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

It’s a funky time for the Flying Kiwis desk with the All Whites in camp while many European seasons have come to an end recently plus the international window is affecting others that are still ongoing... and yet the abundance of Flying Kiwis goodness means there’s still enough going on to keep churning out the yarns. Leading with a resurgent win for Abby Erceg and the North Carolina Courage.

Despite winning the Challenge Cup (and partly because of it), the Courage were the last team to win in the NWSL this year but they finally rediscovered their attacking prowess with a 3-0 victory against Racing Louisville to get off the duck following a draw against Houston last week. A resurgent win after postponements, busy fixtures, injuries, and covid caused a bit of a stumble.

Katie Bowen was an unused sub for the 11th time out of 12 games this season so that’s getting beyond annoying now. But Erceg was typically sharp as the Courage finally kept another clean sheet, their first since the opening two games of the Challenge Cup group stage back in March. Rarely looked troubled and they led for basically the whole match after Kaleigh Kurtz had headed in from a recycled Debinha cross inside four minutes.

No surprises that NCC’s attack immediately emerged as Brazilian striker Kerolin returned from injury. She set up Brianna Pinto soon after and only a great save kept the Courage from doubling the lead inside ten mins. One of those rare troubling Louisville attacks came as a giveaway at left back caught Erceg positioned too high against the searing pace of former teammate Jess McDonald... but J-Mac hit the post. The Courage then made it 2-0 in first half stoppage time as a great cross from Merritt Mathias was headed in by Diana Ordonez and eventually Debinha got a deserved goal in second half stoppage time running in behind on the break to make it 3-0. A long overdue notch in the win column. Now it’s just a matter of making up for lost time because they’re still last on the ladder.

Up Next: 11am on Sunday away to Washington Spirit (NZT)

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

Not so flash for Angel City this week. Ali Riley was in her accustomed left-back spot with the captain’s armband as they took on Portland Thorns, the team they beat in the Challenge Cup group stage for the franchise’s first ever win, but they weren’t catching the Thorns out this time.

Long story short of it is that the Thorns scored twice inside the first twenty mins thanks to Kelli Hubly (15’) and Christine Sinclair (18’) and from there onwards they were always in control. First goal was a flawlessly placed header from a corner. The second came as Riley squared the ball to Clarisse Le Bihan under a bit too much pressure in the middle. A heavy touch from CLB allowed Hina Sugita to put it on a plate for Sinclair. Riley got across in cover but there was no stopping the inevitable.

ACFC did have a lot of possession the rest of the way but didn’t do enough with it. One goal might have swung things drastically if only they’d found it in time, instead Sinclair added her second of the evening with a tidy header from close range on 67’ and that was all she wrote. 3-0 to the Thorns.

Full game for Ali Riley at least, her first since getting covid last month. Back to maximum capacity again now. On that note...

Ali Riley: “I was really, really lucky that my [covid] experience was more like a head cold, which I think is a little bit of an anomaly. The other members of our ACFC family who who had it definitely had more like flu-like symptoms. I think Christen [Press] probably had a different experience than me.

I think it’s something that we just have to continue to be aware of [in] all sports in order to take care of athletes because we’re always going to push ourselves as soon as we’re not going to contaminate other people. We’re like, ‘Okay, let’s get back out there’ and it’s something that’s new. So I think it’s a little bit different than other colds where we know that you’ll see just a steady improvement over a short period of time. And I think to push players to come back, when maybe you need a break, these are things that I think we’re just all going to have to take care of. And I felt very taken care of, at this club in terms of monitoring everything.”

Up Next: Midweeker on Weds at 2pm against Houston Dash; then midday on Sunday away to Racing Louisville (NZT)

Max Crocombe - Grimsby Town (English National League)

They did it. Grimsby Town are heading back to the EFL, promoted to League Two a year after they were relegated... which sounds like a reasonably straightforward thing but this was anything but. After finishing sixth and making the playoffs, they needed a 96th minute equaliser and then a very late extra time winner to get past Notts County and then last week it took a 5-4 extra time win, again with a very late winner, to beat Wrexham.

So naturally there was drama in the final against Solihull Moors too. Probably to be expected as Solihull Moors had finished 10 points clear of Grimsby in league play including beating them in both previous meetings. Moors had the better of the first half. Both teams were cagey to begin with but Solihull found their feet quicker and Crocombe had to make a sharp stop off a deflected shot midway through after a cheap giveaway in midfield. First major involvement from Max, who was sturdy throughout but just as it looked like we’d be hitting the sheds at 0-0, a sharp header by Kyle Hudlin flew just beyond the diving reach of Crocombe and it was 1-0 to Solihull at HT.

Grimsby came from behind in both previous playoff games on this run so they weren’t daunted. They steadily increased the pressure without really creating anything substantial but it all added up and in the 70th minute of the match John McAtee ran through to slide in that goal they’d been craving. Moors tried to respond as the game got more open yet McAtee nearly won it for Grimsby with an outstretched touch that went past the post. But he didn’t thus for the third game in a row, Grimsby Town were off to extra time.

And for the third game in a row they won in extra time. Substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew with the close finish from a flicked-in long throw with ten mins left in the contest. The decisive moment. The Mariners with the 2-1 victory. They’re going up.

Which is funky because Nik Tzanev and AFC Wimbledon of course are going down after League One relegation (Tzanev is under contract and was on the club’s ‘retained’ list, if you were wondering) which means that these two kiwi goalkeepers are meeting in the middle at League Two... where defender Tommy Smith has already been playing for Colchester United. Could be three Aotearoa blokes at three different teams all in that same division. Plenty of Flying Kiwis Derby’s on the way.

Up Next: EFL League Two, baby

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Elitedivisionen)

It’s been a long while since Daisy Cleverley was scandalously overlooked at the NWSL college draft. Five years at uni between UC Berkeley and Georgetown and multiple World Cup squad selections, plus age grade stuff for New Zealand, and that apparently still wasn’t enough to convince one of them teams to sign her up last December. So it goes.

Jacqui Hand was also overlooked in that draft but has since moved to Åland United playing in the Finnish top flight where she’s immediately begun scoring and assisting goals to the point where last week she was offered an extension to her initial short-term contract. So things have worked out pretty well for her and it seems things have worked out pretty well for Daisy Cleverley too because signing with HB Køge is a Big Deal.

Marko Stamenic has been playing on loan for the men’s team at HBK lately. Lent there from FC København where despite some impressive preseason exploits he wasn’t quite ready to crack the first team on a regular basis for the team that would go on to win the Danish Superliga, earning a qualifying spot for next season’s Champions League in the process. Hence he found himself in the second division where he started basically every game he was available for and impressed just as was hoped/expected.

That’s the men’s team though. The women’s team at HB Køge is different gravy. They recently clinched their second consecutive Danish league championship and will likewise be a part of the qualifying phases for next season’s Champions League... same as Køge did this past season when they made it all the way to the group stage. Lost all six games there but to be fair they were in a group with Barcelona, Arsenal, and Hoffenheim.

So, basically, Daisy Cleverley has just signed with the best team in Denmark. A team which finally broke the duopoly between Brøndby and Fortuna Hjørring who between them had finished in some arrangement of first and second in each of the previous nineteen seasons.

Daisy Cleverley: “I look forward to entering a professional setup where all players and coaches are dedicated to winning. Having the opportunity to play in the Champions League is a once in a lifetime opportunity, which I can not wait to be allowed to try my hand at. Køge is located close to Copenhagen, one of the coolest and most progressive cities in the world, which also played a part in my decision to join the club. I look forward to experiencing Køge and the neighbouring towns and to refreshing my Danish, so I can say thank you! But most importantly, I look forward to meeting the team and to developing myself as a football player.”

HBK Head Coach Søren Randa-Boldt: “We found Daisy through our scouting network in the US and at Capelli Sport, and we have no doubt that she will strengthen us. She has good international experience and we think she will fit well into our environment and setup so we are really happy that we have succeeded in signing her. Daisy is a mobile and talented midfielder, where, among other things, she is good at getting around and covering large areas.”

Helpfully, Cleverley was a college teammate of current HBK player Kelly Fitzgerald back in her UC Berkeley days so there’ll already be an existing midfield combination there from day one. No doubt that connection was a factor in the move from both ends. Fellow American midfielder Lauren Sajewich also appears to be leaving the club after a couple years as a regular starter so that even opens up a convenient spot for DC to challenge for. Had to be patient after the NWSL snub… but safe to say things have worked out pretty sweet for her in time.

Meanwhile HBK went and beat second-placed Fortuna Hjørring 1-0 in the final game of the term. Cecilie Fløe Nielsen with the 52nd minute goal as they celebrated their title in style. Happy days.

Up Next: Daisy Cleverley’s turn next time

Niko Kirwan – Calcio Padova (Italian Serie C)

Niko Kirwan’s away with the All Whites trying to qualify for a World Cup at the moment but his Calcio Padova team are still battling through the Serie C playoffs trying to earn promotion. Awkward timing with Kirwan having to miss the two legs of the final after playing every minute of their previous four playoff matches. Not only is he missing out on that experience (admittedly for an even better one) but Padova are also without a first choice wing-back.

And they’ve got their work cut out next week after a 1-0 loss in the home leg against Palermo. One sloppy moment in the tenth minute of the game, a pair of charged down clearances preventing them from getting the ball to safety and then the ball rolled across the six yard box to be tapped in by Roberto Floriano. That’s all it can take sometimes.

Quarter of an hour later Padova thought they’d equalised but nah up went the offside flag and VAR confirmed the decision. Fella broke the line running from just over halfway. Then on 30’ they had another dose of almost as the Palermo keeper rushed out against a cross and a Padova forward was able to win the header anyway which seemed destined for goal... until a defender managed to hack it off the line via the crossbar. Insane defending. Plus another header was glanced past the back stick. Palermo did hit the post from a cheeky low overhead in the second half but Padova also had further chances and they’ll be sleeping very uneasy for the rest of this week knowing they’ve gotta overturn this deficit somehow.

Up Next: Monday at 7am in the second leg, Palermo vs Padova (NZT)

Erin Nayler - Umeå IK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

It’s getting a bit frisky for Umeå now. A decent start to their return to the top flight is now very much in the distant past after six straight defeats. The latest was a 3-1 loss to Piteå in which they took the lead after a dozen minutes as Vilma Emilia Koivisto slammed in a rebound after a lovely flowing move up the left wing had initially been denied by the keeper. UIK exactly where they wanted to be.

But Hanna Andersson levelled things up on 26’ with a deflected shot from outside the area which flew over and past Erin Nayler in goal giving her no chance. Very unlucky... though a couple minutes earlier Andersson had driven one off the post from a similar spot so that luck quickly balanced out. Then a low ball across the six yard box on 38’ allowed Anam Imo to finish where Nayler again didn’t have much of a chance. From 1-0 up early to 2-1 down at the break.

Imo nearly scored soon after the resumption but Nayler parried it clear before a teammate struck the post with the seconds. Umeå remained in range for most of the rest of the way but weren’t able to create enough for the goal they needed and right near the end they gave away a soft penalty and Imo converted from the penalty spot. Nayler dove the right way but the kick was too perfect, in off the post. 3-1 to Piteå – highlights here. Umeå remain third to last on the ladder in the relegation playoff spot... and they play two of the top three clubs this upcoming week.

Up Next: Double gameweek with Linköping at home on Thurs at 5am then Rosengård away on Mon at 1am (NZT)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

Two games and two 1-1 draws this week. Both of which required coming back from a goal down. First was away to Honka which was a game they’d have been expecting to win based on respective form but when Senja Salo put the home team in front with half an hour left they were in big danger of going the opposite way instead.

Thankfully Dana Leskinen went and earned a penalty with quarter of an hour left which she herself converted and the game ended all even - although Helena Bosic was sent off late for Åland after a second yellow. Full match for Jacqui Hand who you can see in the #25 jersey below chasing up the penalty just in case it was saved...

That was a slightly disappointing draw but the draw they got against HJK a few days later was worth celebrating. Prior to Hand’s arrival at the club they’d lost 4-2 to HJK in the opening game of the season (they’ll also play them in the last game of the season in October in the Finnish Cup final). This was therefore both the start of the second cycle through the fixture list and also a match against one of the few teams ahead of them on the ladder. Points to prove, folks.

This time the concession came earlier. 28 mins on the clock and Jasmin Mansaray put HJK into the lead with a quality near post finish (and maybe a hint of a foul off the ball in the lead-up). However a lovely backwards glancing header from Sarah Troccoli – getting to the deep free kick delivery just ahead of Jacqui Hand – tied things up in the 68th minute and allowed Åland to claim a point thanks to a 1-1 result that ensures they’re now undefeated in eight consecutive matches. They play the other team that beat them prior to Hand’s arrival next: league leaders KuPS.

Up Next: Sunday at 4am away to KuPS (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Kvenna)

It’s been a super busy run of games for Stjarnan who have played five games in the space of 20 days but it hasn’t done them any dramas because they’ve won the lot of them. Five from five, get in there.

Three of those matches were played within the last ten days. First was a cup round of sixteen match away to FH in which an 85th minute strike from Arna Dís Arnþórsdóttir did the trick. Then they ground out another 1-0 win against Thróttur Reykjavík last Thursday with Gyða Kristín Gunnarsdóttir getting the crucial banger in first half stoppage time (see the goal here). That win taking them above those same opponents on the ladder.

But it was the match Tuesday morning NZT that really laid a statement down. A 5-0 thrashing of Thór / KA that has sent the Stars all the way up to second on the ladder, behind Valur only on goal difference (albeit having played one extra game than everyone else). No goals or assists for Betsy Hassett in there despite a standard ninety minutes of prominence but she did play a role in a couple of the moves including getting to the by-line past her marker and squaring in for the fourth goal (after some pinball in the middle). Great win and a great run of form for Stjarnan whose next task is to try and qualify for the Icelandic Cup semis.

Up Next: Saturday at 5.30am, IBV vs Stjarnan in the Icelandic Cup quarters (NZT)

Otto Ingham, Robert Sabo & Kees Sims - Ljungskile SK (Swedish Ettan Södra)

There ya go. Otto Ingham off the mark for LSK. His was the first in a 2-0 win, a sharp run in behind and then a tidy finish about a minute into the second half. Mohamadu Lamin then scored a second near the end and that’ll do it. 2-0 to LSK away to Oskarshamns. LSK have now gone seven games without a loss and are up to third in their southern side of the Swedish third tier. Two points off the top.

This was Ingham’s fifth start for the club and his tenth league app all combined. He joined LSK along with fellow Ole Academy/Western Suburbs fellas Robi Sabo and Kees Sims. Sabo has only made one matchday squad and hasn’t yet featured but Sims is already established himself as the backup keeper and did play 34 mins off the bench for a debut back in April (in a 5-0 win over Torns).

Oskarshamns is actually the club that Joe Stevens is playing for these days and he got 86 mins for them against LSK though was unable to match his compatriot Mr Ingham. Still, JS is also beginning to become a regular starter for his new club based on the last few games. Plus Jesse Edge is also at this level featuring mostly off the bench so far for Lund. All three play in the southern conference so there’ll be plenty more meetings of the New Zealanders where this one came from.

Up Next: LSK vs Angelholm at 2am on Sunday (NZT)

Andre De Jong – AmaZulu FC (South African Premier Soccer League)

Yeah, we sorta figured this one was coming, right? A pity because ADJ’s third season in South Africa was by far his best, although he never did score a goal for the club. 32 PSL apps across three seasons. 34 games in total for AmaZulu including cup competitions. Hopefully wherever he ends up next he gets more of a crack at actually, you know, playing regular games.

Up Next: Dunno

George Stanger – Dumbarton FC (Scottish League One)

When last we checked in on George Stanger he’d been offered a new deal by Dumbarton to join on a permanent basis after his loan stint came to a conclusion... but Dumbarton had just been relegated to the fourth tier and Stanger hadn’t immediately accepted that contract. Couple that with his recently signing to a new agency and it sure seemed like he had more ambitious plans in mind.

Sure enough, this from Dumbarton FC the other day...

“GEORGE STANGER has decided not to extend his stay with Dumbarton and will move on from the club with best wishes for the future. The defender signed a short-term deal with the club in February and went on to play 12 games in a Sons shirt. He scored one goal, away to Airdrieonians in April. The club had made George an offer for next season but interest in him from elsewhere has been strong. All at Dumbarton FC thank George for his efforts with the club and wish him every success wherever he goes in football next.”

Righto, so that’s that sorted. But where’s he going? There’s news on that front as well...

Alloa Athletic, another League One club so the dude is staying in that third tier. Funnily enough Alloa was the club that Stanger made his Dumbarton debut against Alloa, an appearance that completed a set for GS as it meant he’d now played in all four of the top divisions in Scotland (and by the age of 21).

That’s a sneaky coincidence but there’s a more valid connection here which is that Alloa are managed by Brian Rice who was previously the boss of Hamilton Academical between January 2019 and August 2021... conveniently right around the time that George Stanger was coming up the ranks and beginning to get first team footy. All six of Stanger’s Scottish Premiership apps came under Rice’s managership. Stanger himself left the Accies pretty soon after Rice resigned. Now they’re together again. Like the sound of that.

Up Next: Enjoy the offseason now that’s sorted

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