two points off second when the championship rounds began to finishing 17 points off second (though somehow only dropping one spot on the ladder). Tricky settling-in period for the bro hence he lost his starting spot for the final two matches (still appearing as a sub in each) but a full preseason oughta do wonders ahead of the next campaign.
Up Next: All Whites, mate, you know it
Callum McCowatt & Elijah Just - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 1)
Breathe a wistful sigh of relief because the Danish First Division is finally over. FC Helsingør ended things with a 3-2 loss at home against Nykøbing. True to recent form it was a 90th minute concession that did them. Scored first on 20’ through Oliver Drost, conceded twice within ten mins of that lead to be losing 2-1. Levelled things up via Tonni Adamsen on 56’. Allowed a winner right at the end.
That means they ended with three straight defeats. A run of five losses immediately at the start of the championship rounds had seen what looked like sure-fire promotion chances plummet and then after a win and a draw subsequently got things back into their own control they went and lost those last three. Hence how they went from this just before the champo rounds...
To this at the conclusion of the season...
Devastating collapse. Eight points clear in first to missing out on second place by eight points. That’s going to take some getting over.
No goals or assists for McCowatt or Just in this last match however Just did start and play 59 minutes while McCowatt was back on the bench having missed the previous two matches, he came on as part of the same double sub that saw Just replaced. As awful as the last ten games of the season ended up being, it was still a great year for both those two fellas. Elijah Just played 29 games (24 starts) during which he logged 2031 minutes and scored 7 goals with 4 assists. Callum McCowatt played 26 games (18 starts) for 1599 mins of action in which he scored 6 goals with 6 assists. Wasn’t enough in the end to launch them into the SuperLiga but can’t argue with the individual numbers.
Up Next: Bit of All Whites to take the minds off all that
Max Crocombe - Grimsby Town (English National League)
Mate if you thought the last-gasp winner in the National League playoff quarters vs Notts County last week was nuts, get a load of what happened this week in the semis against Wrexham. An opponent who, just to add some more spice to the sauce, are owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who were both in attendance offering an unusual level of glitz to a non-league English football game (McElhenney is Mac from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia btw, one of the all time great TV comedies).
This was a game for the ages. Grimsby Town had the ball in the net after three mins but it was offside so didn’t count. That call was fair enough. The penalty that Wrexham were awarded ten mins later probably a bit more debatable but Paul Mullin buried it for the opening goal all the same. Smashed down the middle and Max Crocombe got caught moving to his right. Luckily for Grimsby they were only down for two spins of the clock before John McAtee whacked in a lovely equaliser from distance.
There were no more goals in the first half although Wrexham had one disallowed for a foul as a long throw was headed in. Crocombe obstructed, that was enough. Soon afterwards another launch into the area required Crocombe to make a remarkable save... which is exactly what he did. Before long he tipped another one away which was then subsequently headed off the line by a defender. Living dangerously but it remained 1-1 at HT.
It was around then that things went bonkers. Grimsby Town took the lead as captain Luke Waterfall buried a powerful header. They had a couple more chances to extend that lead which they didn’t take and then Wrexham levelled through Ben Tozer, finally capitalising on one of those set piece crosses, before Paul Mullin got his second two mins later (long throw of course) and it was 3-2 to Wrexham on 65’. More controversy there as replays showed that Mullin actually put the ball in with his arm. Nobody spotted it in the moment and he got away with it.
Oh but we were just getting started here, friend. 72nd min and Ryan Taylor chested off a punt from Crocombe in the other half and then got himself into the area for the cross from McAtee which he nestled home with his head. And six mins after that substitute Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed in at the back stick to make it 4-3 to Grimsby, bloody hell. Alas it was only about ninety seconds before Jordan Davis levelled up with a header from yet another set piece. One of the themes of the day.
Nobody scored in the last ten. Off to extra time. Tiredness reigned... but there was one last twist in this tale. 118 minutes were played and penalties were on the horizon when a long throw from Grimsby Town was met the by the head of Luke Waterfall. No saving that one. Grimsby Town won their first playoff with a goal in the 119th minute. They won this one with a goal in the 118th minute. The final score here was 5-4 and now the Mariners are but one game away from League Two.
Up Next: Playoff final is on Monday at 2am against Solihull Moors (NZT)
Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)
The first leg of Padova’s Serie C promotion playoff semi-final tie against Catanzaro... was not particularly noteworthy. Away from home, we got plenty of good Niko Kirwan minutes at left wing-back again but mostly defensive minutes as Padova kept things tidy and didn’t allow a decent scoring opportunity against them until about 55 mins in (a long range worm-burner that was tipped wide). Prior to that they’d forced several saves of their own and even gotten the ball in the back of the net only for the offside flag to get in the way (upheld by VAR but debatable as to whether there was interference or not).
They did then have to deal with a couple awkward moments the rest of the way but mostly this was a tense first leg in which neither team wanted to make the mistake that’d let the tie get away from them. It ended in a finely balanced 0-0 draw. Ninety mins for Niko Kirwan and everything to play for in the second leg back at home.
How about that second leg then? Yeah, this was when the action erupted because against the odds it was Catanzaro who took the lead after half an hour through Dimitris Sounas. Not the way things were intended to go for Padova but to be fair to Catanzaro they had already hit the post once. Hardly a random goal. Padova went extremely close to an immediate leveller as one effort was saved by the keeper rushing out and then two follow-ups were blocked by defenders inside the six yard box.
It was still 0-1 as the second half got underway. Niko Kirwan had begun at LWB but he’d swapped over to the right hand side by this stage and he went close with a header on 52’ that went into the ground and clipped the crossbar as it bounced over, though he was whistled up for a foul on his marker so wouldn’t have counted. From there Padova continued to get a roll on. Chance after chance. Finally they were able to tie things back up after 76 mins. Felipe Castaldo Curcio with the corner kick header which was finally awarded after a long look at the replay to check that there wasn’t an offside player interfering with the goalie.
A deserved leveller for the home side whose manager afterwards praised their patience and high level of creative football. They almost had to be even more patient as unlike the quarters where a draw on aggregate was enough for Padova to advance via their superior regular season league placing, here there was extra time on the cards. Almost... but in the end it wasn’t necessary because in the 97th minute of the match old mate Cosimo Chirico whipped a stunning free kick top corner with his left foot from just outside the area and Padova won it 2-1. They were on the brink with quarter of an hour remaining. Even after they equalised they had some sketchy moments at the back that weren’t punished (including a handball shout). But they found a way when it mattered and are now only two games away from Serie B.
Padova will face Palermo in the finals who finished third in Group C and just beat Feralpisalò 4-0 over two legs in their semi. Only drama there is that the games are played on the next two Mondays, both of which fall within the FIFA international window and Niko Kirwan has been called up for that All Whites squad. So they’re presumably gonna have to do it without him.
Up Next: Padova vs Palermo, Monday TBD (NZT)
Andre De Jong – AmaZulu FC (South African Premier Soccer League)
Yeah boy, one last start for Andre De Jong in the final game of the PSL season for AmaZulu. Weird thing about this game is that it was initially played three days earlier and ADJ wasn’t in the starting line-up (though he was subbed on after 69 mins) but the game wasn’t able to be completed as some torrential rain led to a waterlogged pitch that with fifteen mins still remaining and the scores tied 1-1 was deemed to be unplayable. There had already been a delay earlier. Now the game was called off and rescheduled to be played from the start.
Rescheduled for a few days later, whereupon AmaZulu made three changes including ADJ. AmaZulu took the lead in the 40th minute. A terrible pass from the Golden Arrows keeper which went behind his centre-back and straight to Sphesihle Maduna who was able to pump his shot past that same keeper to punish the error. Andre De Jong was up in support to his left but Maduna went the other way and shot instead – can’t argue given the outcome. Unfortunately they conceded almost immediately. Good near post finish from Velemseni Ndwandwe and a goal which to be fair did better reflect a game that Arrows had certainly had the better of to that point.
De Jong almost had a great chance on 58’ but a teammate got to the cross ahead of him and headed over the top. He was subbed off a bit later on so that was his season done and dusted. Coming off contract in a month so it remains to be seen if this was his final game for the club. Without him the score lasted into the last ten mins but then a silly foul allowed Nduduzo Sibiya to win it for Arrows from the penalty spot. 83rd minute. 2-1 the final score. AmaZulu end the term in seventh place – this was interim manager Brandon Truter’s first loss since taking over from Benni McCarthy as coach two months ago.
ADJ finishes the 2021-22 campaign having made 19 PSL appearances – 8 starts and 11 sub apps. No goals but he did bag three assists. Also played one Champions League game off the bench. He’s never actually scored at all for AmaZulu across his three seasons although injury and selections haven’t always given him much of a chance to. 32 PSL apps combined. 34 games in total for AmaZulu including cup competitions.
Up Next: *shrugs*
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
One more game before flying off to meet up with the All Whites... and it was a US Open clash against a lower tier Union Omaha team, one which Boxy may well have been rested for had he not conveniently gotten himself suspended for the weekend’s MLS match due to yellow card accumulation.
Only drama there was that, well, they lost. Out in the round of sixteen to sever the last kiwi link to the competition this season and not only were they booted out by a team from below their division but it happened despite the Loons taking a sixth minute lead. Franco Frangapane with the cut back and Adrien Hunou with the finish. Minnesota United already in front and they failed to capitalise.
Opportunities were wasted, including a shot cleared off the line in the 45th min, then in first half stoppage time a goal kick up the middle was flicked on and Michael Boxall was suddenly the last man trying to keep up with Hugo Kametani and although he got a shoulder in to disrupt him he couldn’t prevent the shot and reserve goalie Eric Dick couldn’t save it. Boxy appealed for an offside which on reflection probably should have been flagged but with no VAR there was no salvation. Then five mins into the second stanza Boxall got a head to a cross but it looped up to the back post where Joe Brito chested it down and volleyed it in. A bad call and a superb finish, two decisive moments and now Minny were losing.
Needless to say they bossed the entire rest of the match. Ended up with 76% of possession. They didn’t do nearly enough with it... but still there were instances that could have swung matters. None more so than when DJ Taylor thumped an effort off the bar with fifteen mins to go. Final score 2-1 to Omaha. Minnesota United are out of the US Open Cup.
Then they went and lost 1-0 to New York City FC in the game that Boxall was suspended for. Alexander Callens with the 29th minute winner for NYCFC in that one. Not ideal. With 18 points from 14 games the Loons are currently outside of the playoff spots (as are Bill Tuiloma’s Portland Timbers). Bit of work to be done before they next play.
Up Next: Minny’s following MLS game isn’t until midday on 20 June, away to New England (NZT)
Emma Rolston - Avaldsnes IL (Norwegian Toppserien)
‘Twas a tough task for Avaldsnes this week against league leaders Brann who had won 10/11 games to start the season and drawn the other one. Avaldsnes, on the other hand, had only won twice so this was one they were probably expected to get pasted in... yet instead they produced one of their best showings of the term to date.
Starting with a 19th minute goal for Cille Nilsen to give them the lead. Which, based on the replay, probably should’ve been an own goal as that effort was surely travelling off target until it took a glance off a defender’s head. Regardless, great goal and a stunning lead for the underdogs.
That left them having to deal with a wounded animal in Brann who threw plenty at them and were back on even terms within twenty mins. Elisabeth Terland with the curling shot on 37’ which the Avaldsnes keeper couldn’t push away to safety. However if that was supposed to be the opening of the floodgates then it wasn’t. Avaldsnes dug in at 1-1, their goalie more than making amends for that goal, and time kept ticking by. They even had a pretty useful penalty should declined up the other end.
Emma Rolston was in an attacking midfield role so you can understand how she was dragged pretty deep at times to help her team try and survive against the league leaders. The pressure was ongoing. Rollo was subbed off with quarter of an hour to go as they tried to solidify that defence. Then, devastatingly, they conceded right at the end. Stoppage time. On the brink of a superb point when Tuva Hansen drove in a half-volley for the 2-1 Brann win. Gah, so close.
Up Next: Away to Stabæk on Monday at 1am (NZT)
Myer Bevan - Cavalry FC (Canadian Premier League)
Phwoar, tell ya what!
Myer Bevan has been on a scoring streak lately for Cavalry FC but most of those goals been standard striker fodder. Right place, right time for the simple finish. This was not that. This was a stunner lashed past the keeper from range to give his team the underdog lead in a Canadian Cup tie against MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps... whom Myer Bevan just so happened to have been a part of back in the All-Whitecaps days. Didn’t click for him back then but he just showed Vancouver a bit of what they missed out on, that’s for sure.
That goal came in the 72nd minute, one of only two shots on target that his team had all afternoon. It was tough for them to create much against a team from a higher level but they hung in defensively and then scored a blinder to put them in position for a famous cupset... until an own goal in the 85th min levelled things up and ultimately sent the two teams to a penalty shootout. Myer Bevan went first for his team and scored to match Vancouver’s earlier success but their fourth taker failed and then the Caps scored to advance to the semis. Gutted. Still, they took an MLS team to penalties which is no mean feat.
Cavalry then worked a 1-0 win away to York United back in the CPL, Bevan with ninety minutes up top though it was teammate Aribim Pepple who bagged the 73rd minute winner. Nothing wrong with sharing them around now and then.
Up Next: Cavalry vs Wanderers on Sunday 12 June at 7.30am (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Liverpool (English Championship)
Tell ya what, if that’s the last official act that Mouse gets to experience as a Liverpool player then she’s leaving in style. Open top bus parade through the streets of the city with both the men’s and women’s team showing off their trophies from the season past. Huge crowd of fans there to celebrate. Incredible scenes.
Up Next: Gotta find a new club
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