Abby Erceg & Milly Clegg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)

There was still a small glimmer of hope that Racing Louisville might make the playoffs entering the final round of the regular season, despite their inability to ever find a consistent run of form. Unfortunately that small glimmer was extinguished before they even played because Bay FC won 3-2 away to Houston Dash. That made RL’s game away to San Diego Wave a dead-rubber for both sides... although only one side played like it. The Wave were all over them from the outset, with only a brilliant leg save from Katie Lund keeping Lou from conceding inside of two minutes... though the reprieve didn’t last long before Jaedyn Shaw whipped one in after the corner was taken short. Might have had a touch from a striker on the way through. On it went until Maria Sanchez curled in from a direct free kick after 22 mins from which Lund seemed to get her positioning wrong. Chaos for Racing Louisville. And no fun for Abby Erceg who once again has to miss out on playoff footy.

But perhaps that would be the excuse they needed to finally give Milly Clegg a debut in the last opportunity they’d get to do so until the 2025 season? You’d think so, surely. Clegg was on the bench for the ninth time this year and what’s more is she’d celebrated her 19th birthday two days earlier so it would have been heartless not to let her have a run. Nothing else left to play for. They did make a half-time change but it was Ary Borges joining the midfield. On the hour, they made two more subs but they were Parker Goins and Madalyn Pokorny. Those two are fringe players also worthy of some extra minutes... but it meant Clegg would have to wait a little longer. Bethany Balcer then grabbed a goal to make it 2-1, tapping in after Kayla Fischer’s header had hit the post on 67 mins. And then feast your eyes upon this...

It only took until the last twenty minutes of the season. They later subbed on Colombian defender Angela Baron (who was at the Olympics with Colombia, same as Clegg was with New Zealand, though Baron was an unused sub when they played each other), meaning a debut for her as well. Before Clegg had hardly had a chance to touch the ball, San Diego scored a third to open that advantage up again and it ended 3-1. That’s okay, we weren’t looking for the result.

Not much action for Clegg. She jumped in vain for a couple of deep crosses and tried a few runs in behind that went unnoticed. At least she got to carry the ball for a bit while dropping back in the final seconds. Swerved around looking for a passing option then finally gave it back to a defender. No dramas. 100% passing accuracy for her NWSL career. More important was the milestone of getting that debut at all – making her one of only 22 teenagers to take the pitch in the NWSL this season (some of whom aren’t even teenagers any more). Only 4/22 were international players and Clegg was the youngest of the lot of them. This is probably the toughest competition in the world to break into as a young player and here’s a little research to prove it...

But wait there’s more because a hidden consequence of all this was that Abby Erceg finished the season having played every single minute of action. It’s the third time she’s done this in the NWSL and the second year in a row with Racing Louisville. Incredible feat.

Now, Clegg signed a four-year deal at the start of 2024 so no worries there... but Erceg has an expiring deal. She’ll be a free agent at the end of the month. Seems to be little doubt she wants to continue playing though she won’t want to keep missing playoffs so whether she still thinks Racing Louisville is the place to be, who knows. Likewise, Racing Lou might feel it’s time to get younger in that position. They haven’t made the playoffs in either of Erceg’s two years with them so nothing to lose. You get the idea. It’s a situation with many moving parts.

Up Next: Keep an eye on that Erceg free agency

Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

S’pose it was inevitable, really. For Chris Wood to be in this type of form and then check the calendar to see a home game against West Ham United? One of his very favourite opponents? Of course he was going to score. It only took 27 minutes, whereupon Alex Moreno got to the byline and chipped a ball into the middle where Chris Wood arched his back and braced his neck and nodded in his eigth goal of the campaign...

Check out the way movement throughout that clip. Subtle but clever strikersmanship. First he begins from an offside position, creating space from his markers knowing that the cross wasn’t due quite yet. Then when the early ball doesn’t arrive, he drops back in search of a cut-back, though quickly sees that’s not going to work and tried to hover back post for the low square one. When the square pass is covered, he again drops back into a pocket and by this point he’s completely lost his man and it’s an open header for 1-0. That’s the eighth time he’s scored against West Ham, by the way, who are now his favourite EPL opponent.

Edson Alvarez got himself a pair of yellow cards before the first half was done, leaving West Ham to try and figure something out with ten men. They did not figure anything out. Callum Hudson-Odoi scored on 65’ and then a banger from Ola Aina on 78’ sealed the deal on a 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest. Wood was subbed shortly after the third goal. His only other shot was a counter-attacking heat check near the beginning which he dragged wide from distance and immediately apologised to his teammates for. The other major action from Woodsy was a goalline clearance to deny Lucas Paqueta while it was still 1-0 against 11 men. The volley had Mats Sels beaten but The Woodsman was there to hack it away.

Chris Wood was voted Nottingham Forest Player of the Month for October and nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award too. It’s getting difficult to come up with new things to say about him without simply repeating the same ideas with updated stats. So let’s let some other people say things about him instead...

The Guardian: “Forest need a physical presence in the final third to hold up play, ease pressure on the backline and provide an outlet in attack when they clear the ranks. It is no surprise, then, that only Milenkovic (26) has won more aerial duels for Forest than Wood (25). What this means is that Wood sees little of the ball. Strikers don’t see much possession even for the more dominant sides, and Wood has had only 199 touches in the Premier League, the fewest of any Forest player to register at least 300 minutes of game time. When Forest get the ball forward they do so quickly, and crucially they have a frontman who is proving incredibly consistent in the opposition penalty area. Wood’s 25 touches in the opposition box ranks 61st in the top flight, and is fewer than the Leicester central midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (26) and Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Muñoz (29), but it is where he comes alive. He has scored six of his seven goals in the box and is averaging a goal every 3.6 touches in the penalty area, ranking him sixth of the 122 players to have scored a Premier League goal this season. A conversion rate of 36.8% is also the sixth-best in the division. Wood has never scored more than 14 Premier League goals in a season but is well on course to enjoy his most prolific campaign.”

FotMob: “Last season, the Forest No11 was averaging 2.39 shots per 90 and he had an Expected Goals average of 0.59. His finishing was fine, with an Expected Goals-on-target average of 0.53. He wasn’t adding value to his chances but he wasn’t necessarily devaluing his attempts. Well, not by much. He was finishing at the rate he was expected. Forest created chances for him and he converted. This season, however, he’s stepped things up. He’s attempting a similar number of efforts on a per 90 basis (2.35) but his Expected Goals average has taken a bit of a bit, coming in at 0.46. The big difference is his finishing. His Expected Goals on Target average is 0.7. He’s adding real value to his attempts and this is what is making him even more prolific than last season. You can see it when looking at his shot map. A lot of his efforts are hitting the corners. In fact, all but one of his goals this season have been in the corners of the goal.”

BBC: “The 32-year-old New Zealand international has scored more than half of Forest's 14 goals this season and has 22 goals in 30 Premier League starts since making his move from Newcastle permanent in June 2023. Nineteen of those league goals have come under Nuno since the Portuguese boss arrived last December. Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has scored more non-penalty goals than Wood's 18 since 23 December 2023. Wood also has the fourth best conversion rate (32.8%) in the Premier League since Nuno arrived and is over-performing his expected goals figure (14.04) by almost five goals.”

But the thing about it all is that it isn’t only a Chris Wood resurgence... it’s a Nottingham Forest resurgence. They’ve settled on an excellent keeper in Mats Sels following a few years of trouble in that position. Nikola Milenkovic has formed a superb CB partnership with Murillo, promptly turning their defence into a strength. They’ve got a variety of good creative players around Woodsy and there’s complete clarity about how they want to play. All of this reflects massively brilliantly on manager Nuno Espirito Santo. This latest win, combined with a few other results around the league, has sent Nottm Forest all the way up to third place after ten matches. Keep this up and they could qualify for Europe. Imagine that.

Up Next: Cheeky battle with his previous club with Nottm Forest vs Newcastle United kicking off at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Hannah Blake & Michaela Foster – Durham FC (English Championship)

After three substitute appearances totalling 25 minutes of action, Michaela Foster was ready for the spotlight at Durham as they travelled to face Blackburn Rovers after the international break. She had played ninety minutes against the same opponents in the WSL Cup a month earlier but this was her first start in the Championship, with Durham trying to bounce back after lising their previous game. And the funky thing about it was that Foster was picked not at left-back... but as a holding midfielder. Definitely not something that’s out of her wheelhouse though – we saw her play a bit of midfield for the Wellington Phoenix last season and back in her NZ National League days she was known as a player who could (and did) line up in pretty much any position... except goalkeeper, of course. Haven’t seen that one yet.

Only pesky detail here was that Foster’s inclusion led to Hannah Blake drop to the bench for the first time in the Champo. That didn’t last long. Durham got themselves in a bit of trouble trailing 1-0 at half-time, conceding after 21 minutes to a through ball in behind with their keeper rushing out and getting rounded. Blackburn hit the crossbar by the same method later in the half. Risky business in a game that they were supposed to win... hence Blake was thrown onto the left wing during the break with a second change also swapping out their striker.

Even still, there was a frisky moment when Blackburn missed a clear chance less than a minute after the resumption... but Durham soon took control having made those changes. Beth Hepple equalised from a free kick in the 52nd minute. Foster was standing over it too but it was more for the right footer thus Hepple swept it past the wall and past the keeper to tie things up. Ten minutes later, Lauren Briggs overlapped on the left and flipped in a finish from a tricky angle. Then on 75’ came this absolute magnificence...

That’s the way to do it. Let them all know. Blackburn did pull a goal back late but Durham emerged with the 3-2 victory to put them back up within a point of first place. Ice cool from Foz, faking one way then firing back on her other foot. Just like the old Northern Rovers days in the NZ National League.

She deserved that goal because it was a really impressive performance, settling into that midfield like she’d been there all along. Bit loose with passes at times but strong on the ball and she used that two-footed technique to good advantage. It was a very mature and confident showing, dictating a lot of Durham’s play with one and two touch passes (Foz had 84% passing success). Plus she looked fit and mobile despite limited games since the Olympics.

And just prior to her goal she played a brilliant chip over the top towards Blake, who took it down on her chest and was just about to slide it past the keeper when the offside flag (correctly) went up. No reward this time but that was a hint of a burgeoning NZ to NZ combination which dates back to their age grade international days. Hopefully Foz will be a firm fixture in this starting eleven from here on out. Blake too – she was less influential but worked hard and linked up nicely. Durham were way more effective in the half that Blake played.

Michaela Foster: “It’s been an amazing month and it’s gone quite fast. It’s been great to get out there on the pitch with the girls in training, but to get more and more minutes in games is great. I’m feeling really welcomed. It’s a different type of football and the quality of players is really good. Even within our Durham team, at training we always push each other and that’s what I wanted – I want to be pushed. As a player you have to be in that sort of environment and to be playing against teams where you never know what could happen on the day, that’s a great league to be in.”

Up Next: Southampton vs Durham at 1am on Monday (NZT)

Katie Kitching - Sunderland (English Championship)

Want to see something cool? Check this out...

Katie Kitching at the double, go on. Sunderland were 1-0 up in the first minute against Bristol City but then found themselves trailing 2-1 at half-time. Not to worry. Within eight minutes of the resumption they were 4-2 up and the third and fourth goals came from the boot of KK. The second goal was scored by Eleanor Dale (who also scored the first) after the BCFC keeper spilled a Kitching corner kick, not quite an assist but close to it. Bristol City did get a goal back to make it 4-3 but that was how it ended. Great win for Sunderland who have found their winning form again after a slow start. Kitching’s first goal was a proper banger, let’s see another angle (and also take a guess who got Player of the Day and the drink bottle that came with it)...

Kitching already has three goals and two assists in Championship action. Excellent start to proceedings... and she’s been active in the cup stuff too. Big early lead in the NZ goal contribution charts for this division ahead of Hannah Blake’s two goals and Mickey Foster’s one goal. Still waiting on Jacqui Hand to join them after they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to London City Lionesses. Hand played a full game there as striker but there wasn’t any reward for her work as the Blades spent most of the game trying to cling on for a draw against a stacked Lionesses side. They almost got there but conceded to a Georgia Brougham glancing header in the 84th minute. Gutted... though on the positive side, there was another substitute appearance for Olivia Page, who even picked up a yellow card...

And although she didn’t start, Grace Neville did play most of the game for LCL. She was subbed on in the eighth minute after Emma Mukandi suffered a non-contact injury that looked like it could be quite serious (although she was able to walk off after several minutes of treatment). Neville’s been in and out of the starting line-up this year and oddly enough this substitute appearance lasted longer than any of her three league starts so far. London City are level with leaders Birmingham (who lost this week) while Durham are one point further back. Sunderland have gotten up to midtable thanks to recent form and Sheffield United are second-to-last but do look like they might have a Sunderland-esque run in them (probably as soon as Jacqui Hand bangs in that first goal).

As for the WSL crew, Indi Riley played around an hour for Crystal Palace in a 3-0 loss against Manchester City. Hardly touched the ball and but she did do some good defensive work. Palace stuck around while they could, not conceding until the 40th minute, but they only had 21% of the ball so the result was never in much doubt. There will be much more favourable match-ups than this one for IPR and her Palace team but this was another WSL start for Riley and that’s always a big deal. Anna Leat is back in training for Aston Villa after an extended absence following a head knock. They’ve been very careful with that. Still needs more time before she’s ready for game days though. Aston Villa lost 2-1 to Liverpool. As for CJ Bott, she did the pre-game hype interview with the Leicester City website ahead of their trip to Brighton...

CJ Bott: “It's always frustrating when we can't score ourselves, but something we can control as a backline is keeping a clean sheet and we're priding ourselves by doing that recently. We feel good and cohesive as a backline and with the 'keeper as well so we're feeling confident and hopefully keep a few more clean sheets in the games to come... It's been an adjustment for us [this season]. We're sitting a lot deeper defensively and produce a lot more counter attacks then we're used to. It has been different but I think we're adjusting nicely and especially against Brighton, we know a few of their weaknesses which we'll hope to exploit so we're excited to take the momentum into Brighton.”

And then she didn’t even play. Wasn’t in the squad so gotta figure some kinda injury, despite there being no mention of her even being in doubt in the press stuff from the days prior. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything – players get injured on matchday, players wake up ill sometimes. What’s curious is that Leicester City played a back three with wing-backs for the first time this season and that will have ramifications for Bott if they stick with it. Either it’d mean a lot more attacking responsibility, which would be cool, or it means they might want to pick a more natural wing-back instead, which would not be cool. They also might not want to play that way again since they did lose 1-0 to Brighton.

Up Next: Sunderland vs Blackburn at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

For some American reason, the MLS has decided to change the first round of its playoffs to a best of three scenario. First to two wins progresses and all the other rounds are single elimination. No extra time in the first round either, it’s straight to penalties if its a draw. Those of us who have watched a lot of elimination footy could probably already guess that there’d be a whole lot of penalty shootouts as a result... which is exactly what has happened. One of the two wildcard games had already gone to a shootout. Then 6/16 first round games so far have also required spot kicks. Five of the eight series are going to a third and deciding match.

But Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake is not one of them. Game one was away in Utah and Boxy and the lads seemed pretty keen on a clean sheet as they lined up with a back five against an opponent that they matched up against very evenly. Their keeper did need to make a sharp leg save early on but otherwise, well, it felt like a nil-all for most of the way. Minnesota had a nice spell early second half but couldn’t finish anything. Both goalies made good saves rushing out. The game only opened up in the last twenty mins and nobody was able to capitalise. Off to penalties, where it’s a sorry thing to have to report that Michael Boxall missed his spottie...

... but it didn’t matter because RSL’s next dude sent his attempt skying into orbit to cancel it out and Salt Lake also missed their sixth kick to end it. 0-0 after ninety then 5-4 on penalties to give the Loons the opportunity to close the series out in front of their home fans.

There was another twist to this tale because do you remember a few weeks ago when Michael Boxall got spat at? Yeah so that was against Real Salt Lake and old mate Brayan Vera just so happened to be back from suspension for game two. Not that Boxy was too stressed about it.

Michael Boxall: “A lot of time has passed. I get over things pretty quickly. Mind on the job.”

This time Minnesota were out for blood from the get-go and with the chances they forged in the first half they could have been three up and out of sight. Again they couldn’t convert anything though, leaving them vulnerable to a long shot from Brayan Vera on 47’ that flew into the net through traffic which unsighted the keeper. Classy bloke that he is, Vera ran off doing shush signals to the crowd (who booed him relentlessly)... but the goal got disallowed because some RSL dudes were offside and in the keeper’s line of sight.

Minnesota then swiftly scored a real goal via Joseph Rosales... only to lose that lead twenty minutes later when Emeka Eneli ran through and megged the goalie. RSL had another disallowed goal with five to go so it was off to penalties. This time Boxall did not take one. He didn’t need to. Real Salt Lake missed three out of four kicks (two saved by Dayne St Clair, one ballooned over) as Minny took the shootout 3-1 following a 1-1 regulation draw. Minnesota United move on to the second round to face LA Galaxy. First time they’ve advanced in the playoffs since 2020.

Up Next: Since they got the first round series wrapped up early, there’s a rest now because the LA Galaxy game isn’t until November 24 at 10am, after the All Whites window (NZT)

Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)

Say, have a geeze at this...

It only took until the tenth game of the season but Libby Cacace finally got a Serie A start under the management of Roberto D'Aversa. No shade ro RDA who has done a spectacular job with the Azzurri so far and Giuseppe Pezzella has been in top form at left wing-back so it is what it is. But a midweeker against Inter Milan was the one we’d been waiting for.

Of course, it was against Inter Milan on a short turnaround and they lost 3-0 so he didn’t get to do much. Played ninety minutes and completed all eight of his passes. Did heaps of defensive work. Got himself a yellow card in the first half for tripping a dude near halfway, both of them sprinting full blast towards each other for a loose ball and Libby getting there slightly late. That’s his second yellow of the season. Funnily enough, they did sub Pezzella on with half an hour to go... but not for Cacace. Instead Pezzella went left fullback while Cacace played left midfield. Both of them on at the same time. Wouldn’t say this was normal circumstances though, since Empoli had been given a red card after half an hour to put them even deeper into defensive mode. They held out until the 50th minute but yeah they ended up conceding three.

Cacace then went back to his usual efforts, subbed on with six minutes remaining in a 1-0 win against Como. Replaced Pezzella and helped close out the clean sheet win... and guess what? He got another yellow card. Cheeky foul in stoppage time. Do what you’ve gotta do. Make that three bookings for the term... but the important thing is that Empoli got back to winning ways after five games without a dub.

Up Next: 8.45am on Saturday away to Lecce (NZT)

Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)

Sorry to say that this week brought news of a first defeat of the season for Inter Milan. They went down 2-1 away to Fiorentina, not an unexpected result in fairness. Inter had managed to keep Juventus to a 0-0 draw recently but Juve and Fiorentina were already putting distance between themselves and the chasing pack.

Inter gave them a genuine scare though. They spent much of this game in the lead after Ivana Andrés scored in the 26th minute sweeping in a low, frisky corner kick delivery. Katie Bowen seems to have been credited with the assist for the goal... if it stands that’ll be her second assist of the term (the other came from a throw in). But it probably won’t stand since KB actually had nothing to do with it. She wasn’t even in the area for the corner. Pure mistaken identity. Shhh, don’t tell anyone.

Fiorentina hit the crossbar from a free kick but Inter stayed ahead into the break. They then had a couple of big chances to make it two which went begging and that came back to bite them when a dodgy penalty decision went the wrong way and Verónica Boquete tied it up from the spot. A draw would still have been fine for Inter and they seemed like they’d just manage to hang on... until they failed to clear a free kick in stoppage time and Lucia Pastrenge slipped it home for the 90+2nd minute winner. Bugger.

Up Next: Thursday at 2.30am away to Parma in the cup, then Monday 3am home to Lazio in the league (NZT)

Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)

Tyler Bindon may still be two months short of his 20th birthday but he can already say that he’s captained a senior professional club. Coach Ruben Selles gave him the fabled armband as Reading faced League Two’s Fleetwood Town in the first round of the FA Cup this week. Huge show of confidence in a great young player... and Bindon repaid that confidence with interest by scoring the opening goal and contributing to the clean sheet in a 2-0 victory that takes Reading into the second round. His first goal of the season. Bindon played 63 minutes before being subbed with more important games ahead.

As you may have guessed, it was a rotated side for Reading FC for this FA Cup tie. Not a competition that RFC needs to do well in so they can take that risk, though it’s also part of the necessity of their financial situation that they have to keep developing their young dudes for the first team since they cannot currently sign anyone for transfer fees – and this was a great chance to offer up some valuable experience. So how young was the Reading line-up? Well, 35 year old David Button was in goal yet they still had an average age of around 22 and a half years of age. Tyler Bindon was two when Button made his professional debut. It was Button who took the armband after Bindon was subbed.

Ruben Selles: “Tyler is a very important player and has been growing in the last 18 months. For me, it was the correct thing to do. He is mature enough and his character and mentality as a winner makes him always want to be in front of the team. It was a good opportunity to give him the little reward.”

Reading will host Harborough Town in the second round. Gotta go way down to the seventh-tier of English football to find those guys. The club was only formed in 2007 (as a merger between a few local sides). They’re one of three seventh-tier clubs to make it to the second round... one of the others being Kettering Town who sprung a huge upset with a 2-1 win away to Northampton Town. Sadly, yes, Nik Tzanev was in goal for Northampton. No sign of Matt Dibley-Dias though. Might have to file a missing persons report soon because unless he’s injured (which is a possibility) then surely that was the game to let him loose for. Oh well, moving on.

Up Next: Away to Stevanage on Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Ben Waine – Mansfield Town (English League One)

Pretty normal thing for Ben Waine to be doing. The only surprise was that he didn’t get the start against National League North side Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup first round. Not that it mattered because he got plenty done in his half an hour off the bench, hitting the post with a sharpshot from a low cross and then scoring that very tidy finish soon afterwards. He was also involved in winning the ball back for the fourth goal they scored afterwards. 4-0 was the final score. Mansfield Town advance to face Stevenage away in the next round. That game will take place in the first weekend of December.

This was Waine’s second goal for Mansfield Town, following the one he scored against Crawley Town in early October. That was in a league game... but cup footy is when the Waine Train really gets steaming. He scored for Plymouth in the EFL Cup earlier this season, with five of his eight goals for that club coming in the various cups. He had four goals and an assist in his final five Australia Cup games for the Wellington Phoenix too. Nothing like knockout footy to bring the best out in him.

Up Next: Away to Wrexham at 1.30am on Sunday, time for Waine-o to get himself a cameo on the Disney Channel (NZT)

Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)

Told ya we’d have the vid of McCowatt’s cup goal this week, so here you go...

He actually almost snatched the fifth goal too. He was hunting on the line as the ball crept over but it looks like it had already crossed by the time he stuck a toe on it. Goal was credited to Jens Martin Gammelby, fair enough. The 6-0 win against Holbæk B&I sent defending Danish Pokalen champs Silkeborg into the quarter-finals, seeking to go back to back. It has been a pretty favourable run to this point but nobody’s complaining. Still gotta win ‘em.

Callum McCowatt: “I’m really happy to be back. Really enjoying football. Just trying to enjoy training every day as well, and just being back in football. It feels like I was out for a long time. It was only a few months but still. That’s a long time in football. I’m really happy right now.”

Good from Cal... who then got a start in the Superliga match against FC København. Worked his arse off on the right wing for 45 minutes, completing a bunch of passes though not getting too many attacking moments with his team mostly in defensive mode. They conceded inside of two minutes but just before the break they won a penalty to tie things up. McCowatt was subbed at the break, part of a double change, and from there Silkeborg looked pretty happy to hang on for a draw. Sadly, they blew that one when they conceded a penalty right at the end... however, they unblew it in the ninth minute of stoppage time when Alexander Simmelhack scored a very dramatic equaliser. 2-2 final score. They’ll take it.

Up Next: Silkeborg vs Randers, Monday at 2am (NZT)

Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)

They refuse to do things the normal way... however Viking did win again this week. They beat Sandefjord 3-2 to chuck another super valuable three points on the board as they near the season’s end. Wasn’t ideal when they conceded a freakishly athletic Jakob Dunsby finish in the seventh minute, nor when Loris Mettler scored a screamer from range on 24’ to have Sandefjord leading 2-0. Joe Bell had made a very good defensive block just prior to the second goal but Sandy worked the ball back and around from the corner kick leading to that Mettler strike. Heavy boos from the Viking home fans at the state of things at that stage.

But they needn’t have worried. Lars-Joergen Salvesen straight away scored with a deflected header. Bell nearly had an assist when his corner kick delivery was bumped onto the post (either by Gianni Stensness or a defender, hard to tell). Then Salveson scored again right before half-time. Another Bell corner caused hiccups early seconds as Viking kept up the good work and, eventually, Salveson completed the comeback and completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute. There were some sweaty spells in stoppage time but Viking came through for the win.

Amongst the other Eliteserien fixtures was a wild 3-3 draw between Molde and Bodø/Glimt. Not only does that result allow VFK to jump up to third ahead of Molde but it also keeps them within five points of leaders B/G with three rounds to go. Plus Viking are four points clear of fifth. Two wins from three will guarantee European qualification and they’re not yet out of the title race (or the race for second place and Champions League qualifiers). Viking and Brann meet in the final round and Brann also have to face Molde before that.

Remaining Games...

• Bodø/Glimt (55pts): Frederikstad (H - 6th), Odd (A - 16th), Lillestrøm (A - 15th)

• Brann (55pts): Lillestrøm (A - 15th), Molde (A - 4th), Viking (H - 3rd)

• Viking (50pts): Kristiansund (H - 11th), Haugesund (H - 14th), Brann (A - 2nd)

• Molde (48pts): Sarpsborg (A - 10th), Brann (H - 2nd), Strømsgodset (A - 9th)

Sadly, there was terrible news for Stensness in there as he twisted his knee in a challenge late in the first half. Viking have already ruled him out for the rest of the season and it’s understood he could be set for another extended spell on the sidelines. Stensness has already suffered one ACL injury since joining Viking in 2021. Not sure on the diagnosis of this one yet but it is the other knee that’s the problem, not the one he previously injured. NZ Olympian Stensness has quietly become one of Viking’s most important players as this season has progressed – including captaining the side for the game in which both Joe Bell and Zlatko Tripic were suspended back in September. He had also won his way back into the Australia squad last month so this is nasty timing.

Up Next: Kristiansund vs Viking at 5am on Monday (NZT)

Kees Sims - GAIS (Swedish Allsvenskan)

With GAIS number one Mergim Krasniqi out suspended following last week’s red card, the coast was clear for Kees Sims to make his seventh Allsvenskan appearance for GAIS (and eighth game overall this year) and oh would you look at that it was a derby game too. BK Häcken vs GAIS. Hectic atmosphere. Late season with nothing to lose either way. Plus both teams were missing a few key players so there were hungry blokes like Sims out there trying to make a statement. GAIS were also without their manager who called in sick that day, presumably watching from home with a warm blanket and some chicken soup.

Not a great start for GAIS when they conceded after 16 mins when a wicked cross to the back post found Amor Layouni for the side-footed finish. They had been looking decent up until that goal but soon found themselves having to hang on through plenty of pressure with Sims making a good low stop from one of the several Häcken chances that followed in the first half... until Alexander Ahl Holmström equalised in stoppage time with a back stick header. Against the run of play, perhaps, but the run of play soon changed because Amin Boudri scored from a cut-back five mins into the second spell and GAIS were in front.

Sims had one other save to make, turning away a shot from distance with twenty to go... and otherwise GAIS had this thing down pat. Very good second half, spurred on by the goal just before the break, polishing off a 2-1 win against a local rival. That ended a four-game stretch without a win which was the biggest such streak of GAIS’s whole season despite it being their first year back in the top flight. The worst they can do now is finish eighth and there’s still a chance of creeping up to fifth if they win their last match.

Up Next: Final game of the season, it’s GAIS vs Sirius at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Kate Taylor - Dijon FCO (French Première Ligue)

A win for Dijon and ninety minute for Kate Taylor. These are the things we are here for. Dijon have been shuffling things around lately due to some difficult fixtures but it was a return to the back four shape here following the international window and that came with a continuation of CB Taylor. Who, by the way, came very close to opening the scoring with a header from a corner that flipped just past the post.

Instead they had to wait until Viktoria Pinther popped one over the line on 36’... but by the 61st minute they were up by four. Two concessions in the last five minutes took a little bit of shine off things but only a little bit. It was Dijon FCO 4-2 Le Havre. Three wins from the last four matches have Dijon up to fourth on the table. Noemie Carage and captain Lena Goetsch are the only players in the squad who’ve gotten more minutes than Taylor through the first six matches. So far, Lyon are the only team to have beaten Dijon.

Up Next: 5am on Saturday away to Nantes (NZT)

Ally Green - Aarhus GF (Danish Kvindeliga)

Ally Green got a full game for AGF this week and it was a belter, with her team pulling off a stunning 1-0 upset against HB Køge. Green played left-back as AGF scored early and held on for a great result. Big roar at full time. This follows the game before the break where they won 1-0 against Brøndby for what was also a fantastic upset win. Given that Greeny was subbed on after they’d already conceded in the 1-0 loss to B93 prior to that (her season debut after she missed the first few months), that means AGF have not conceded a single goal in 210 minutes with Ally Green on the pitch. They’ve won both matches that she’s started after having only won 1/9 before that.

Elsewhere in Denmark, Ava Collins played 58 minutes of a 2-2 draw for Kolding against Odense. That was fine although they have dropped down to last due to AGF’s sudden win streak. Alas, it was a bummer of a week for FC Nordsjælland who have been unstoppable on the domestic front... except when they play Fortuna Hjørring. A 2-1 defeat this week means they’ve lost both times they’ve played Fortuna despite winning every other game. This also snapped a four-game clean sheet streak – which has coincided with Malia Steinmetz returning to a prominent role after building up her match fitness. Not quite Ally Green numbers but FCN had only conceded two goals in 489 minutes with Steinmetz on the pitch, though that tally has now been doubled. Still, Fortuna have drawn a few games so FCN remain level with them in first place, with 27 points from 11 games.

Up Next: Odense vs AGF at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eredivisie)

That there’s a bit more context on why Matt Garbett went five games in a row without playing for NAC Breda, including a KNVB Cup game against a lower-tiered opponent which you’d have thought would be prime territory for him to begin earning his spot back. Obviously we had the dropping for the game against Nijmegen last month. There were quotes in last week’s Flying Kiwis from Garbs himself trying to clarify how that was a misunderstanding and really trying to let everyone know that he’s working super hard in training. These are things that kiwis who’ve followed his whole career never doubted about him.

From the sounds of it, it now seems that the Garbett ice-out was less about a specific ‘disciplinary’ issue or attitude and more about him not sticking strictly enough to the tactical tasks that the coach expected of him on the pitch. It is a new coach this year too, don’t forget. Again, knowing Garbett and his constant running and high work-rate... this makes more sense. He’s a guy that loves to be involved. That could easily lead him to reach outside the gameplan. This is what his coach had to say in that tweeted quote...

Carl Hoefkens: “I had an interesting, intense conversation with Matthew Garbett. Sometimes you look for friction as a coach, because someone is no longer stepping on the accelerator. This week the sparks flew again at training. He will still be important for NAC. Definitely.”

That’s nice. Even nicer is that Garbett’s exile came to an end with a 28-minute cameo away to Heracles...

... however, they lost 2-0 so it wasn’t exactly a dream return. Heracles had already taken the lead in the first half, then they doubled it about a minute after Garbett entered the action when a cross floated in from the sideline. Garbett’s main contribution was to get smashed over near the sideline and inexplicably not get a free kick for it, with Heracles hitting the post from the move. But at least he played.

No Ryan Thomas for PEC Zwolle this week as they drew 2-2 with Go Ahead Eagles. He wasn’t even in the squad for the cup game prior to that, where Zwolle were beaten 4-3 after extra time by NEC Nijmegen. Probably not ready for weekend-midweek-weekend action yet. He was an unused sub in the Eagles draw. PEC Zwolle are sixteenth with 9 points from 11 matches while NAC Breda are ninth with 15 points from 11 matches.

Up Next: NAC vs PSV at 8am on Sunday (NZT)

Alex Greive - Bohemian FC (League of Ireland Premier Division)

It’s season over for Bohs but at least they didn’t get relegated. The futility of others saved them in the end, with 42 points enough for eighth place. Don’t even need to do the playoff thing. But there’s nothing much to say about Alex Greive who only made two starts for Bohemians in the League of Ireland and they were his second and third appearance for the club. He didn’t even get off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Galway United that ended things.

11 appearances totalling 305 minutes with no goals or assists. He did have more joy in the FAI Cup where he scored twice with an assist in four matches, three of them starts (211 mins), as they made a run all the way to the semi-finals. But he never got given an extended run in the side and it’s bloody hard to find your place like that. Greive has one more year on his contract so perhaps it’ll be a different story next time with a fresh start and a preseason.

As for Norman Garbett, there are no such silver linings. Dundalk didn’t win any of their final twelve fixtures to cruise miserably towards relegation after 16 years in the top flight. Financial troubles have had an effect on that – a takeover took place a month ago but it’s not like they got foreign supermoney. They’re still more than €1m in debt and players having had their pay deferred at least once since the takeover. There’s an expectation they’ll enter administration which will probably see them docked a significant points tally to begin the next season so a quick promotion won’t be on the table.

But that won’t bother Garbett too much since he’s off contract and surely won’t re-sign with a team that just got relegated while he barely even played. Seven LOI matches for 101 minutes, plus 23 more minutes in his only cup game. He’s been there since July but he couldn’t stay fit or earn consistent opportunities. He did play three games in a row during October, including 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Galway Utd but yeah nah it’s just not worked out.

Up Next: The offseason

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