Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

It didn’t seem like he was going to be available. He wasn’t initially on the squad list. Then all of a sudden he was on the list and he was in the first matchday squad too. Marko Stamenic, meet the UEFA Champions League.

Marko didn’t play as FC København were dropped 3-0 away to Borussia Dortmund on matchday one of the Champions League... but he was an unused sub and that alone is a pretty magical thing. That screenshot above shows him shaking hands with Jude Bellingham after the game. At least five more matches to maybe sneak a UCL debut in there. It’s been fifteen years since the last kiwi bloke did that.

But that’s not even what we’re here to talk about. It’s more this whole thing...

FCK back in action in the Superliga a few days after that Champions League match and Marko Stamenic was given his first start of the season - and only his second ever start for the club. Picked as the holding midfielder away to Odense. Another milestone in a campaign that’s already been full of them only a couple months deep.

Stamenic shanked his first pass attempt out for a throw in. After that the nerves eased and he settled into some good reliable CDMing, breaking up opposition play and ensuring the ball kept moving for his team. It was the sort of game where initially that’s all he needed to do as both teams traded spells of possession without really doing anything. The one shot on target for OB in that time came after a stitch-up of a pass to Stamenic under pressure where he his clearance was blocked. Nothing came of it other than an easy Mat Ryan save though. Then on 22’ a sweetly worked move from FCK getting on the overlap led to an own goal and they were up 1-0, simple as that.

Afterwards it was back to the ebb and flow. OB would have a few forays. Then FCK a few forays. Stamenic tried his luck from range with a first-time shot that whipped on target but was easily saved. Yet about a minute before half-time, Copenhagen gave the ball away cheaply from their backline and next thing it was 1-1 as Issam Jebali scored. Getting caught on the ball. The sorta goal that never should’ve happened.

The second half began with OB on top and an under-hit square pass from Stamenic nearly gave them the opening to score again. Stammers did his best to make up for his mistake, looked like he tried to take a professional foul for his efforts, but he couldn’t get close enough and thankfully the move broke down. Probably a couple too many of those frisky moments to claim he ought to be playing more than he is although as a young player it’s all golden opportunity for growth.

FCK carved out some quality attacks but the end product didn’t click. Jebali had a shot for OB that took a deflection off a defender and struck the inside of the post. It was anyone’s game in the 84th minute as Marko Stamenic was substituted to cap a very promising outing from the lad. Flawless? No... but in only his second start at this level he also looked far from out of place.

Frustratingly, Copenhagen then went and conceded two mins after Stamenic was replaced and they lost 2-1. Another terrible goal to concede having failed to deal with the OB high press and coughed the ball up cheaply at the back. Another Superliga defeat for the reigning champs. The short turnaround didn’t help and they did rest a couple of their top dudes., however a little shred of consistency in their league form would not go astray about now. Just saying.

Up Next: On Thursday morning at 7am is UCL game two against Sevilla, then they’re away to Midtjylland in the Superliga at 4am on Monday... tough week (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

Through five Serie A games and a Coppa Italia match, Libby Cacace did not get a single second of action. Unused sub duties in the lot of them with Italy U21 left back Fabiano Parisi picking an annoying time to find the best form of his career so far. But in the 52nd minute of the match against Jose Mourinho’s Roma on Tuesday morning that finally changed.

The score was 1-1 at the time. A blinder of a goal from Paolo Dybala for Roma after 18 minutes opened the scoring but Empoli hung around and began to work some big chances of their own from deep crosses. One of those was headed in by Filippo Bandinelli a couple mins before the half and bingo. Scores tied. Parisi was on a yellow card. He’d also just cleared a header off the line a few mins before. Didn’t seem to be injured but the booking was probably a factor as Cacace was summoned to the fourth official’s side.

Cacace was involved straight away with a couple of hoofing clearances. He also got caught on the ball by a retreating Tammy Abraham but didn’t make that mistake again, seems like he’s added some pace over the offseason actually. Also whipped in a low cross that was cleared away. Made a few sharp passes forward to attackers’ feet. Worthy Cacace actions.

It was a game in the balance and Empoli were definitely up for it with a few sweeping passing moves that led to half-openings and one major chance as Martín Satriano angled past his man on 69’ only to stab his shot wide of the post. About a minute later Dybala whipped in a magical cross to the far post where Abraham smashed it home to give Roma the lead. Cacace was the closest man to Dybala but the way the Argentine shaped back onto his left foot for the cross was impossible to stop.

Cacace got forward on the overlap and drilled another low cross that Chris Smalling cleared away. From the resulting corner there was a VAR check for a Roma high elbow but nothing came of it. Then came a VAR check at the other end as Cacace stepped across Roger Ibañez on the perimeter of the penalty box. Given as a spot kick initially. The check was to see if he was outside the area... which he was at first but the contact continued into it so the penalty was upheld.

Buuuuut Lorenzo Pellegrini punted it off the top of the crossbar. No card for Cacace amongst it all. As you were.

There was another of those what-if moments that then swung the other way in the 85th minute. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a shot off the post, perhaps a slight deflection carrying it off target. Literally seconds later, Akpa Akpro went in with a high boot on Smalling for his second yellow and Empoli had to finish with ten men.

Mehmet Celik went into the book for fouling Cacace late down the left wing. Cacace and a few others then got a bit fed up with Celik supposedly time wasting by going down hurt and that caused a minor kerfuffle. Jose Mourinho was amongst it in a hurry (albeit Calm Jose).

But despite forcing a couple more Rui Patricio saves even with the man-deficit there wasn’t another goal coming for Empoli. Also lucky to avoid conceding a third as the game stretched with the Azzuri having to gamble forwards. 2-1 final score. Highlights here. At least we finally got some Libby minutes this season.

Up Next: Bologna vs Empoli at 1am on Sunday (NZT)

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

Lovely run, silky control, poised finish. That’s a second goal of the season for Ollie Whyte to go with three assists and it proved to be the winner as FC Haka cruised on into the championship rounds of the Veikkausliiga in style with a 1-0 victory over FC Lahti.

Whyte and Rogerson both started this game though they were marginalised early on as their team got stuck on the back foot. Only a couple instances of desperation defending kept them from conceding. That soon changed. Haka’s first decent chance was a header over the top by Whyte while Rogerson later forced a save after some high pressing turned the ball over in a good position. There were a couple more frisky moments before the half came to a close but the game remained scoreless at that stage.

Into the seconds, the game was less frantic now and that suited Haka as they sucked their opponents forward then hit them on the break. Rogerson slipped a ball in for Lee Erwin with one of those breaks but Erwin couldn’t beat the oncoming goalie. Then came Whyte’s goal and they closed it out from there. 1-0 win for Haka. Some highlights here.

Therefore FC Haka finish fourth after the regular season and have made it into the top six championship rounds (they actually secured that spot a couple games ago tbf). If they can maintain a top four spot after five more games against the teams around them on the ladder then they’ll be rewarded with Europa Conference League qualifiers next season. Haka were eighth last season. Their most recent continental games were UEFA Cup qualifiers way back in 2008-09. Heady times.

Up Next: Away to Inter Turku in two weeks on Thursday (NZT)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

Back from international duty and straight into the championship rounds of the Kansallinen Liiga and what did Jacqui Hand do? Set up another goal of course. This fantastic run down the left wing, with the poise to get her head up and pick put the open player from the line, perfectly set up Margarida Sousa for a 43rd minute goal and had her team in a great position for victory away against a more favoured HJK team. Fourth assist of the season for Hand to go with her six goals.

Regrettably, it didn’t last. HJK threw the kitchen sink at them late on and Oona Sevenius was able to head in an equaliser in the second minute of time added on. Brutal way to have to settle for a 1-1 draw. Granted that was against a team that finished the regular season nine points clear of them and if they can continue that progress then there’s no reason why a third-placed finish isn’t within their grasp. Particularly if Jacqui Hand continues to dish them up like that.

Up Next: Away to PK-35 at 11pm on Saturday (NZT)

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

Almost all of the football in the British Isles these past days was cancelled so that everyone could spend their weekend thinking about The Queen or whatever... but the Irish were an expected exception to that, meaning that we got to witness Nando Pijnaker doing some of this...

Long ball effortlessly chipped over the top from deep with speedy Estonian winger Frank Liivak somehow boosting it past two defenders to get on the end of it - despite still being in his own half as Nando struck his pass. Liivak then kept up his top recent form by finishing for the 23rd minute opening goal. Coincidentally, Max Mata played in Estonia a couple years back; that was where he got his previous European experience prior to Sligo Rovers’ run this year.

That was a pretty handy goal for Rovers who’d been under some pressure to that stage away to Shelbourne. A heavy touch from Pijnaker as he tried to cut off a cross nearly cost his team a goal inside four minutes although he tightened things up from there with a few more impressive defensive interventions. Then also an assist. Meanwhile Max Mata was up top doing his best to hold the ball up and whip it around. Some very nice lay-offs amongst his mahi.

Pijnaker was subbed off at the break though. Perhaps an injury worry or perhaps an attempt to stop Shelbourne from working so many shots against them. Didn’t feel like much of that was to do with Pijnaker specifically but sometimes that’s not the point, a change needs to be made and somebody’s gotta make way. Seemed to work. The second half was much more in Rovers’ control with Max Mata getting through 1v1 on 52’ and almost doubling the lead but his chance was forced wide by the keeper.

Mata was also subbed on 63’ to end the Aotearoa participation in this match. But Aidan Keena did eventually add a second goal for the Bit O'Red and they were able to survive a late flurry from the home side for a 2-0 clean sheet victory. Just what they needed after having their recent win over Dundalk overturned due to them fielding an ineligible player. Wrote about that a bit last week. That severely limits Sligo’s chances of a top three finish but they may still catch Dundalk even still as that lot keep losing fixtures. Highlights here.

Up Next: Away to Derry City on Wednesday at 6.45am (NZT)

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

The playoff hunt is still ongoing after North Carolina demolished Racing Louisville. Abby Erceg had a relatively quiet day other than a heap of touches early in their possessions. 93.1% passing success tells a story there. NCC had 65% of possession overall so Erceg had many a calming touch around that halfway line.

But really this was the Kerolin show as the Brazilian forward snuck a shot in at the near post in the ninth minute and then never let up. NCC had multiple bright moments where it looked like they’d add to that lead yet didn’t. Eventually in the 42nd min Kerolin lined up a bouncing volley on the edge of the box and there ya go. A brilliant give-and-go between compatriots Debinha and Kerolin led to a third after 55 mins. Debinha’s silky control earning her a goal while Kerolin added an assist to her haul.

Louisville did get one back through Nadia Nadim on 72’ as a terrible back pass from Merritt Mathias sent her through on goal. Then Debinha won a penalty which she herself converted with a delicious panenka on 84’. And in stoppage time beat a defender down the wing and chipped in for Tess Boade to head in another. Two goals and two assists for Kerolin. A 5-1 win for the North Carolina Courage. Katie Bowen was an unused sub as per usual. Good win though. NCC are now five points off the final playoff spot with five games remaining.

Up Next: Double gameweek starting with NCC’s catch up game vs Ali Riley’s Angel City at 11am on Thursday, then they also face OL Reign at 11.30am on Sunday (NZT)

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

Ali Riley scored the winner for the Footy Ferns last week. Ali Riley has a cookbook coming out soon. Ali Riley was back to captain Angel City to a solid 1-1 draw away to Houston Dash.

Never easy to play in Texas and even tougher when you’re losing, as was the case at the end of a cautious first half in which most chances were either crosses that got dealt with or long shots that were kinda hopeful. Nevertheless, the thing about long shots is if you strike them well enough you never know. 42nd minute and Maria Sanchez did exactly that with an absolute screamer of a goal to make it 1-0 at HT.

But Angel City responded. Three mins after the resumption, a long ball over the top was chased down by Simone Charley. She couldn’t get there before the keeper but she did get close enough that the keeper fumbled it under the pressure and Charley could simply walk the ball home.

Left back Riley had done some quality defensive work to that point, one of her stronger outings, and just before the hour she almost had an assist too. Lovely ball inside for Savannah McCaskill who couldn’t quite turn it on target. Similar areas on 73’ when she got on the overlap but this time the low cross was scooped up by the keeper. Riley was subbed after 82 mins, probably in light of a couple international games over the previous week. Angel City will be happy enough with a 1-1 draw. Still sitting outside the playoff spots though so gotta win a few more soon. Highlights here.

Up Next: Also a double gameweek... with NCC away on Thurs at 11am (two kiwi captains!), then San Diego Wave away at 2pm on Sun (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers / Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Portland versus Minnesota. Tuiloma versus Boxall. Both fellas were given ninety minutes. Both teams are scrapping for vital points in the playoff race. This match was well poised for some Flying Kiwis Derby gold.

What we got was pretty tense game. Minnesota played a back three to match the defensive shape that Portland have started going with lately (in part to get Tuiloma into the eleven), though that did leave them playing quite deep at times. Tuiloma, meanwhile, loves a bit of RCB in a three as it allows him to step up in possession such as when he collected the ball in the fifth minute and whipped in a cross that Yimmi Chara headed over the top.

Minny would have scored after nine mins but for a fantastic double block by keeper Aljaz Ivacic and wingback Claudio Bravo. Robin Lod and Ménder García also had chances for the Loons. Those crosses for Portland were a constant threat as well. Interesting game, 0-0 at the break.

A draw wouldn’t have been too awful for either team and it did appear like maybe neither of them had the finishing prowess to earn anything else. Until the 61st minute when a Portland corner kick was powered in off the head of Dairon Asprilla. Bill Tuiloma’s usually lurking on corners only the ball didn’t get as far as him. Michael Boxall was in close attendance but the leap and the contact from Asprilla at the near post were just too good.

A couple of Minny long shots didn’t catch Ivacic out. Then we got a glimpse of Michael Boxall’s old right back days when he got a foot in on a loose ball up the wing then carried on his run all the way to the by-line, picking out Garcia with a low cross but the flicked shot went wide of the post. A couple mins later it was Billy’s turn as he lined up a free kick... only to strike it into the wall. Boxall also had a shot blocked six yards out on the spin from a goal mouth scramble. Lots of chances for Minnesota to get something from this game. None taken and thus the Portland Timbers took a 1-0 win.

Portland go above Minnesota with that win, albeit only by one point and the Loons have a game in hand which they’ll play this upcoming week. With only a couple weeks until the playoffs start, both of them are currently where they need to be... but gotta grind out a couple more results to be sure of it. Especially Minny who have now lost three in a row (whereas this was a fourth straight win for the Timbers).

Up Next: Minnesota face LAFC on Wednesday at midday, then take on Sporting KC away on Sunday at 12.30pm... meanwhile Portland are away to Columbus at 5am on Monday (NZT)

Betsy Hassett - Stjarnan (Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Kvenna)

With only three games left in Iceland before Betsy Hassett’s season ends and she leaves to join the Wellington Phoenix, there’s still heaps to play for. Good form at a good time has them sitting third on the table with a realistic chance that they can sneak up to second. Could mathematically still win the thing but that’s highly unlikely with Valur six points clear with a game in hand. But even third would be a great achievement.

One of the reasons that Stjarnan are where they are is moments like this...

Hassett hasn’t really been there to be a goal scorer this year, in fact this was her first of the season after scoring four in 2021. But she’s mostly playing out wide rather than in midfield where her late runs into the area are more influential. Whatever the team needs, you know? Can’t argue with the way they’ve been tracking.

That goal was part of a 7-1 win against Aftureldingar and the funny thing about that is they were 1-0 down after five minutes. 1-0 down after 30 minutes too, come to mention it. Safe to say that one turned around quickly. Hassett also played a lovely reverse ball in that led to the first goal. Catch the highlights of that game over here.

That 7-1 win was a pretty nice way to bounce back from losing 3-1 to Valur in the cup semi-final in the previous game. Since the international break they’ve also had a 1-1 draw with Selfoss in which Hassett got a yellow card. Mira Neld had put the home side on top with a close range touch that slowly crept over on 18’, but Gyda Gunnarsdottir was able to level back up for the Stars on 38’. No further scoring in the second half. Hassett was subbed after 74 mins. 1-1 final score. You can see the two goals over here.

Up Next: Tuesday at 7.15am against fourth-placed Throttur Reykjavik (NZT)

Elijah Just - AC Horsens (Danish Superliga)

Eli Just’s fourth appearance for Horsens was his longest yet. With his team trailing 2-0 at half-time (it was 2-0 after twenty minutes, actually) and getting dominated for both possession and shot attempts, Just was chucked on at the break as one of two HT subs (Janus Drachman also introduced). Wasn’t a massively prominent game from EJ as he had limited touches on the right wing for a team that was clearly second best. They did get a goal back right at the death thanks to a header from Magnus Jensen (90+3’) to only lose 2-1 in the end. Good to see Just getting more involvement though. Including a yellow card in there.

Up Next: Saturday at 5am against league leaders Nordsjaelland (NZT)

Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo (Chilean Primera División)

It’s also all a matter of settling into things for Marco Rojas at the moment. A dominant 4-0 win against Unión Española got the Colocinos back on track after a couple poor results, however with the starters running the show like that Rojas wasn’t subbed on until the last six minutes when all the scoring had already been taken care of. Plus also his team were down to ten men after Leonardo Gil had been given a second yellow in the 68th minute... meaning that by the time Rojas entered the match it was the visitors with the bulk of possession and threatening goals - in stark contrast to the rest of the game prior to the red. Not that Unión Española found anything to show for it.

Following that win Colo-Colo have six games left to secure the Chilean title, a hefty enough task that Rojas has been left out of the next All Whites squad (for the Australia games) to focus on these club commitments. Colo-Colo are nine points clear at the top. They should get it done. This latest game was Rojas’ fifth appearance for his new club – three apps off the bench in the league and one start and one bench cameo in the cup.

Up Next: Thursday at 8am away to Cobresal (NZT)

Michael Woud – Kyoto Sanga (Japanese J-League)

We’re up to 14 games and counting as an unused sub in the J-League for Michael Woud, such is life for a backup goalie. But he has made six appearances for his new club in various cup competitions. The main one there being the Emperor’s Cup in which he’s played all four matches. There was a long wait of almost two months between the third and fourth of those games but it finally the next round arrived last week and the good news is that there should be a fifth match in the offing for him now because Kyoto Sanga won 2-1 against Tokyo Verdy (a J2 club) to advance to the semi-finals.

This was a game that Kyoto Sanga would have expected to win but cup comps can do crazy things and it’s not like their league form has been much to shout about lately. Only one win in their last seven J-League matches, which has them uncomfortably close to the relegation spots. But they started this one well, taking the lead in the 21st minute thanks to some slinky footwork from Paulinho Bóia.

Woud made a good stop low at his near post after half an hour to deny Verdy’s best move of the first half. Then eight mins into the second that fella Paulinho Bóia got loose again, overlapping from the left, and he made it 2-0. A couple more comfortable saves followed for Woud as time ticked down and Kyoto Sanga neared the finish line. It wasn’t going to be quite that easy though. One instance when Kyoto Sanga were too slow on the defensive close outs, plus a missed chance to clear the pull-back, allowed Hiroto Taniguchi to get a goal back in the 90th minute. Slammed it home, Woud getting a touch but Taniguchi was too close to be denied.

It then required a header off the line in the second stoppage time minute for Kyoto Sanga to survive. Survive they did though. Exhaustion at the final whistle after what stretched out into eight minutes added on but a 2-1 win takes them into the semis. Always loved a bit of Emperor’s Cup.

Up Next: For Woud it’s the Emperor’s Cup semi-final where Kyoto Sanga will face Sanfrecce Hiroshima (currently third in J1) on Weds 5 October at 9.30pm (NZT)

Stefan Marinovic - Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israeli Premier League)

Stefan Marinovic was the most surprising unexplained absence in the All Whites squad to face Australia. He’d lost the starting gig to Oli Sail over the previous two windows and perhaps didn’t want to fly all the way back home just to sit on the bench. Or maybe he was just straight up dropped. Dunno.

What we can say for sure is that he’s the number one for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Unfortunately after a relieving 2-0 win last week, they weren’t able to keep that consistency going this time around. At home to Hapoel Beer-Sheva they took the lead on 23’ as Kayes Ganem scored a very direct counter attack, finishing it with a wonderful left-footed curler. They held that lead for ages. Way into the second half.

Marinovic made a fine one-handed stop at his near post soon after the opener. Ten minutes later he had no hope as HBS took a pop that nearly snapped his crossbar in half, phew. Then a header went over his bar. Finally in the 60th minute there wasn’t much he could do as Astrit Selmani nodded in at the back stick... but within two minutes El Yam Kancepolsky had slammed Tel Aviv back into the lead. Thumping strike with a helpful deflection.

2-1 up with half an hour to go? If only they’d kept it up. Alas, five minutes after retaking the lead they got turned around on the left edge of their defence. Marinovic palmed away the low cross but couldn’t do the same with the follow-up shot through a crowd of defenders in front of him. After 80 mins it seemed that Hapoel Tel Aviv were sure to retake the lead but failed to convert on the rebound from about six yards out. Before the ball even went out of play, Beer-Sheva then rolled down the other end and won it with a blast from outside the area that was as close to literally unsaveable as it gets. 3-2 to Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Bugger. HTA have lost three of their first four Premier League games.

Up Next: Sunday at 3am away to Sektzia Nes Tziona (NZT)

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