Flying Kiwis – August 9
Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)
A new Premier League season has begun and yet again Aotearoa has Chris Wood representing us with pride. Although this season looks like it’ll be a little different for The Woodsman. He should still feature in most games but he’s not going to be the first choice number nine for Newcastle United as he generally was for Burnley. The tides have shifted, as they tend to do.
Way more about that situation over here. The summary of it all being that it was no shocker that Wood was on the bench for the season opener against Nottingham Forest, with Callum Wilson starting in the middle of the front three. Allan Saint-Maximin on one side and preseason standout Miguel Almiron on the other. Newcastle were also without the injured Jonjo Shelvey (who’ll miss at least two months) while their main offseason acquisition Sven Botman was on the bench alongside Wood as he acclimatises to the team. Fellow signing Nick Pope did debut in goal. Kieran Trippier captained the side.
Forest are fresh from promotion and have made a heap of new signings (compared to Newcastle who have been surprisingly patient in the transfer window so far). Defensively they had some impressive moments but they couldn’t keep possession and as the first half went on Newcastle looked more and more in control. They just needed a goal to show for it. Some fantastic work from Bruno Guimaraes in midfield while the wingers both had their moments but there wasn’t a lot going on in the penalty area other than set piece crosses aimed to Dan Burn at the back post. Callum Wilson was largely peripheral. Joelinton dragged their best chance wide. Still 0-0 at the break.
If Wilson struggling to have an impact in the penalty area was reminiscent of some Chris Wood performances last season then that parallel got even closer after 56 mins when Saint-Maximin failed to square a pass for what would’ve been an easy tap-in for Wilson. Luckily for ASM, the resulting corner led to Fabian Schär absolutely blasting a strike into the top corner for the opening goal. No less than an admittedly wasteful Newcastle team deserved.
Callum Wilson got his spotlight in the 78th minute when an intercept by Joelinton eventually led to that fella getting down to the byline where he picked out the clever run of Wilson at the near post. Wilson’s flicked touch looped beautifully over the goalie and into the net – a class finish from a class striker showing the truth in the old saying that the best strikers can be quiet all afternoon and still bury the one big chance that comes their way.
Newcastle were already prepping Ryan Fraser and Sean Longstaff from the bench when that goal went in, those two joining the match swiftly after Wilson’s strike for Eddie Howe’s first changes. His next couple subs would come in the 89th minute. That’s when we finally got a serving of Wood. The big fella came on to replace Callum Wilson for the last few minutes with Jacob Murphy also joining him in earning a late cameo.
There were three minutes of stoppage time and Newcastle wasted a chunk of that in making their fifth and final sub (Sven Botman on debut) so Chris Wood only touched the ball twice. One was dropping back to collect a clearance, with his attempted pass being blocked before he conceded a foul. The other was hacking away a clearance from that resulting free kick.
No matter. His opportunities will come throughout a long season. The most important thing is that this was a comfortable 2-0 win for the Toon and a fine way to begin their new campaign.
Up Next: Away to Brighton on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Always rate a well-earned contract extension. Even as the North Carolina Courage have lost many of their top players across the last two years, Abby Erceg has remained loyal throughout the club’s (many) dramas. She is the club captain and someone who has been a part of this franchise since they were still the Western New York Flash. Led them to multiple championships. Won NWSL Defender of the Year in 2018. Erceg is clearly at home in North Carolina and will probably remain there for as long as she’s capable of playing at the highest level.
Given Erceg’s insane fitness levels that could be several more years yet. In the meantime she’s signed a two-year extension to her current deal with an option of a third year. She’s 32 years old now so that should keep her in town until she’s at least 35. Happy days. And a much needed signal of continuity for the club as well. Erceg is only a few games away from becoming the first New Zealander to play 150 games in the NWSL (playoff inclusive).
NCC head coach Sean Nahas: “The re-signing of Abby is very well-deserved and is great for our club. She has been a staple for us and someone who has always held the standards of what it takes to be a Courage player. As a club we wanted to make sure we were able to have her here long term to continue to build on the foundation she has already helped to create. I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue to work with her and have her be a part of something bigger moving forward.”
Excellent news.
Might have been even more excellent had the Courage then beaten the Portland Thorns a couple days later, however instead they came away with a thrilling 3-3 draw. No Katie Bowen who was back to her usual unused substitute spot (weird they signed her with seemingly no intention to use her), so it goes. But of course Erceg was out there for the whole thing with the captain’s armband on.
This was a third draw in a row for the Courage although at least this time they were the team scoring the late equaliser. Plus it was first versus last, even if the table’s a little misleading. NCC remains at the bottom of the ladder after this result (granted with a heap of games in hand) whereas the Thorns stay first on goal difference despite having drawn more games than they’ve won. It’s been a weird season. Still can’t rule the Courage out of sneaking into the playoffs but they’d better turn some of these draws into wins sooner rather than later.
Here they fell behind early as Erceg of all people couldn’t keep Sophia Smith from slicing back onto her right foot and slotting the eighth minute opener. Erceg was busy trying to direct the scrambled backline surrounding her only to get beaten herself. Morgan Weaver then scored on 24’ to extend the lead, finishing from close after a Christine Sinclair touch had been saved.
But in a game full of chances for both teams the Courage roared back in the second half. A double for Diana Ordóñez kept her superb rookie season going to tie things up after 72 mins... only for Sophia Smith to get free and beat the keeper to restore the lead on 77 mins. Still the Courage kept at it. With five left to play, a Meredith Speck shot was interceded by Jaelene Daniels who then slipped in another leveller as the ball squeezed past the goalie. Completely bonkers game.
Up Next: NCC vs Kansas City at midday on Sunday (NZT)
Ali Riley - Angel City FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Bang. In you get. A golazo from Ali Riley to score her second goal of the year and against her old team no less. Orlando Pride, you should never have traded her (but probably a good thing that you did). Worth noting that the celebration was a lot more reserved this time than for her first goal. Don’t wanna rub it in against the old mates.
That goal put ACFC in front five mins prior to the end of the first half. It had been a solid performance from Angel City to that point despite being down a few players (particularly in attack) and despite having had a bit of a rough time of it with the results lately. They desperately wanted a win to get some momentum. Ali Riley’s strike had them in a good place.
Yet the second half was tougher. Orlando missed an absolute sitter three mins into the half but in the 64th min Angel City weren’t able to clear the ball from defence and Julie Doyle pounced to tie it up. ACFC responded eight mins later as Cari Roccaro pounced upon a corner kick to have the Angels back in the lead in front of their home crowd. Alas, it wasn’t to last.
On the brink of closing out a crucial three points they finally got got broken in the final minute of the ninety. Low cross into a dangerous area and Paige Neilsen bopped it into her own net. Last minute equaliser for a 2-2 draw - late goals have been an issue for this team recently. Still a valuable point in their quest for the playoffs though.
Naturally, captain Ali Riley was then in great form for the post-game media chat...
Up Next: Angel City FC vs Chicago Red Stars on Monday at midday (NZT)
Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Sligo Rovers had never before progressed through two rounds of Europa Conference League qualifying in the same season. They’ve won as many European fixtures in the last two months as they’d won in their entire history previously. However up against Viking FK of Norway (an eternally beloved Flying Kiwis club for giving Joe Bell his first professional gig), Rovers were very much second favourites in this third qualifying round.
That paragraph is preparation for what is to follow: a description of a game which felt very much like Sligo Rovers had reached the limit of their capacity. With the same starting team as took on Motherwell a week earlier – meaning Mata and Pijnaker were both on the bench – they could hardly have had a worse start as the rapid wave of Viking attacks had them scrambling from the outset and in just the fourth minute a low shot from outside the box was parried to Zlatko Tripic who tapped in the opening goal.
Soon afterwards Adam McDonnell went down injured and was unable to run it off. Only the seventh minute when he had to leave the match although that worked out okay from our point of view as Max Mata was the bloke brought on in his place... yet before Mata could even touch the ball a low cross from VFK picked out Samuel Kari Fridjonsson who beat a challenge and lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Viking were all over them. 2-0 up after eight mins and Sligo Rovers had already lost a man to injury. Max Mata did flick on a header that put Aidan Keena into enough space to fire over the top but then captain Gary Buckley got hurt in a tackle (for which he was booked) and that was the end of his day too. Nando Pijnaker subbed on in the 22nd minute. Both kiwis getting out there early but clearly not in the circumstances they’d have preferred.
Rovers did get better after that awful start, for what it’s worth. They had a nice spell around the half hour mark including one corner kick from which Mata and Pijnaker both got close to pouncing. But the second half brought out a resurgent Viking, who having made a couple subs at HT fired right back up again. Pijnaker came up big with several important clearances. Nonetheless, on 53’ a ball over the top on the angle was knocked across by Tripic and nudged in by Mai Traore for a third goal.
It was 4-0 on the hour as Niklas Sandberg was given too much space and somehow it got worse as Edvin Austbø struck from the edge of the box after 85 mins. There was at least a consolation as Frank Liivak won a penalty that David Cawley converted in the 89th minute. Sligo Rovers going down 5-1. Nando Pijnaker with a yellow card. There’s still a second leg at home to follow but realistically that’s probably gonna be the end of their Europa Conference League quest. Ah well, it’s been grand while it lasted.
No time to rest because there was a League of Ireland fixture to play only a few days later. With the injury to Buckley, Nando Pijanker was into the starting team for the match against Bohemians. One of three changes from the Viking effort but Max Mata didn’t get to join him – once again on the bench. Having said that, Mata didn’t have to wait too long before getting his summons (albeit much longer than the seven minutes it took in the ECL match). As half-time resounded, Sligo Rovers were still stuck at 0-0 and feeling the need to make alterations. Max Mata was one of the blokes they turned to as part of a double change.
It wasn’t quite an instant impact as Bohs took the lead in the 54th minute through John O’Sullivan, a smart finish from the edge of the box after some fine build-up play... even if the keeper did get a big hand to it. But ten minutes later that old Aidan Keena x Max Mata combination linked up yet again with Mata slotting then equaliser and three minutes after that he scored a second as he brought down the ball on his chest and slammed it home. Magnifico.
Two goals in four minutes. Sligo Rovers rallied from a goal down to go on and win it 2-1. Max Mata with a brace that takes him up to six for the league season plus two more in the Conference League qualifiers. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Up Next: ECL quals against Viking FK on Friday at 6am; also St Pat’s away on Monday at 4am (NZT)
Joe Bell – Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga)
Sligo Rovers may be on the brink on going out of ECL qualifying... but Joe Bell and Brøndby are still rolling along. They hosted FC Basel in the first leg of their third round quals and fire up because Joe Bell was given the start. Operating in the middle of a midfield diamond with Josip Radošević in the CDM role. BIF making sure they were extra sturdy in the centre of the park with that team selection.
Which... didn’t lead to a very memorable contest. Simon Hedlund did go close, drawing a save after a long ball led to a counter attack, but otherwise the first half was a cautious affair. BIF had more of the ball yet hardly created anything and the same concerns about a lack of potency up top in that Brøndby squad were obvious again. Bell was doing a fine job of breaking things up, at least.
Thankfully the second half was a bit more expansive. Blas Riveros had a shot deflected wide while Anis Ben Slimani forced a save. Christian Cappis smacked one from range but it went straight at the keeper. Basel were also getting a few things going on the counter, leading to a very delicately balanced game. Something had to give and the breakthrough came in the 74th minute. Substitute Marko Divkovic snuck around into space on the overlap and despite his first touch seemingly leaving the ball behind him he was able to compose himself to sneak a finish under the keeper for the crucial first goal in this tie.
It would be the only goal in this first leg. No more incisive moments and that was fine as far as BIF were concerned, happy to take a 1-0 lead to Switzerland for the next leg. Joe Bell played ninety minutes and copped a yellow card with five to play for chopping down a bloke down on the right edge. He was also on the other end of a yellow card soon after as a fella leapt up to compete for a header despite the whistle already having gone and Bell took an elbow to the head as a consequence. Highlights of the match here.
Bringing us to the first of potentially several Flying Kiwis Derbies in the Danish Superliga this season (and into perpetuity) as Brøndby travelled the short distance to the capital to face FC København in what’s always a feisty contest whether there are New Zealanders involved or not.
Joe Bell started for BIF which is a significant development as that’s now three consecutive starts for the fella after starting one of the team’s first four fixtures beforehand. He’d ended last season playing off the bench as Josip Radošević won back the CDM role but now it seems like Bell has earned a first choice spot slightly further forward in the midfield. Didn’t take him long, did it?
Yet Marko Stamenic missed this game entirely. First time he’s been out of a matchday squad this season for FCK, the culprit there being club captain Zeca. That fella had missed all of preseason with injury allowing Stamenic more room to show what he’s capable of. Zeca’s back now though. He actually returned to the bench last game but didn’t get used, probably a bit too early to risk him, hence Stamenic still got picked alongside him. But Zeca was fit enough for a 22 minute run out against BIF and thus there wasn’t any need for the extra midfielder on the bench.
So this fixture was purely the Joe Bell show... and it didn’t go to script. In fairness, København are the defending champs so they should be in a stronger place than Brøndby, even if both have dropped points already this season. Therefore can’t be too devastated that they forced a save within a few minutes with a great move and then took the lead for real on 13’ as Rasmus Falk fired in a second phase shot from a corner kick which deflected its way into the bottom corner. Couldn’t say it was against the run of play... however BIF were level within five minutes as Christian Cappis smashed a well-placed shot in at the near post from range. Early scare overcome. Off we go, 1-1 after 19 mins.
But the course didn’t shift. FCK kept on charging away and on 32 mins they were back in front. Keeper saved the initial attempt from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson but then Pep Biel dove onto the seconds with his head and that was 2-1. Which might have been okay had they held on ‘til the break except Pep Biel poked in another from a low cross in the 45th minute. 3-1 to FCK.
Bell had a go at an extravagant left-footed volley early in the second half. On target but easily saved. One thing about playing this particular role is that he does have licence to get further forward and influence the attack. He threaded a beautiful pass into the area in the first half only for his runner to get blocked off. Problem was they weren’t doing a whole lot of attacking. FCK kept up the pressure and on 64’ scored a fourth as Pep Biel again was quickest to pounce on a loose one.
No more goals after that. The game ended 4-1 as FCK cooled off amidst a few substitutions... though it’s worth mentioning that CDM Rasmus Falk was one of those who went off. Got his sprigs planted in the dirt and twisted his knee in a tackle – he was able to walk off but it looked very painful so Marko Stamenic’s time out of the matchday squad might not last too long. Good win for his team, poor loss for Bell’s team. Football, aye?
Up Next: UCL qualifiers away to FC Basel at 5am on Friday before hosting OB on Monday at 4am in the Superliga (NZT)
Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeligaen)
That right there was Daisy Cleverley’s professional debut. She didn’t get picked to start for HB Køge as they took on Brøndby’s women’s team in the opening match of the new season but she was one of two players chucked on at half-time with the game still scoreless. Beate Marcussen was the other sub introduced, also playing her first game for HBK after signing from Thisted in the offseason.
The first half was pretty poor right up until Brøndby hit the crossbar with the last kick before the HT whistle rang out. Good reason to change things up. Yet it was BIF who scored the first goal – Casandra Luthcke heading in from close range off a corner after HBK’s keeper had been flattened off the ball, the ref not deeming it a foul. No matter because a two-goal flurry in the space of one minute from the defending champs ensured they began with a win. A deep ball into the area on 74’ was met by Cecile Fløe Nielsen on the running volley for a wonderful goal, then immediately afterwards on 75’ Madalyn Pokorny somehow pumped in an even better goal with a crack from distance that lasered into the top corner. 2-1 the final score.
Elsewhere in the division there was also a 2-1 win for Indi Riley’s Fortuna Hjørring. Scored after five minutes away against Sundby, conceded an equaliser on 59 mins, then scored again straight afterwards to win the thing. Riley got ninety minutes. Didn’t score but already she looks like she’s in for another step up in her career this season having only lasted four ninety minute Kvindeliga games last season from her 20 appearances (14 starts).
Up Next: Away to Thisted on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Elijah Just - AC Horsens (Danish Superliga)
There’s your first glimpse of Eli Just in a Horsens jersey. Made his debut in the new threads at the first opportunity, coming on as a substitute away to Randers for the last half an hour. Horsens were down 1-0 thanks to a very well taken goal in the first half, a lovely flowing team move from the home side. Just came on as a right winger in a front three.
Didn’t really do a whole lot. He lost possession the first time he touched the ball which called to mind his new coach mentioning last week that it would take a while to adjust to the higher level. But his workrate off the ball was sharp, winning a few interceptions and getting stuck into the challenge when they arose. Definitely grew into the game as it went along and moved the ball confidently.
Sadly Horsens weren’t able to muster enough up front to find an equaliser and went down 1-0. Ends their three-game unbeaten start to top flight footy but that was going to happen sooner rather than later anyway.
Up Next: Tough home at home to Midtjylland at 5am on Saturday (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 1)
Meanwhile Callum McCowatt’s been left behind in Division 1. Eli Just was already there when McCowatt signed after a season with the Wellington Phoenix. So was Dalton Wilkins, in fact. Now both Just and Wilkins have moved elsewhere and McCowatt’s all alone in speaking with a kiwi accent at FCH. How would he adjust?
Pretty well, thanks for asking. In the days after Eli Just’s moved was confirmed Helsingør had a cup tie against Hvidovre (also from Division 1) and McCowatt responded by scoring his first goal of the new season. 27th minute effort to make it 2-1, giving his side the lead after falling behind early. He went on to play 72 minutes in a 4-2 victory – FCH’s first since the restart having lost both their first two league matches.
Doesn’t appear to be video of that match anywhere so can’t show you that goal. Luckily FCH also had a league game on the weekend and Callum McCowatt scored in that one as well. Wasn’t named to start so he missed the first half fun as FCH shot out to a 2-0 lead... but a concession just before the half shook things up and McCowatt was the first man summoned from the bench for the Helsies (along with Oliver Drost) in an attempt to restore that two-goal buffer. That’s exactly what McCowatt swiftly did. Keeper out of the picture. Through the legs of the last defender. Too much, fella.
Opponents Fredericia did pull on back late on to ensure that this frenetic game had a frenetic finish but Helsingør held on for a 3-2 win to earn their belated first points of the new campaign. Been a rocky start to put it lightly and they still appear to be selling a concerning amount of players. Maybe they’re turning the corner though. Let’s hope so.
Callum McCowatt: “It's always nice to win and good to get the first three points of the season. I was coming back from an injury which is a bit late, but it's nice to be among the goalscorers and get more minutes and better match form. I think we have to keep improving and look at the things we have done well which is scoring a lot of goals in the last two games. And then also what we haven't done so well. We have conceded too many goals, we shouldn’t need to score 3 goals every game to win, so we should have looked at that and reassessed a bit. But it will be a tough fight so it will be interesting to watch.”
Up Next: Hvidovre again, this time in the league, at 11pm on Saturday (NZT)
Jacqui Hand - United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)
There’s Jacqui Hand with her weekly goal contribution. Åland Utd had a crucial 3-1 win over PK-35 who are the team directly below them on the ladder thus opening up an eight point gap between themselves in fourth and PK-35 in fifth. With three games remaining in their season it’s still possible they could catch HJK in third with a four-point buffer but it’s probably unlikely. However this result pretty much guarantees they’ll finish no lower than where they are.
Åland United have taken 10 points from their last four matches. Hand missed the first of those games after returning from international duty but scored in the next two and played a big role here as well. Incredibly, AU needed only 45 seconds to take the lead as Sarah Troccoli headed in from a corner kick. Then after 14 mins they’d double it as Olivia Ulenius picked her spot on the turn. A burst of pace through the middle from Emilia Kupsanen allowed PK-35 to pull one back in first half stoppage time... but then just a couple minutes into the second stanza Jacqui Hand put one on a platter for Ulenius to score her second of the day. 3-1 the final score. Yet another full game for Hand. Righto.
Up Next: Åland vs Ilves on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Goal after assist after goal after assist and folks are gonna notice. That right there is the Veikkausliiga Team of the Month for July 2022 and Logan Rogerson is its right winger. Two goals and six assists in his previous eight games and now a TOM selection. The form is undeniable.
Didn’t get to add to that run this week though. FC Haka’s seven game league unbeaten streak came to an end with a 2-0 loss away to Mariehamn. They conceded in the third minute and the ninetieth minute, both goals score by a Brazilian striker named Dé. In between there were definitely some close calls for FCH. Rogerson with a few tidy crosses. Also with about ten to go he beat a defender in the area and slipped a square ball tantalisingly across goal which nobody could get a touch on. Ollie Whyte started on the bench but was summoned for the last twenty as they chased that evasive leveller.
But to be honest they only had their keeper to thank for even still being in the match at that stage given some of his saves in the first half. Eventually Dé scored that clincher at the death. Disappointing day at the office. 2-0 defeat. With five matches to go until the split, FCH are still in a good position to make the cut for the Championship Rounds. A win next week against Oulu, whom they’re equal with on points but behind on goal difference, would definitely go a long way towards that aim.
Up Next: Haka vs Oulu on Saturday at 3am (NZT)
Andre De Jong – Royal AM (South African Premier Soccer League)
The new season is underway in South Africa. Plenty has changed for Andre De Jong, who now finds himself at Royal AM after three frustrating (but potential-filled) years at AmaZulu where he was often in and out of the line-ups. His old AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy was recently hired as the new striker’s coach at Manchester United by the way – meaning that the dude has gone from working with Andre De Jong to Cristiano Ronaldo. Bit of a downgrade but hey the gig probably pays well.
ADJ started 16 PSL games out of a possible 90 while he was at AmaZulu and only once played ninety minutes. There were various cup comps as well, which helped, but that was his meagre league tally: only one complete game. So it’s a beauty to be able to say that not only did he get the start in the front three for Royal AM in their season opener at home against Kaizer Chiefs but he’s already matched his AmaZulu efforts by lasting the full ninety at the first time of asking.
Even better is that they won. A genuine upset win against one of the top clubs in the country thanks to a goal from Ricardo Nascimento just one minute into the match. A goal that almost fell for Andre De Jong. Corner kick inside the first minute, not properly cleared, ADJ smashed the loose ball towards goal but it was bravely cleared off the line... only to fall for Nascimento who (slightly fortuitously) converted the rebound.
Royal AM were under the pump at times here. Nascimento had to hack one away off the line after his goalie got himself stranded. That keeper did make a couple top saves later on to more than make up for that slip, to be fair. Elsewhere ADJ had another chance on 29 mins as he stabbed one with the outside of his right foot but didn’t quite get the desired contact and it was saved. Later on he had another great chance as he collected the scraps from an overhit cross and utterly waxed his marker before firing just over the crossbar. On another day he might have had a hat-trick...
But his team did the business in defence which was what mattered most after the early goal. Some frisky moments for sure... although they could easily have scored a second themselves along the way so can’t argue too much with the result. A 1-0 victory for the Royals to get things underway. As their gaffer said afterwards, this team has gone through a lot of transition lately with transfers and a new coaching regime so it wasn’t going to be pretty but they got what they set out for. Also, promising signs for a big ADJ season. He’s certainly paid his dues to get here.
Up Next: Thursday at 5.30am away to Chippa United, then Sunday at 1am away to Stellenbosch (NZT)
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Frustrating pair of 1-1 draws for the Timbers this week but at least Bill Tuiloma played the entirety of both – with manager Gio Savarese finding a compromise in his defensive selections by turning to a back three that allowed him to pick each of his three top CBs rather than having to rotate them around. Good news for Billy if this trend continues.
The first game was against Nashville in the midweek with Teal Bunbury (20’ NSC) and Santiago Moreno (27’ PT) trading first half goals in a midweek game that didn’t really go anywhere after that. There was talk of Tuiloma either fouling the keeper or being offside in his line of vision for the Timbers goal but nothing that the VAR felt the need to intervene with. Tui also had a crack from a free kick in the second half which he put over the top. That was as close as Portland came until almost winning it twice in stoppage time. A draw was a fair result.
As was the case a couple days later granted in very different circumstances. For ninety minutes and more there’d been nothing much to say about Portland versus FC Dallas. FCD hit the post in the first half but the finishing from both sides was otherwise sub par, aside from one nice effort from Dallas that had already been flagged offside. Tuiloma put a header well over the bar. He also did great scrambling back to prevent a 1v1 late on.
Then six minutes into stoppage time Portland scored. Marvin Loria from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check decided upon a handball in the box. But that lengthy VAR check meant there was still a chunk of time remaining. Enough time for FC Dallas to score themselves in the tenth added on minute, former Timbers player Diego Chara doing the honours with a near-post flicked header off a corner. 1-1 final score. Ten games undefeated for Portland but six of those have been draws.
Meanwhile Michael Boxall was suspended for yellow card accumulation as Minnesota United lost 4-3 away to Colorado Rapids. Somehow they were 3-1 down after fifteen minutes despite having taken the lead. Safe to say they were missing their kiwi vice captain.
Up Next: Sunday at 11.30am away to Toronto (NZT)
Flying Kiwis in the Scottish Women’s Premier League
Fine news there. Had been getting a tad concerned at the lack of Liv Chance in any of Celtic’s preseason stuff though it turns out that, as suspected, it was simply a matter of the ol’ compulsory two weeks holiday between campaigns – pushed back due to international duty. We’re getting that triple-pronged title race in Scotland after all with Meikayla Moore at Glasgow City now and Vic Esson at Rangers. Not to mention Katie Rood with Hearts a couple spots down.
Chance’s late arrival meant that she didn’t play the season opener. She was on the bench for the Ghirls but there was no need to risk her after the team was already 6-0 up at half-time. Hibernian didn’t know what hit them. Jacynta Galabadaarachchi scored in the first minute of the new season and had a hat-trick by the halfway stage of the game. Clarissa Larisey also scored a hatty as the game ended 9-0 to Celtic with Hibs earning a late red card just to make matters even worse for them. Very comfortable way to get the new term up and running for Celtic.
Although not as comfortable as Rangers who took on Glasgow Girls and were also up 6-0 at HT. Difference was they kicked on with it to eventually win it 14-0. No kidding. Goal difference could be decisive at the end of the season so you’ve kinda gotta be ruthless with these ones. Similar to Liv Chance though, Vic Esson wasn’t in the starting team and wasn’t required off the bench. Everyone else got a run - Esson was the only one of their six bench players not to feature - but that’s the life of a goalkeeper sometimes. They’d mixed things up during preseason by alternating the two goalies but come the real stuff incumbent Jenna Fife was given the gloves. Long season, lots of competitions, so Vic Esson’s just gotta bide her time for those chances.
Glad to say there was a fair bit more kiwi prominence elsewhere, starting with Meikayla Moore whose Glasgow City also bagged a heavy victory to ensure that each of the big three had a smooth take-off. Moore was one of three debutants in the line-up, granted it was a quiet debut in defence considering her team won 7-0 against Spartans. Moore played 62 minutes before she was replaced with the result in absolutely no doubt.
Good news for Hearts as well as they beat Partick Thistle 3-1 to also begin with a win. Katie Rood started on debut however Hearts were in a spot of bother down 1-0 at the break having conceded in the 42nd minute. But Georgia Timms scored a second half hat-trick with the third coming via a penalty after Katie Rood had been fouled in the area. That’s three points off the bat for Heart of Midlothian.
Up Next: Righto... Rangers are away to Aberdeen, Glasgow City are away to Motherwell, Celtic are away to Partick Thistle, and Hearts are away to Spartans – all of those games kick off at 4am on Monday (NZT)
Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)
Gah, what a shambles. Following a League Cup group stage in which they were twice beaten by lower division opposition to be knocked out of that competition, St Mirren have begun the Premiership with back to back defeats, the latest a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Aberdeen.
Connor Main returned from injury to start this match which meant that Alex Greive dropped back to the bench, the pair swapping roles from last week. But this one was done and dusted long before Alex Greive could have any impact. The Buddies got a shocker from defender Declan Gallagher who was booked injuring an Aberdeen player after a dozen minutes and then a handball in the box on 22’ meant he’d conceded a penalty and also earned a red card. Bojan Miovski scored from the spot.
Fast forward a bit and it was 3-0 at half-time. Main was subbed a the break but for extra midfield help rather than kiwi reinforcement. The Buds did pull one back thanks to Jonah Ayunga via a penalty on 54’ but to be honest even the eventual 4-1 defeat kinda flattered them. Greivesy played the last dozen minutes after coming on in place of Keanu Baccus.
This has been a really rotten start to the new campaign for St Mirren. Given how their form dropped off a cliff when the current manager took over midway through last season you’ve gotta wonder how much longer before his job is under threat.
Up Next: St Mirren vs Ross County on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Ally Green - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)
Decent cameo for Ally Green as VIF got back into it after the mid-season break who was subbed on after 73 minutes with her team down 1-0 against LSK Kvinner.
It looked like they were doomed to defeat having trailed since the 27th minute. Then they won a stoppage time penalty and Elise Thorsnes buried that sucker for a 1-1 draw. Still got three more fixtures to go this season and they’re probably gonna finish third no matter what happens (which means missing out of Champions League again). Hoping we at least get a couple Ally Green starts amidst all that.
Elsewhere Emma Rolston wasn’t in the matchday squad as Avaldsnes scored early against Arna-Bjørnar but then conceded in the few minutes either side of half-time to lose 2-1. That, quite frankly, is a devastating defeat for them as they fall six points behind A-B and are very likely to have to win a playoff to retain their place in the Toppserien. With only 7 points from 15 games they can’t really complain.
Up Next: Avaldsnes vs Vålerenga at midnight on Monday (NZT)
Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League Two)
A 0-0 draw is never a result that anyone walks away from truly satisfied but as the Dons took a point off Hartlepool away it did meant that Nik Tzanev has begun the new term with two straight clean sheets. Hartlepool only managed two shots on target all match but that ain’t to say that there weren’t saves to be made and Tzanev made a belter of a double stop in the second half that was probably the decisive moment in securing that cleanie.
Tzanev kept five clean sheets in 46 matches on the way to League One relegation last season, he’s already got two from two in League Two. AFCW are one of four teams not to have conceded in either of their first two fixtures. You know you’ve shown up as a goalie when you get to do media stuff afterwards.
Nik Tzanev: “I was happy to contribute to the team as always and also it was a really good team performance to get that clean sheet. It’s a tough place to come. I think the boys dug in really hard, it’s just that the pitch was a little bit sticky what with the dryness and we couldn’t get our crisp passing in, as we usually do. But to come away with a clean sheet – we’re all happy.”
Elsewhere in League Two, Max Crocombe had a solid game in a 1-1 draw for Grimsby Town against Northampton Town, while Tommy Smith remains out injured for Colchester who drew 1-1 with Carlisle United.
Up Next: EFL Cup first round against Gillingham on Weds at 6.45, then home to Doncaster on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
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