Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

These are the slim pickings weeks of Flying Kiwis when offseasons and international windows cause interruptions and yet here we are anyway with yarns still to be told. Once upon a time the column used to take a break around now. Those were in the old days. These are the new days, a new age of kiwi football.

Of which Bill Tuiloma has really emerged as one of the stars and in his first game back since All Whites WCQ disappointment he pretty much picked up where he left off for the Portland Timbers. No goals this week in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. Nah, he’s been doing too much of that lately and Tui’s too cool to be so repetitive. This week he mixed it up with an utterly delicious long range assist. Check out this beauty...

Pinpoint. Tuiloma already has five MLS goals this year, still the leading scorer for the Timbers, but this was his first assist. Chuck in a clean sheet as well and it was a good day at the office. Almost a great day but he wasn’t quite able to add a goal to the mix although he came extremely close, as we’ll see in a sec.

Portland entered this match having only taken one point from their last four fixtures and, despite the eventual scoreline, this was far from routine. At least in the first half. Yimmi Chara stung the keeper’s palms early but Colorado had their share of shots too. Quite a delicately balanced contest... until deep into stoppage time when the Rapids keeper clattered Santiago Moreno and Sebastian Blanco was able to score from the penalty spot. 45+8’ by the time that sucker went in.

That goal cleared out the clutter and Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored a ten-minute brace in the 54th and 62nd minutes to bust it open. Tui to Jaro for the first one. Already looked at that stunner of a goal. The VAR also took a very close look at it search for a handball on the chest-down. The commentators seemed to convince themselves it’d be disallowed but ultimately the ref thought otherwise. Looks fine from this angle, albeit very close.

Then Niezgoda scored again with an easy tap in finish from about a yard out after a super low ball from Eryck Williamson. Just seconds after Niezgoda probably shoulda scored from a Seb Blanco feed into the area. All’s well that ends well.

The only thing that remained was a Bill Tuiloma goal for the icing on the cake... but alas that pesky post got in the way. Bill Tuiloma mere inches from adding another spectacular goal to his tally. That reverse angle makes it look like he had the keeper beaten...

Ah well. A 3-0 win was a happy return to form for the Timbers, just their fourth of the campaign but hopefully a catalyst for a few more as they try to push up into the playoff hunt.

Don’t think that the Bill Tuiloma Resurgence isn’t being recognised all over, either. He didn’t need a goal to work his way into the MLS Team of the Week for that performance. This is his second TOW nod plus he’s been on the bench one other time. Michael Boxall also has one TOW bench appearance.

MLS.com: “Center back Bill Tuiloma had a beautiful long-ball assist and was otherwise dynamite as the New Zealand international continued a true level-up campaign.”

Up Next: Home to Houston Dynamo at 2.30pm on Thursday then away to Nashville SC at 12.30pm Monday (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

The vibes aren’t as flash for Michael Boxall and Minnesota United. Not after a 2-1 defeat away to Inter Miami. Boxy’s defence found themselves struggling against the long switches early on and weren’t able to create much of anything in the first half. Luckily their goalie made a great stop from Inter’s best chance of the first half and things remained even at the break.

Both teams had sneaky ones from corner kicks that threatened a breakthrough. Manny Reynoso was pulling strings for Minny, making things happen. After 64 mins he whipped in a deep cross which was turned back across goal. Defender got a touch. Didn’t clear it. Luis Amarilla stepped in and struck the Loons into the lead. 1-0 up with about a third of the match left. Just gotta close it out.

Instead Inter Miami subbed on Indiana Vassilev with eight mins left and he scored a double to give Miami the win. Brutal stuff for Minny. Couldn’t cover the run through the backline in the 87th minute, sharp movement catching them off balance before an emphatic finish. Then a stumble in the area prevented a clearance in the 90th and Vassilev drilled in the winner. Four losses in a row including their US Open Cup loss to a lower tier team... yet for some reason the club chose this week to give their manager a contract extension. Weird.

Easy solution in the offing though. Simply gotta find a way to turn Michael Boxall into an attacking weapon the way that Portland has done with Bill Tuiloma. Get him on free kicks. Target him at corner time. Chuck him up front late in games when you’re chasing. Blueprint is set.

Up Next: Away to LA Galaxy on Thursday at 2.30pm then home to Real Salt Lake on Monday at midday (NZT)

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

Carrying on the way things have been going with the kiwi lads dishing out goal contributions for Haka.

This was a challenging game away to SJK in the midweek in which Logan Rogerson was a starter but Ollie Whyte dropped to the bench. Rogerson’s pace in behind was again a huge factor, he nearly scored in the 25th running in from the right but as he cut back inside to shoot he lifted the ball over the top. Then, basically straight away down the other end, a rash tackle led to a penalty and SJK were winning 1-0 instead.

Haka responded slickly and created a few more strong chances in the first half, many from set pieces, before finally getting level in the 58th as Janne-Pekka Laine won a tackle on the high press, with Rogerson at least helping set the edge to prevent and easy escape pass, and he then curled a shot around an out of position goalie from a mile out. Nicely done from that lad. Whyte was then subbed on soon afterwards to chase a winner yet what happened was that the conceded again from a corner kick.

But then Ollie Whyte served a great couple return passes to Lee Erwin on 72’ and this game was back on equal pegging which was how it remained. 2-2 the final score. Haka still clinging to a top half position on the ladder and in a couple days they’ll get a shot at knocking the current top team in the land out of the cup.

Up Next: Quarter final of the cup on Thursday at 3.30am against KuPS, get in there (NZT)

Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

Not a heap going on here as Sligo drew 0-0 away at Drogheda United. Nando Pijnaker missed out with illness so can’t give him a shout out for the clean sheet. Can’t give anyone much of a shoutout as neither team particularly got amongst it – only one shot on target each, though Sligo Rovers did have the better of possession.

However there was a ninety minute outing for Max Mata who continues to impress. Pijnaker’s good form in Ireland has had a lot to do with opportunity and having seen much more of what he offers at the international level it was a known thing that when he finally got regular club games he’d go swell. Mata on the other has had some fine outings – like his goal-filled stint in Estonia – but was coming off a struggling year in the American USL. Yet the more he’s played for Sligo Rovers the better he has looked. Really finding a solid home.

Mata was the central man in an attacking trio and was there ready to pounce on 14 mins had Aidan Keena’s square ball gotten past the last defender. His flick on header early second half also led, via a defensive error, to Will Fitzgerald running through but a recovering tackle denied him at the last moment. Drogheda had a couple close calls within the last ten mins themselves but in the end this was a tame goalless draw. Four games unbeaten for Sligo who are beginning to get into their groove under their new manager.

Sligo Rovers’ incoming task is a game against Shelbourne on Sunday who had Adam Thomas back in their ranks in a 0-0 draw with Dundalk this past week. Thommo was an unused sub but it was the first time he’s been in a matchday squad for two months following injury. Thomas has made four appearances for Shelbourne all up in 2022 so far.

Up Next: Sunday at 6.45am against Shelbourne (NZT)

Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Allsvenskan)

You know those games when you concede really early, play very well but just can’t find that equaliser, then end up losing 1-0? Francis De Vries knows them better. That’s what happened to the All Whites the other week and it’s what happened to Värnamo in his first game back... granted not in such controversial circumstances.

FDV got the full game at left back. Completely entrenched as first choice at this point. But away against Kalmar a fifth minute in-swinging corner kick was met highest by Lars Sætra and that would prove the only goal. In fairness, this wasn’t entirely like the All Whites. Kalmar were the stronger team most of the way and had twice as many total shots even if the possession was pretty even.

The Varnies had their moments. One of the best of which was an FDV corner in the sixth minute of stoppage time with their keeper up in the area. It was goalie vs goalie on the end of that tasty delivery but one keeper had the use of his hands and the other had to lead with his head so you can guess who won the duel. 1-0 final score. Moving on.

Up Next: Monday at 1am away to Varbergs (NZT)

Jamie Searle – Barnsley (English League One)

He’s only just signed for the club but already Jamie Searle has been thrust into preseason action. Walking out for the second half of a friendly against Worksop Town. Not the most illustrious of opponents to be fair bit it was the first match in charge for new manager Michael Duff and Searle was the second keeper used. Good signs for a bloke who to date has just one senior professional appearance and it was his All Whites debut. The game ended 3-1, Searle conceding from a penalty spot midway through his half of action.

The new season begins at the very end of July, a couple weeks earlier than normal due to the very inconvenient World Cup break in November. Barnsley will play at least three more friendly games prior to then so hopefully Searle continues to get minutes and can assert himself as the backup moving into the real stuff.

Up Next: There’s an exhibition game next week against Crewe Alexandra

Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

Who even needs an offseason, aye? Most All Whites who were part of that last squad are on holiday at the moment but Marko Stamenic can’t afford to skip out on important early preseason opportunities with the Danish champions as he tries to make his case for first team squad duties. So as FCK played friendly number one of their 2022-23 preparations, against Silkeborg, there was Marko amongst the starters. Named at centre-back, curiously enough.

Not a lot of single digit numbers there. Game one, very much a team of backups for the most part. Stamenic played the first half before a raft of changes followed at the break. Lots of touches. Looked very comfortable on the ball moving it around and trying to instigate things. Stepped up in the dribble a couple times. Didn’t have a heap of defending to do but there were some nice moments. Good half from the fella. Then he went and put his feet up.

Marko Stamenic had a prominent role in early preseason a year ago before spending the term out on loan with HB Køge, first for half a season then he went back on a second loan following the winter break. He was top quality for HBK playing in the second tier of Danish footy and starting basically every game he was available for. Usually as a defensive midfielder. The trick now is whether he’s ready for first team footy or if another loan will have to suffice since as good as he was for HBK there’s a big difference between a lower half second tier team and the defending league champions. But that’s what preseason is for.

Up Next: Got another friendly against Dutch club Feyenoord at midnight on Sunday (NZT)

Michael Woud – Kyoto Sanga (Japanese J-League)

Happy days after a midweek cup victory. Squeezed in cup games often mean a chance for the backup keeper to show what they’ve got and sure enough Michael Woud delivered with a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Sminizu S-Pulse. Keita Nakano scored the clinching goal after 58 minutes. Woud got an 87th min yellow card as Kyoto Sanga did what needed to be done to preserve the win and advance into the fourth round.

Not a classic game. Not one that’ll be remembered for long. But in wet conditions away from home, Sanga were able to get a deserved dub. Woud still hasn’t played in a J-League game (though he’s been on the bench a heap) yet he has started four of the six cup games that he’s been available for. This was his first game since an extra time win in the same competition three weeks earlier.

Up Next: The one that matters is 13 July TBD against Tochigi in the next round of the Emperor’s Cup, when Woud is likely to make his next appearance (NZT)

Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)

Moses Dyer off the head. In you go, fella.

This was an important goal too, putting his team back into the lead with less than twenty to play after Alessando Riggi’s opener (51’) had been almost instantly cancelled out by Osaze De Rosario (52’) for hosts York United. Sean Rea, whose corner kick earned the assist for Dyer’s goal, then added another in the 89th minute and that was that. 3-1 win away from home for Valour FC which flips them ahead of their opponents on the ladder and will hopefully give them a bit of momentum as they seek to climb up the ladder.

Doubtful they can catch Myer Bevan’s Cavalry team though. That lot has gone four points clear in first (with two games in hand on second, though others can catch them with their own games in hand) thanks to a five game winning streak... which Bevan has played little part in. He’s missed the last three games with a hamstring strain. Bevan has two goals in the CPL this season (plus another in the Canadian Cup) while Dyer has four bangers (but leads the league in total shot attempts). The golden boot leader has six goals as it stands.

Up Next: Thursday at 11am, Forge vs Valour (NZT)

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

Ali Riley is so damn good in these kinda situations. She’s already had a superb footy career and if she wants it she’ll absolutely have a superb media career afterwards too.

Up Next: Footy Ferns vs Wales at 4.30am on Wednesday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)

That article is paywalled, which is a pain in the arse, but here’s the excerpted bit via a sneaky Google Translation...

Ryan Thomas is happy that PSV wants to help him come back: "Fortunately, we were careful at home with what I earned"

INTERVIEW After another operation on his knee, Ryan Thomas faces months of recovery. The adventure at PSV is over after four years, but he does not blame the club. “PSV wants to help me move forward again and I really appreciate that. I'm going to be a professional footballer again, at whatever level.”

Ryan Thomas would have loved to have been on the field this weekend during PSV's practice match against German amateurs. Instead, he is forced to take a few weeks of complete rest and focus on his family. He tells his story in Eindhoven not on the grass of De Herdgang, but among his children's toys. Without a contract but with something to hold on to because of his character and fighting spirit.

The impression you get from that is he’s a fair way from being back on the footy pitch but that he’s definitely got the hunger to make that comeback. As already reported, PSV may have released him as his contract expired but they’re allowing him to continue to use the club facilities for his recovery. You can’t always tell with these things, that idea about ‘another operation on his knee’ could mean he’s had a new one fairly recently or it could refer to the operation late last year which caused this extended absence. Either way it’s all a matter of time. Just gotta stay patient and let the knee come right.

Up Next: Not much

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