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

It’s preseason for most right now, and offseason for many, but for Sligo Rovers this past week brought around the biggest match of their season so far as they travelled to Wales to take on Bala Town in their first leg Europa Conference League qualifier. Max Mata and Nando Pijnaker were both named to start in an unchanged XI from their previous league match. Big occasion, off we go.

Sligo Rovers had the distinct advantage of being midseason whereas their opponents had to begin preseason early to get as ready as possible for this match. And yet it was Bala Town who struck first. Really early goal, only five minutes on the clock, and annoyingly it was a poor clearance by Nando Pijnaker that led to Lassana Mendes firing in a fine finish to show his gratitude. Noooot the best start there.

Rovers rallied back though. They controlled a lot of possession, trying to carve things out. Lots of balls into the channel as well as Mata dropping in from centre forward to try and facilitate things. On 24’ there was a great cross in from the left which Mata got up highest to win it but the ball came back off the post. Almost but not quite. No matter, three mins later we were all even. Aidan Keena with the goal. The ball had been chipped forward from right back, Keena’s first touch then took it square fooling one defender in the process, after which he lifted a delicious lob over the goalie on the bounce to score.

It was then a sizzling start to second half as Sligo got out on break two mins in, with Mata managing to take the ball beautifully inside onto his left foot running at pace under pressure... except his stabbed shot was touched achingly wide by the keeper. That led to a small siege of the Bala Town goal via corner kicks. One of those corners was flicked on at the near post leading to a poor defensive header as two blokes rose for the same ball. And who should be lurking to nudge the ball over the line but old mate Max Mata...

Keena later had a nice chance breaking in from the left centre. That one was saved then hacked away from within six yard box as Mata tried to hunt the seconds. Bala had only managed limited attacking ventures in that second half thanks to some very solid defence from Nando and the lads... but with about quarter of an hour remaining the urgency did lift from the home team. Thus came the drama.

Eleven mins left. Pijnaker was caught on the ball against the press and to prevent a 1v1 from unfolding he he dragged his dude down to the ground. He knew he was in trouble immediately. Maybe didn’t expect a red but that’s how it goes when the ref rules that a goal scoring chance had been denied. Nando Pijnaker sent off on his European debut and he’ll also be suspended for the second leg as a result. To go with the error leading to the first goal. Whoops. In fairness, he was pretty good in between those moments.

Thankfully the wall did its job from the subsequent free kick, blocking not only the first effort but also the follow-up. However one of those blocks was Max Mata copping the ball to the face. He’d need to be replaced after a check from the physio. Hopefully nothing too bad... but that was both kiwis out of the game within a couple minutes, still eight more to go. No need to panic – Sligo Rovers held firm to win and they’ll take a 2-1 lead into the second leg. Win and they’ll face Scottish side Motherwell in the next round.

Up Next: Sligo Rovers vs Bala Town, second leg at home, on Friday at 6am (NZT)

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

Oh yes. Get in. A first NWSL goal for Ali Riley and didn’t she love it? Not entirely sure she meant to shoot from that angle and definitely confused as to how it beat the goalie but that’s okay you take ‘em however they come. Cue the celebrations from another huge home crowd.

That banger, overlapping into the penalty area from the left and then thrashing it low through the keeper to score, came eight minutes into Angel City’s expansion clash against San Diego Wave. Looking at that behind-the-goal replay it does seem like there’s a case for it to be an own goal but nah it’s been officially credited as an Ali Riley strike, sweet as. Wouldn’t wanna spoil the fun. Although question marks about the commentary line about that goal sneaking “through the thigh-hole” of the goalie. Dunno if you’re allowed to say that without a parental warning on the broadcast.

Some prime attacking fullback play from Riley... however she spent most of the rest of the game in defensive zones as league-leaders San Diego did their best to hit back. Angel City have shown a capacity to defend with their backs to the wall this season and managed to hold on until the break – helped out when Abby Dahlkemper’s free kick for SDW came back off the crossbar in stoppage time. But one lapse in the 59th minute allowed Kristen McNabb to stab in an equaliser and suddenly Angel City were battling not to lose.

That task got tougher with a dozen to play when Tyler Lussi committed a foul from behind for her second yellow and the home team had to finish with ten women. Yet Simone Charley almost created something out of nothing for Angel City straight after and then a minute later they again found themselves streaming forward, this time with players in support, and new signing Claire Emslie found some space on the right edge to drive in what proved to be the winning goal.

Crazy game, ACFC taking the glory by a scoreline of 2-1. It still took a superb DiDi Haracic save late on for them to survive but no worries. A great battling win for the Los Angeles side and an excellent performance, capped by a goal, for Ali Riley in amongst.

Up Next: The kiwi captain derby, North Carolina vs Angel City on Saturday at 11.30am (NZT)

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

Abby Erceg brought up a century of appearances for the North Carolina Courage as they took on Chicago Red Stars this week. A fitting bit of synchronicity because it was with the Red Stars that Erceg first broke into the NWSL, playing 26 games before moving to Western New York Flash... which one year later became the North Carolina Courage. She’s made 145 NWSL appearances all combined. Easily the most of any New Zealander (no surprises there).

For long stretches of this match that century seemed likely to be a victorious one. The Courage may have been up against the second-placed team on the ladder but both teams were without a number of international players (there are about four different confederation championships going on at the moment but the NWSL is just chugging along through it) which perhaps tipped the scales.

Carson Pickett was in the right place to eventually punt in the opener for NCC in the 23rd minute, miss-hitting her initial attempt in such a way that she sent her closest defender packing and was able to finish herself at the second effort. Vanessa DiBernardo smacked one off the woodwork for Chicago soon after, and there was a brilliant point-blank save by NCC keeper Katelyn Rowland to maintain that lead into the second half. Then early seconds Brittany Ratcliffe guided in a second for the Courage from close range. Soft touch on the end of a great cross from Merritt Mathias, that’s how it’s done. 2-0 to North Carolina after 50 mins.

The Courage didn’t have things their own way from there. Both teams went to the bench a few times to freshen up but it was Chicago who were now creating the bulk of the chances. A couple Abby Erceg interventions helped that cause, stepping in for intercepts and winning headers, though it was goalie Rowland whose sharp hands were most effective. The one time she was beaten the ball cannoned back off the post anyway. That one from the boot of Sarah Griffith with about quarter of an hour remaining.

Yet right as it looked like NCC had held on long enough, a superb ball over the top by DiBernardo was met by Griffith who lifted it over the keeper as stoppage time began. There went the clean sheet... although the silver lining was that Katie Bowen was summoned off the bench as defensive cover in response. Jorian Baucom almost killed it off while Bowen was waiting by the fourth official, getting in behind off a deflected long ball and seemingly being fouled in the area. The ref waved play-on despite Baucom hand-balling as she landed. Baucom then got up and shot wide. Weird. Anyway, on came Katie Bowen for an NWSL debut for the North Carolina Courage. Finally.

Her first NWSL appearance for the Courage in the same game that Erceg brought up her hundredth. This after being an unused sub in all seven games that she was previously available for (she missed one due to covid). KB was also an unused sub in 7/8 Challenge Cup games – only getting on for a seven minute group stage cameo against Gotham City. So, yeah, this has been a long time in coming.

Unfortunately they conceded a corner straight away. That corner was curled in towards the back post. the keeper came out but couldn’t reach it. Amanda Kowalski won the header. Amanda Kowalski scored the 95th minute equaliser with the last action of the match. The match ended 2-2.

Devastating throw-away from the Courage who were 2-0 up as the game-clock ticked over ninety and somehow only came away with a point. They were finally gonna get off the bottom of the table but now that’ll have to wait at least another week. Their games in hand mean there’s no reason to panic however it’s starting to feel like this won’t be a swift turnaround. Gonna be a hard slog for the 2022 Challenge Cup champs to make the playoffs from here. But they’re certainly capable.

Up Next: Saturday at 11.30am, North Carolina vs Angel City (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

It hasn’t often been pretty and this one certainly wasn’t for long phases... but the Loons have starting to score goals and it’s culminated in three straight wins that have fired them up into the playoff places. The latest win was a come from behind 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps up in Canada, doing it the hard way by leaving things late.

With twenty minutes remaining, Vancouver led 1-0. Lucas Cavallini’s 66th minute strike was what separated the two teams in a game of very minimal attacking moments in the first hour or so. But that all changed in a hurry.

Manny Reynoso had hit the crossbar from a miniscule angle on 58’, the crossbar maybe being the best case outcome from where he shot – only Ali Riley could score from that angle. Then Cavallini came off the bench and within minutes was involved in a Whitecaps move that saw their post get rattled too. And very shortly afterwards Cavallini was peeling away in celebration after a back post header gave his team the lead – the cross lifted just over the top of Boxall who had no defensive cover behind him.

It took five mins for the Loons to level it back up. Kemar Lawrence scoring from a similar situation to the Vancouver goal only his one dropped enough for him to volley it in low. Another chipped cross to an open man on the far side though. Open contest going into the final stages... which was when the Minnesota high press came in handy, winning the ball back in the other half and allowing Luis Amarilla to whip in a lovely shot from outside the area in space. 84 mins gone, Loons in front. And Franco Frangapane finished sharply running onto a long ball from the goalie that bounced over the defensive line. 88 on the clock for that goal.

Not the prettiest but they had the juice when it mattered. Minnesota winning 3-1. Full game for Michael Boxall against the team that he made his MLS debut for way back in the day. Also he didn’t get a yellow card which keeps him eligible for the next game as he’s one booking away from an accumulation suspension.

Michael Boxall: “We kind of dug ourselves into a hole, [but] I think the last three results have really put us in a good place. Kind of at the minimum where we should be and obviously [after] three tough away games and then coming into a home stint it’s time to keep climbing.”

Up Next: Double banger week, Thursday midday against Sporting KC and then Sunday midday against DC United (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Portland also had a lovely win scoring three goals of their own. 3-0 away to local rivals Seattle Sounders, a game that was actually closer than it sounds. Jaro Niezgoda had Portland up midway through the first (24’), perhaps against the run of play as Seattle had a handful of super chances in that first half which they weren’t able to put away. Then 24 secs into the second half Seattle got a red card (second yellow for Jackson Ragen who’d been booked in first half stoppage time... cards on 45+2 and 46, lol).

From there the Timbers were able to put them away with a couple of late goals. Santiago Moreno from the penalty spot on 82’ then a Dairon Asprilla counter-attack goal on 85’ for kicks. Really enjoyable, entertaining game of football but we’re honour bound to breeze through it because Bill Tuiloma was a substitute and didn’t get summoned until second half stoppage time to waste some ticks and ease his team towards the final whistle. This was Tui’s first game back from his red card suspension, perhaps the coach sending a message about getting reckless cards. Or maybe he was simply rested/rotated amidst a heavy run of fixtures.

Either way, at least we got this all-time jam of a soundbite from the main man (and his French bro Larrys Mabiala)...

Any kind of fish, we’ll gut them.

Up Next: Monday at 2.30pm against Vancouver Whitecaps (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

This should come as a surprise to exactly nobody. Having won his spot with the Saints after a successful trial, then going on to immediately force his way into being a first team regular, the club would have been desperate to get him on improved terms to keep him around for longer. That they’ve done. A two-year deal keeping Greive at the club until the end of the 2023-24 season. He’d initially signed on an 18-month deal back in January so this adds another year to his deal.

Manager Stephen Robinson: “Alex has impressed me since I came in. His energy and how he presses gets people off their seats and I think he'll score goals for us. He's only been in the country for a few months and I think he will improve the more game time and coaching he gets. He's already an international footballer with New Zealand and playing with some good players there too, so we've got high hopes that he will continue to progress.”

Worth mentioning that Robinson is not the manager who signed him initially either, that bloke got sacked. So in half a season Greive has already won over two managers... three if you count Danny Hay.

One of the things he’s already grown a reputation for is being an extremely hard worker both on and off the pitch so it also won’t be a surprise to hear he only had seven days off in between the end of All Whites duty and returning to his club for preseason. It’s a mandatory two weeks that players get so that would’ve been entirely his call to return early. Needless to say he immediately netted in a friendly game – scoring after 90 seconds in a 2-1 win over Linfield Town during their trip to Ireland. That was the second of three friendlies that the Buddies played (a fourth was cancelled) and Greive started each of them.

He also started the first proper game of the season: a league cup group stage clash with Arbroath in which he played seventy mins. Probably should have scored too. He had a couple of headed chances off target in the first half and fired over early second half after chesting one down nicely. He was subbed off with quarter of an hour to go and St Mirren would then suffer the ignominy of an upset as they conceded a 93rd minute winner against their second tier opponents to lose 1-0.

Not the highest stakes game they’ll play this season, in fact possibly the lowest stakes game (St Mirren have a fortunate group without any other Premiership teams so they can easily make up for this defeat). But very much a wake-up call for the Buds.

Up Next: Sunday at 2am away to Cowdenbeath in their second league cup group game (NZT)

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

Haka had ten days off after their penalty shootout cup exit. A slightly awkward wait for the next gameday but away to HIFK they wasted little time in sparking back up again. Inside five mins their high press had paid proper dividends leading to Ollie Whyte carving inwards from the left and dinking the ball towards the run of right winger Logan Rogerson. Rog dutifully slipped the ball past the keeper and into the net for... the offside flag to pop up out of the toaster. Rogerson went a tad too early. No complaints. But an early warning sign for sure.

Rogerson went himself after half an hour, gliding past his marker and into the area only for his shot to be blocked by a centre-back. The next time he got into a situation like that he went the other way, ghosting his man down the wing and then curling around to square one for Lee Erwin to tap in from close range. This one counted. 1-0 to FCH courtesy of another Logan Rogerson assist.

Fine work there... and Rog nearly snuck in 1v1 for a goal of his own before the half was through, however the keeper got out quickly enough that he couldn’t lift his shot over him. Rogerson’s grown into some really fantastic form at the moment where he’s making things happen over and over again. Not quite good enough to avoid being asked to be the trench man on free kick walls though...

That free kick was sent miles over the top but HIFK did offer more in that second half. Haka were gonna need another goal to feel comfortable. Ollie Whyte was subbed after an hour but Rogerson hung around and on 69’ he got the ball in some space up that right edge again. Lacking options, he held it up and waited for support. Then he slipped it up the line for Erwin who curled in a mean cross that Stavros Zarokostas touched in for that goal they’d been wanting. Bingo.

HIFK still might’ve made a game of it as they kept up the pressure. But they didn’t. Rogerson was replaced with six to go. 2-0 was the final score, a good solid clean sheet win against the bottom team on the ladder which lifts Haka up into the top half of the table through 13 rounds.

Up Next: Haka vs Inter Turku on Tuesday at 3am (NZT)

Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

The November World Cup means that all high level club leagues have to take a break around that time which in turn means that the Danish Superliga has to start a little earlier than usual. Like, next week to be specific. That’s caused less preseason action than would normally take place - FCK only got three exhibition matches done. 2-0 vs Silkeborg with a second string side. 7-0 vs Feyenoord with a mostly top team but against a second string side. Now 4-2 against Belgian champs Club Brugge in a 120 minute fixture that allowed everyone a decent run.

Marko Stamenic was on the bench to begin with, no surprises there. But he was amongst the first wave of subs brought on after an hour as the gaffer made a quintuple substitution. Copenhagen were 2-0 down at that stage yet they’d go on to rally back beautifully to win 4-2 on the back of some impressive depth.

Stammers had a good chance to pull one back with an open header from a corner that he put over the top after 67 mins. Two mins later Pep Biel scored a direct free kick and five after that they won a penalty which was converted by the same man. The third goal didn’t come until the 109th minute, well into the bonus zone, but when it did it was sparked by a slick through ball by Stamenic from midfield. William Bøving was the man who eventually polished it off. Then Roony Bardghji banged in another on 113’. Here’s that pass from Marko...

FCK coach Jess Thorup: “We started making the first substitutions in the middle of the second half, and the rest of the match showed that we have - and need - a really deep squad. So for both the players who started and who came on today, it doesn't determine the selection for next Sunday. There are a lot of choices for the coaches, and it is a good place to be right now. We're ready for the Superliga and the Champions League playoff.”

Stamenic got himself into some pretty advanced areas during this match, particularly while he was out there with more of the starters. As more subs entered the contest he moved deeper into a more usual role for him but it does show they see him as possessing a bit of versatility. He was a CB in the first friendly, played defensive mid in the second, then operated often as an attacking mid and then later a box to box eight in this last one.

Fingers crossed he’s done enough to earn a senior squad spot because the proper stuff begins very soon. First with a couple of Superliga games and then before you know it there are Champions League qualifiers swinging around – FCK enter in the final playoff round where the winners will advance to the UCL group stage and the losers will drop into the Europa League group stage. The draw for that round doesn’t take place until 1 August as there are still two and a half earlier rounds to conclude first.

The July start to the season could sneakily come in handy for Stamenic as the transfer window in Denmark doesn’t close until the end of August. Meaning that they could have up to six weeks before they decide to send him out on a developmental loan, keeping him around the first team picture for longer. Or he could simply be a fully fledged first teamer now, who knows? We’ll get an answer to that question soon enough.

Up Next: Copenhagen vs Horsens on Monday at 2am in their season opener (NZT)

Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo (Chilean Primera División)

The Colo-Colo thing isn’t quite a hundy percent official yet at the time of writing... but it shan’t be long. Marco has made his farewells to the Melly Victory crowd and has already touched down in Chile and completed his medical, with local sources suggesting he came through that in flying colours. Not only that but he even got tracked down at the airport where he shared a few nice words...

Marco Rojas: “It is a proud move for me and my family, there are no words to express it. I am happy to be here. There isn’t much I can say yet but hopefully everything will be sorted late. I hope to wear the jersey with pride, it is something special for my family, it is a combination of everything. In my family they are all Colocolinos so I know a lot [about the club]. I haven't been able to watch all the games because of the timings, I'm on the other side of the world, but I know a lot. I was able to talk to [manager Gustavo Quinteros] very quickly but there are a few things to take care of first and after that I will be able to have a longer chat with him. This opportunity was a surprise but I have faith in my abilities, I will work hard and see how far I can go.”

Just, ah, one other update to offer... you know how Colo-Colo won their first leg Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen match? They beat Internacional of Brazil 2-0 at home, it was a great win. Set them up beautifully to perhaps advance to the quarters.

Well, they played the away leg the other day and lost 4-1 meaning they’ve been eliminated from South America’s second-premier club competition (Copa Libertadores is the top dog). They even scored first, extending their aggregate lead to 3-0 with a Gabriel Costa penalty quarter of an hour in, only to subsequently get dominated the rest of the way and concede the four goals needed to knock them out. At least they bounced back with a 3-0 league win on the weekend to maintain top spot in Chile.

Up Next: The great unveiling, fingers crossed

Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Allsvenskan)

Skellingaryg.nu: “It can be noted that Francis De Vries is long-term injured and Oscar Johansson is also missing from the team as well as previously injured Netinho”

Small note from a Värnamo matchday blog delivering some very bad news. Elsewhere in their game recap it was mentioned amidst a sweep up of those same injured players that: “Francis De Vries is more seriously injured and there may not be a game at all for him this year”. The ol’ Google Translate machine doesn’t always offer the most accurate renditions of these things but that sure sounds like trouble.

Not sure what the injury is but he had missed last week’s match before again being absent for a 1-1 draw with Sundsvall in that latest fixture. FDV had well and truly established himself as the first choice left back at the club despite his team having just been promoted to the top flight, however now it appears he may not feature again this season. Gutted. Värnamo are currently three points clear of the relegation playoff spot nearing the halfway stage of the season so it’s gonna be tough work to stay up.

Up Next: The Swedish season runs until early November so it’s a race against time from here

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

Some Jacqui Hand chat. Interesting to see her say that she’d been training in England without a contract before the Åland opportunity opened up. Plenty other nuggets in there too – such as how she was a ball girl for the Wellington Phoenix vs LA Galaxy friendly back in the day. Like basically all the European women’s leagues still in-season, the Finnish Kansallinen Liiga is currently on a break while the Euros take place. But they’ll be back in action the week after next.

Up Next: Åland vs HPS on Sunday 24 July at 3am (NZT)

Kingsley Sinclair - Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (German Regionalliga West)

Here’s another one: Kingsley Sinclair, a regular for Eastern Suburbs over the last few Premiership seasons, who had more recently been playing for Auckland United, has signed with Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in the German fourth tier. He’s been over there trialling since January and was officially offered a contract in May. A contract which as of the start of this month has kicked into reality, so that’s cool.

This is the same level as Bayern Munich’s reserves are at, albeit in different conferences. Bayern II won the third tier with Sarpreet Singh in his first season at the club but couldn’t be promoted because that’d take them too close to their senior team on the pyramid. Then they got relegated the next term as a number of those players, Singh included, left on loan to progress their careers. Decent gig for Sinclair to step onto the professional ladder.

Up Next: Away to TSV Steinbach on Satuday/Sunday at midnight (NZT)

Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)

NUFC.com: “With Chris Wood now back on Tyneside after an extended break, the whole Newcastle United squad is now back in pre-season training ahead of Saturday's first friendly against Gateshead. That match will be played behind closed doors and Wood - along with the likes of Bruno Guimarães, Fabian Schär and new signings Sven Botman and Nick Pope, who only returned to training this week after playing for their respective countries over the summer - is unlikely to feature until the upcoming games against 1860 Munich and Mainz 05.”

There you go, Chris Wood is back in training with Newcastle having missed the very early part of pre-season after soaking up his mandatory couple weeks of holiday after All Whites duty. This is something that’s been a trend for a lot of All Whites dudes since that Costa Rica game (some Footy Ferns players too although various confederation championships have slowed most preseason things down on the women’s side) but now that Wood’s back it pretty much means that everyone’s back. Alex Greive has played in three St Mirren friendlies. Joe Bell featured in Brøndby’s latest preseason match. Matt Garbett’s about to tack onto first team training with Torino. Liberato Cacace already is with Empoli. Et cetera.

Up Next: Off to Austria for a 9-day training camp including those games against 1860 Munich and Mainz

Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)

There it is, 84th minute winner for Moses Dyer as Valour beat Hamilton 1-0. Another fine goal for a bloke who is making a real habit of scoring this season – as promised when they elevated him into a more attacking role. His fifth of the campaign. Valour rise to fifth on the ladder.

Nobody seems to want to talk about that though. Instead the focus is all on an incident much earlier in the match when Dyer had seemingly set up a teammate for the opener only for another teammate to randomly hack the ball off the line at the last moment. Would’ve been a good clearance if that was the intention. But nope he simply robbed a bro of a goal by missing possibly the most wide open chance in the history of the sport. He had a laugh about it on Twitter afterwards which was nice to see. This is football. Strange things happen sometimes. Still got the dub. No dramas.

Now here’s Moses Dyer being named in the CPL Team of the Week...

Up Next: Away to Forge on Sunday at 8.30am (NZT)

Dig these Flying Kiwis yarns each week? Support the hustle via our Patreon

Also whack an ad, sign up to our Substack banger, and tell your mates about TNC

Keep cool but care