Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

There have been so many goals and assists in Flying Kiwis lately that we were long overdue another from Alex Greive. After three goals in nine games to begin this season, Greivesy hadn’t hit the back of the net since. His most recent goal was the winner he scored off the bench against Dundee United back in mid-October – returning from international duty after the All Whites vs Australia games. His coach had been annoyed with how late he got back to Scotland but then all was forgiven with a crucial goal.

To be fair there was an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a spell during that goalless span and he’s been in and out of the starting team the entire way (although two of his earlier goals were scored as a substitute). Worth adding that St Mirren as a team don’t score too many and that Greive’s best mahi has tended to be more about his energy and workrate than his clinical edge. Not to mention he also missed time on compassionate leave when his father passed away. Still, AG has missed some big chances along the way so it was a healthy boost to see a bit of this as St Mirren faced Hibernian on the weekend...

Problem was they were already 2-0 down and had been since the 23rd minute. Two shambolic goals to concede, especially the third minute opener which came about after a centre-back allowed a throw-in to run across him on halfway and a striker ran through and took it off him. Greive, making his first start since the All Whites vs China games (with on-loan striker Tony Watt missing with an ankle injury) almost set up an equaliser nodding down for Mark O'Hara although the acrobatic volley flew just over the top. Then they made a mess of defending a corner and Hibs had doubled their lead.

This was the first of five in the championship rounds with the top five finishers likely to get European qualification of some sort (supposing that Celtic win the cup final, otherwise it’ll only be the top four). Considering that these two were the fifth and sixth ranked teams coming in, and they’re going to be up against it in all of their other games – unless Celtic and Rangers get sloppy knowing that they’ve already guaranteed first and second place respectively – and yeah there was plenty on the line.

The Buddies kept scrapping away and finally got a deserved goal back on 64’ as Greive ran onto the flicked header of Curtis Main then finished through the keeper’s legs. Came from a long goal kick too. Route one footy in perfection. Alas, they’d already wasted too many chances by that point and even as they got lucky with Hibernian equally unable to bury another one to kill the game off it still didn’t happen for them.

Final score was 2-1 to Hibs. Individual errors cost them in a close game and now European qualification is probably going to be beyond their reach barring some incredible upsets the rest of the way. Then again, AG is back scoring so you never know. With Watt ruled out for the last four games and fellow striker Jonah Ayunga missing long term with a knee injury, Greive should get a run of starts (alongside Curtis Main) the rest of the way.

Alex Greive: “Yes, that was for my dad. It was a tough moment halfway through the year losing him. That one is for him.

Hopefully I can get a run of games. Obviously I don’t want to wish any team-mate injured, but this does give me a chance and I will hopefully take that chance for the rest of the season.“Personally, the season has been a bit frustrating. I feel I started quite well and had a stretch where I didn’t score and probably should’ve scored. So it’s nice to get one. I’ve learned a lot through this season.

Playing with Maino suits me well. We had a spell where we played together at the end of last season as well and I think we did alright. We’ve got a good relationship and it’s nice to have someone to play off like that.”

Up Next: Sunday at 2am against Hearts (NZT)

CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)

Leicester City’s top flight survival was never going to come down to how they fared against Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal away from home. This was a freebie game. If they got something from it, incredible bonus. If they lost, no dramas. The only thing they absolutely didn’t want was to get demolished and blow out both their goal difference and also their confidence levels following that superb 4-0 win over Liverpool last week.

CJ Bott was used quite defensively in that game, often holding back to shield against the Liverpool counter. Against Arsenal it was different because although they set up like a back four, midfielder Ruby Mace spent most of her time dropping in to make it three central defenders and thus giving their Anzac fullbacks Courtney Nevin and CJ Bott room to push forward. That is, on the rare occasions when they were able to get out of their own half. And there weren’t too many of those. In fact it initially looked as though this might be a hiding in the making when Hannah Cain gave away a penalty after only five mins, tripping up Katie McCabe as she drifted into the area (and around CJB) after a short corner routine. Except that McCabe’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by Janina Leitzig. Carry on.

What happened after that was Leicester City put the clamps on. They couldn’t restrict Arsenal from having the ball but their deep defensive line against an injury-stricken Gunners squad did stop them from creating the chances they should have. It was scrappy stuff, mostly down the left side to start with, although CJB soon had her turn in the trenches. At half-time it remained nil-all. After an hour it remained nil-all. It really seemed like Leicester City were gonna spring one hell of an upset and claim a massively valuable point. But then Frida Maanum scored a blinder curling in a shot from outside the area on 64’.

The Foxes had just been starting to show some attacking intent when that happened. Intent that they continued with the rest of the way with pretty much all their chances coming in the last half hour. One of those was a Bott long ball over the top which Cain ran onto but didn’t get the call she was after as she went down in the box after contact from the keeper. Bott also nearly conceded a penalty when a ball was chipped up into her hand but the incident happened just outside the area. She did manage to bank a sneaky yellow card deep into stoppage time for a crunching challenge on Lia Wälti...

Yeah, fair enough, no arguments. Third booking of the season in 16 WSL games. Leicester City lost 1-0 in the end but it’s safe to say that was not relegation form that they showed in that contest.

Nor has it knocked them off their course in any way because other results worked out nicely – specifically from the team beneath them who currently occupy that lone relegation spot. Poor old Reading were smoked 5-0 by Aston Villa – with Rachel Daly scoring three goals and assisting the other two. Only drama there was that Anna Leat had to watch from the bench once again, although maybe she’ll get a run over the last two games given that Villa can now finish no lower than sixth and no higher than fifth. Still, they did everyone else a favour by keeping Reading in last place while ensuring they now have a worse goal difference (-28 vs -27) than Leicester City. The Foxes are two points ahead of them with a game in hand.

Elsewhere Brighton lifted themselves to the brink of safety with a 1-0 win over West Ham courtesy of Kayleigh Green’s 57th minute goal. Unfortunately Rebekah Stott also had unused sub duty there. Despite playing 84 mins last game, she was back on the bench with Guro Bergsvand regaining her defensive spot after subbing in for Stotty late in that previous match. With three games left, Brighton are now only one positive result from guaranteed safety. That either means winning once more or it means Reading dropping literally any points across their remaining two... and the last of those games is against title challengers Chelsea (who just beat Everton 7-0). Positive omens.

Reading have taken one point from six games so it’s looking good for the scenario which sees all four kiwi players in this season’s WSL avoiding relegation. That also includes Spurs who lost 3-0 to Manchester United, another title challenger, though that coincided with Ria Percival getting thirty minutes off the bench as she ramps things up after injury. Another assured step forward after about eight minutes on return last week. All the goals were scored prior to Percy being introduced. Spurs are three points clear of Reading and play them in two weeks.

Up Next: Chelsea vs Leicester on Thursday at 6am, then Leicester vs West Ham at 2am Monday; Brighton also host Arsenal on Thursday at 6.30am while Aston Villa and Tottenham have next week off (NZT)

Zac Jones – Haverfordwest County (Welsh/Cymru Premier)

To recap, Haverfordwest County are one of the smaller battler clubs in the Welsh top flight and for most of the season their results reflected that. Then they hit the relegation rounds after the split and suddenly they were winning games, with the clean sheets of kiwi keeper Zac Jones playing a big part in all that. Next thing they’d topped those relegation rounds for the club’s highest ever league finish within the current format and that meant entering the playoffs for the last Europa Conference League qualifying spot out of Wales.

They weren’t expected to do much against Cardiff Met in the semis. Big underdogs against the fourth placed team in the land and the top seeds of these playoffs, who’d beaten them 2-0 the last time they met (although HWC did beat them at home at the start of the season).

What followed was something quite special. Granted, you did have to wait awhile for the fun to begin. Very even start, both teams feeling each other out with lots at stake, and it took some time before Jones had a save to make. Hwlffordd tried a few long ones of their own but it was a firm 0-0 as half-time came around and that stalemate remained most of the way.

Right up until a penalty was conceded by the underdogs with about twenty mins left to go. In a game this tight, a moment like that shaped to be the difference. Silly challenge in the area. Eliot Evans stepped up to take the spottie... and Jonesy denied him with a wonderful save! Magic stuff to keep his team level. Onwards we went into extra time and there Jones was again the hero with an arguably even better stop rushing out to deny Cardiff Met once more. There was also a shot off the crossbar from the home side as well as a couple close calls off crosses. But nothing to split the teams.

Hence a penalty shootout was required after 120 minutes of goalless action. And guess what? Zac Jones saved the first two takes of the shootout as well. Three penalties saved in a row from the fella. Cardiff Met were able to score the rest of them but the damage had already been done as Haverfordwest County AFC claimed a 4-3 victory on penalties. Zac Jones was the undeniable hero of the afternoon. They’ll face Newtown in the final after they won 4-2 against Bala Town – winner gets a spot in Europe.

Zac Jones: “Credit to the boys. We just dug in there, we fought hard and had a massive shift today, I've got no words really. I'm there to save goals and I enjoyed it. Honestly, I don't think I've saved a penalty in about five years and then all of a sudden I have saved three, so I picked a way and just hoped for the best. We know it's going to be a tough match against Newtown, they've beaten us twice, but we've got to take this momentum and give it our best, it would mean everything to this club to get into Europe.”

Up Next: Monday at 4.15am, Newtown vs Hwlffordd (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

They’re all big games at this stage of the season but few are ever quite as big as Celtic versus Rangers under any context. Particularly when Rangers Women absolutely needed to win to stay in the title race, while Celtic themselves are trying to keep pace with Glasgow City. Liv Chance remains out injured for Celtic so she didn’t partake in the Thursday night belter. But Vic Esson was there. Picked to start for Rangers in probably their most important league game all season.

Esson was required early and she was required often against a strong Celtic attack. Had to be sharp to keep out Australian forward Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, making sure to pounce on the loose ball as well. However she couldn’t do much about the close range header from Caityln Hayes, burying that one from a couple yards out off a corner kick. Of course, the reason she couldn’t do much about it was that she’d been shepherded away from being able to make a play at the ball by another Celtic player. Foul called. Goal disallowed. It was a soft one, potentially, but that doesn’t make it any less of a foul.

That was a key moment in the first half. Celtic thought they’d scored then found out they hadn’t and Rangers got a jolt of belief from all that. They managed to forge a few good chances before the break – Rachel McLauchlan almost scoring a thumped from long-range – then built on that in the second stanza. With 65 minutes played, Esson lumped a long ball forward from a free kick. It was flicked-on, held-up, laid-off, shifted out then back in.. and Kirsty Howat slammed a shot home via the post from just outside the area. Screamer of a goal.

Celtic came close to equalising from a corner which was headed at the near post, then saved point-blank by Esson with the parry. The ball fell to the back stick where another Celtic player was lurking but she could only hit the post. Lucky with the rebound though an excellent reaction save from Esson in the first place as, guess what? She kept yet another clean sheet. She has 10 of them from 12 SWPL appearances. Only two goals conceded and one of those was a penalty last week. 1-0 to Rangers, final score. These two teams will meet against in the Scottish Cup final at the end of the month.

However Esson didn’t play the subsequent game on the short turnaround. Instead she was listed as injured for Hibernian vs Rangers... where Jenna Fife did her job in goal with another cleanie (not even having to make a save) although it took until the 82nd minute for Lizzie Arnot to find a winner for RFC. Close shave. Granted, not as close as Celtic needing a 90+5’ winner away to Partick Thistle in a 2-1 result.

Both challengers came super near to dropping points in a week where Glasgow City won twice. That keeps GC top by five points with three games remaining yet they do have to play both Celtic and Rangers again within those matches. Glasgow City – for whom it’s now been confirmed that Meikayla Moore is missing with a back injury – probably only need to win one of those two games to clinch the title but they did lose to both these teams in the first round of the championship phase. It’s officially squeaky bum time in Scotland.

Up Next: Rangers vs Partick Thistle on Thursday at 6.45am, then Hearts vs Rangers at 2am Monday... while they’ll also be keeping a very close eye upon Celtic vs Glasgow City on Friday 6.30am (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Mate, you thought Alex Greive was due a goal? Michael Boxall hadn’t scored since September 2019 before poaching this beauty against Vancouver Whitecaps...

The Whitecaps had gone over 400 minutes without conceding coming into this game so that was definitely a weird way to end a club-record streak. Boxy is a former Whitecaps player too, don’t forget. It was also a welcome boost for a Minnesota Utd team that has really struggled to score goals this season and which was already trailing 1-0 at the time he scrambled that one over the line, courtesy of a very rubbish bit of football as a heavy touch in midfield led to an instant through ball, Brian White breaking the offside trap and outrunning Boxy to score on 17’. But, as we know, Boxall cancelled that one out on 33’. Sweet as. Though not for long.

Early in the second half the Loons lost their bearings dealing with a set piece and Vancouver bundled themselves back into the lead – not too dissimilar from Boxall’s goal, oddly enough. White again. Then another dumb midfield concession made it two goals in five mins (52’ & 56’) and the ‘Caps were stretching it out. Recent South Korean addition Jeong Sang-bin pulled one back for Minny on 65’ with a tidy bit of work yet they couldn’t find a third despite a few close calls. 3-2 defeat. Five games without a win. Those Boxall goals aren’t very common, can’t be letting them go to waste like that.

At least it was better news for Charlotte FC who won their third game of the season beating New York City 3-2. Bill Tuiloma’s out injured for at least another couple of games based on what the manager said last week so helpful of the attackers to come to the party in his absence.

Up Next: A couple games for Minnesota Utd, first it’s the US Open Cup round of 32 vs Philadelphia Union on Weds at 12.30pm, then MLS away to Sporting KC on Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)

Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle (English League One)

Did he make the squad for the finale? Nope. He’s actually had a short spell out injured and didn’t recover in time for the last game. But that’s okay because Plymouth Argyle still rallied back from an early deficit to beat Port Vale 3-1 away from home and with that they clinched the League One title. Trophy and all. Ipswich Town only drew 2-2 with Fleetwood Town – the first time they’ve conceded twice in a game since February – however that game didn’t matter as long as Argyle took care of their own business. Which they did.

Plymouth finished first with 101 points, Ipswich were second with 98 points. Ipswich scored 19 goals more than the Pilgrims and conceded 12 fewer but their almost impeccable form came a little too late. With the pressure on them from those challengers, Plymouth were able to win their last six games in a row... starting with the Morecambe victory in which Ben Waine came off the bench to score the goal that put them into the lead. Both Plymouth and Ipswich were already guaranteed promotion. Elsewhere it’ll be Sheffield Wednesday vs Peterborough in one playoff semi, while Barnsley (whose third string keeper is Kiwi Jamie Searle) host Bolton in the other.

Ben Waine played nine league games for the Pilgrims, scoring once. One start and eight subs apps totalling 240 minutes. He also scored in his only EFL Trophy appearance. Now the bro gets to do a full preseason with the team as they prepare for Championship football in 2023-24. But first... trophy presentation, champagne guzzling, and an open-top bus parade. The whole glorious nine yards.

Up Next: Livin’ it up with the Argyle

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeliga)

Another win for HBK as they edge closer to a three-peat championship. Daisy Cleverley got another start in the 2-0 win over Kolding, in which they took the lead on 35’ through a lovely turn and shot from Emma Regan then added to it on 59’ when Andrea Norheim tapped in from close range after a corner had been volleyed onto the crossbar. Ball kinda just hit her rather than anything intentional... but that’s why you get into the right position to begin with. There were chances for more but two was enough. Cleverley lasted 87 minutes. There are five games left to play and HBK still hold a two point lead over Brøndby. No matter what happens, this win guarantees them Champions League qualifiers for next season.

Meanwhile in the relegation rounds, there was a start for Ally Green as AGF took a 2-0 lead against Aalborg... then blew that lead only to win it 3-2 in the 90th minute. FUnky game and a massive result as the win sends AGF first ahead of AaB in the playoff standings at the midway stage. Everyone’s played everyone once, now come the reverse fixtures. Top two teams remain in the top flight for next season.

Up Next: HBK are away to Nordsjælland at 1am Monday; AGF host Sundby at 11pm Saturday (NZT)

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

It had been a tough start for FCH over the first four weeks of the Veikkausliiga as they drew two and lost two. Hadn’t been getting lots from Rogerson or Whyte either after they’d dealt with preseason injuries. However there was nothing tough about the way they started against KTP this week. Fifth time was the charm as Haka grabbed a 4-2 victory which began with Logan Rogerson winning the ball on the high press and setting up former Brisbane Roar striker Juan Lescano for the opening goal.

Then it got a bit messy as they conceded twice to trail at the break. Rogerson did have a good chance to restore the lead at 1-1 but his first-time shot from a low cross was denied at close range by the goalie. Still, they knew that chances were flowing. Just needed that focused response... and they got it. Two shots from distance flew in and by the hour they were up 3-2. Ollie Whyte came on off the bench. Then on 74’ a cross by Rogerson on the right wing caught the hand of a defender and they polished it off from the penalty spot. 4-2 was how it finished. Rogerson with an assist as well as winning (sort of) the penalty. First win of the league season for Haka. Yeah, that’ll do.

Over in the women’s top division, there was a chunky 6-0 win for Åland United but Jacqui Hand didn’t play. Unused sub. Presumably rested for one of the easier games given that they’ve been relying a lot on her lately and she was out injured for basically the entire offseason.

Up Next: Midweeker on Weds 3am away to Honka, then away to Mariehamn 3.30am on Sun (NZT)

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

Crazy game in Los Angeles. We returned to Ali Riley right back duties for the visit of Kansas City Current, a game with plenty of speedy runners on both teams and therefore some enjoyable end to end footy. Things exploded into fun after half an hour when the phenom Alyssa Thompson scored a brilliant goal cutting back and shooting from such a small angle that her shot hit both posts before crossing the line. Angel City managed to dodge a couple counter attacks that caught them with their fullbacks stuck high and then doubled the lead on 42’ as Jun Endo set up Claire Emslie at the back post. Then Endo buried one of her own in stoppage time for the 3-0 lead. Get in there.

Amazing first half lead... but remember they conceded a 90+7’ equaliser two weeks ago (scored by a goalkeeper with a backheel) so yeah there were definitely some nerves when Kansas City pulled one back through a Issy Rodriguez barely ten minutes into the second spell. Ali Riley, amongst others, seemed to lose track of a bad clearance that went straight up in the air to allow KCC to keep the move alive. Four mins later it was 3-2 as Cece Kizer followed up on a Debinha shot. That lead was looking extremely shaky.

But nah they saw it out. Battened down the hatches for the last half hour, slowed the game down, ran through some substitutions. Riley was the last player replaced in the final minute and it was only after she left the game that the Current had a chance worthy of scoring. Drilled it wide though. 3-2 to ACFC.

In other news, Racing Louisville lost 1-0 to Orlando Pride and six games into the NWSL they are the only team remaining without a win. The Pride were a team they were planning on beating but the goals simply aren’t flowing. It’s all a work in progress. Abby Erceg was strong at the back as always yet a goalkeeping error after 21 minutes cost them badly as they weren’t able to find a response of their own. It’s all a work in progress in Louisville.

Up Next: ACFC vs Washington at 2pm on Sunday (NZT)

Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

Aye it’s Marko Stamenic! This was his first appearance for FCK for about six weeks and only his third since October. There was an injury late last year then the long winter break but after announcing his impending departure for Red Star Belgrade his playing opportunities dried right up. He’s played about 15 minutes in total since then and that’s including this game.

The opponents were Nordsjælland, the closest title rivals to Copenhagen’s crown, and therefore it was one of the most important games of the campaign. These two teams had only met days earlier in the Danish Cup semi-final second leg with FCK producing a marvellous attacking display to win 5-3 and overturn the away leg deficit. A 7-6 aggregate victory. Sends them into the final against Aalborg and keeps the League/Cup double dream burning.

However the rematch in the league didn’t go so swell. They were 2-1 down when Stamenic was summoned and sent onto the pitch with a page of notes which he immediately ran over to teammate Lucas Lerager (also letting Kevin Diks have a peek). Don’t often see that. Messenger boy duty.

Stamenic then sat in the midfield trying to keep the ball rolling forward as FCK pushed for an equaliser. Instead they got waxed by the quick feet of Ernest Nuamah in the 88th minute for a silky third goal the way of FCN. A penalty in the eighth minute added on did close the gap though by that time Diks had been sent off for a second yellow. It ended 3-2 to FCN who therefore move to top by a single point and both AGF and Viborg are also only four points back in the championship race. Every team is dropping points. It could go in any direction.

It won’t go the way of Brøndby who are last in the top section. They have won back to back games... but that’s come with Joe Bell as an unused sub both times which isn’t really the vibe we’re going for. Eli Just had another good run for Horsens except they lost 4-0 to Aalborg and are now only one point clear of the relegation zone. Down a division FC Helsingør lost 2-1 to Næstved with Callum McCowatt’s goal streak coming to an end after four games. Also Dalton Wilkins and Kolding lost in the third tier which damages their promotion hopes.

Nope... not a good week for the lads in Denmark. But at least Marko Stamenic got some footy.

Up Next: Brøndby vs FC København, Monday at 2am (NZT)

Corban Piper - Wexford (League of Ireland First Division)

No Max Mata and Nando Pijnaker this week because they lost 1-0 at home to Dundalk and Mata missed a couple of headed chances. Not a happy day at the office. So instead let’s dip down a tier to find Wexford, for whom Birkenhead midfielder Corban Piper signed a few months ago. Piper has already worked his way into the starting team as a combative midfield presence (same as we saw from him in the 2022 National League) and he was so good in their 1-0 win against Waterford last week that the powers that be boosted him into their First Division Team of the Week. That lad’s going alright.

Up Next: Away to Galway United at 6.45am on Saturday (NZT)

George Stanger – Alloa Athletic (Scottish League One)

With the U20 World Cup rolling around again later this month, the efforts of the 2019 NZ team at that tournament have popped up in a few conversations. Specifically when they kept Erling Haaland quiet in a 2-0 win over Norway. The backline that achieved that feat was: Callan Elliot, George Stanger, Nando Pijnaker, and Liberato Cacace. You know what’s happened with most of them... but how about Stanger? What’s he been up to lately?

Apart from appearing in each of the top four divisions in Scotland by the age of 21, Stanger joined Alloa Athletic in the third tier Scottish League One this season. Not the fanciest of standards however it has allowed him to play regular first team footy, appearing in 33 games across the season with three goal and two assists from defence (usually CB but sometimes RB).

Solid mahi... and it’s all about to ramp up in a hurry because after finishing in fourth in League One, Alloa Athletic were able to sneak into the promotion playoffs. Top side goes up automatically, the next three plus the second-to-last team in the Championship above enter into two-legged semi-finals. Alloa have to play the team from the division up on account of being the lowest ranked qualifiers. And who should that team happen to be? Hamilton Academical. The Accies. The team that Stanger came up with and played in the Premiership for. Ain’t it wild how these things happen?

Up Next: Alloa vs Hamilton first leg is Wednesday at 6.45am, second leg is Sunday at 2am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

Most of the promotion/relegation/championship yarns that we’ve been following from kiwi players are going golden. Good things have been happening. Yet one exception was a major blow for PEC Zwolle as they lost 3-1 to Jong PSV. This was a Monday night game and those ones are always slippery against the Eredivisie youth teams coz the fringe first teamers will often get released for those night (whereas earlier in the week they’re held back with the first team just in case). Zwolle were also without injured star Thomas van den Belt... and they just didn’t quite have their usual juice.

Ryan Thomas was very good in TVDB’s absence, a lot of the midfield activities running through his feet, but sloppy goals allowed and a general look of fatigue in the squad cost them badly. Thomas lasted 74 minutes with the higher workrate before he was subbed off with the score at 2-1. Jong PSV added another in stoppage time. It was a bad result... made worse by Heracles winning earlier in the weekend. That means Heracles are now first on goal difference. Two games left. Both teams are already promoted but there’s an Eerste Divisie title up for grabs too and Zwolle are really battling to hang on.

Better news for Matt Garbett and NAC Breda though. A fine performance from the team saw them pocket a 2-0 win over Almere City which has them right there on the brink of the playoffs with two more games left to play. What’s more is that Almere City are one of the teams they could meet in those promotion knockouts so this was an extra statement of intent from the Breddies.

Two quick goals mid-first half were the difference with Breda then hanging on for the last half hour with ten met after a red card for Javier Vet – Garbett was subbed soon after the red, another quiet game from him. The goals and assists have dried up for MG lately but he’s part of a winning team so no worries. His spotlight will swing back around again soon enough. In the short term he can do his international bro a huge favour on Saturday NZT if Breda can take points off Heracles and put Zwolle back in control of the title race.

Up Next: NAC vs Heracles and Zwolle vs Roda JC both on Saturday at 6am (NZT)

Michael Fitzgerald – Albirex Niigata (Japanese J-League)

Another clean sheet for Fitzy and company. Nothing special but at least it snaps a three-game losing streak. Niigata sit 13th out of 18 teams with 13 points from 12 games. Fitzgerald is playing more or less every game at centre back in his first Japanese top flight campaign since 2019. Did miss some time when he got sent off in a game last month but mostly he’s a key player for the promoted side.

Up Next: Sunday at 8pm away to Sagan Tosu (NZT)

Max Crocombe - Grimsby Town (English League Two)

Nik Tzanev had his long streak of consecutive games broken by an injury earlier this season. He had previously started 97 games in a row for AFC Wimbledon including all 46 in League One last season. That wasn’t repeated this time and not only was the streak broken by injury but he was also rotated out for the last couple of games so that backup Nathan Broome could be given another wee run.

As a consequence, Tzanev was only on the bench to watch Grimsby Town beat the Dons 1-0 in the last game of the season. But starting in the opposite goal was Max Crocombe who followed NT’s lead by playing every single minute this season. What’s more is that he played all of their FA Cup games on that brilliant run to the quarters. Chuck in starts in all their League Cup and EFL Trophy fixtures and you’ve got 59 games for Grimsby Town and 59 games for Max Crocombe. Didn’t miss a blessed second... and kept one last clean sheet in the final game just for good measure.

Grimsby Town fared best of the three League Two kiwi affiliates. Pretty inconsistent with their league form but at least they were consistently inconsistent on the way to an 11th place finish. Meanwhile Colchester United and AFC Wimbledon were down in 20 and 21 respectively, safely avoiding relegation but only by a couple of spare wins. Tommy Smith only made 11 L2 appearances due to injuries. Tzanev played in 38/46 games albeit for a team that fell off a cliff as the term dragged on. There was a spell where Tanz was keeping hectic numbers of clean sheets though, so there were plenty of highlights. Tzanev signed a three year deal two years ago yet Transfermarkt claims him as an expiring contract (maybe a team option?). The other two, Crocombe and Smith, are definitely at the end of their current deals. Should find out more when the club retainee lists get released over the coming days.

Up Next: That may be up to the agents rather than they players

Matt Dibley-Dias - Fulham (English Premier League)

Number 49 on the bench for Fulham. Who is that man?

Why, it’s Matt Dibley-Dias! Born in Wellington, plenty of kiwi family, fully eligible to represent Aotearoa internationally (as well as England, Portugal, and his personal preference Brazil). There had been some hope that NZF would be able to get him over the line for the U20 World Cup but Fulham’s strong season may have spoiled that possibility as their comfortable mid-table finish means they’ve got room to offer a bit of the ol’ Premier League experience to some academy players. Here’s the bro sitting on the end of the bench prior to kickoff (while the ref fixes his walkie talkie)...

MDD didn’t get a debut as Fulham won 5-3 against Leicester City, further pushing the Foxes towards relegation. But it’s his first time in a matchday squad and there are still three more games remaining so the possibility remains. And, frankly, the opportunity of a Premier League debut does trump the U20 World Cup. Plus there’s always the Olympics next year if the timing is right.

As it stands there are two former Chris Wood clubs in the relegation zone (Leicester and Leeds) but his actual current club have climbed on out of it after a 4-3 win over Southampton. Utterly unhinged game of football (as was the Fulham game, as was Everton smoking Brighton on the same day) with Taiwo Awoniyi’s two quick first half goals setting up an invaluable win for Forest. They’re now three points clear of Leicester and Leeds with three games left. Only one home game left though and it’s against Arsenal – the other two are away to Chelsea and Crystal Palace and we know how poor Forest have been on the road. They’re by no means safe... but they’re in a better place now than they were a week ago.

One way or another, either Chris Wood or Matt Dibley-Dias can hopefully extend the streak of Premier League seasons with a New Zealander to a sweet 20 in a row. Two decades, mate. Lessssgo!

Up Next: Southampton vs Fulham, Sunday at 2am (NZT)

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