Flying Kiwis – April 9
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
Empoli were in control leading 2-1 against Torino as their Serie A game ticked into time added on. Nicolo Cambiaghi had given them an early lead, which was cancelled out in the second half by Dusan Zapata but then restored by a smart Matteo Cancellieri finish on the counter attack with quarter of an hour left. These were intensely valuable points for Empoli as they scrap to remain in the Italian top division. But, having looked largely untroubled since restoring their lead... they lost it again. A cross from out wide on Liberato Cacace’s side. Winger didn’t drop deep enough and Cacace couldn’t close out in time to prevent it. Dusan Zapata supplied an excellent header for his second of the evening. 90+1 on the clock and it was 2-2. Heads dropped in the crowd. A point would still have kept them out of the relegation zone... but only at the mercy of games in hand for their opponents.
In other words, Libby Cacace picked one hell of a moment to provide his first assist in Italian league football...
It was Cacace who instigated the move with that one-two. He then stuck with it after the defender had seemed to get goalside of him. Never gave up on the lost cause and then crept around the edge to keep the ball in play at the byline. Easy cutback to M’Baye Niang and there ya go. 3-2 to Empoli. The stadium went nuts. All except for Cacace himself, who walked away as casually as if he had the crown jewels hidden under his jersey and was trying to evade detection. Don’t think his teammates didn’t recognise though. They were quick to mob him when the final whistle blew.
This is his second full season with Empoli after half a year before that. His 47th appearance in Serie A, combining for close to 2800 minutes, and that was his first goal contribution. Don’t think he hasn’t gone close because he’s been on corner kick duty lately and infamously had a banging goal disallowed a few weeks back, so this moment had been getting closer and closer. He just had to save it for when it mattered most, right? Cacace also had a goal disallowed for Sint-Truiden, although he did bag a couple of assists there. Hasn’t scored a club goal since his Wellington Phoenix days so that’s the next task.
The other reason this was such a big deal for Cacace was that he hasn’t started their last couple of matches. A fit-again Giuseppe Pezzella had gotten the nod at left-back in each of the past four games, the same dynamic as we saw at the start of the campaign until Pezzella picked up an injury. Thing is, Pezzella picked up an injury here too. He went down clutching at his leg/knee in the 65th minute leading to Cacace’s introduction. We’ll know more about how he’s tracking once scans have been completed but either way they’ve got goal machine Liberato Cacace ready to go so they’ll be sweet.
With this win, Empoli snapped a four-game losing streak and took themselves to 28 points with seven matches remaining. That’s got them two points and two places above the drop zone, after being the only team of the bottom seven to win this week.
Up Next: Lecce vs Empoli on Sunday at 1am (NZT)
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
There’s nothing like a bit of midweek football when you’re the only fit striker at a relegation threatened club who has only just come back from injury yourself. Cramming those games in, putting that hamstring under extra stress. But needs must for Chris Wood and Nottingham Forest so fresh from his equalising chur bro header against Crystal Palace (and ninety minutes of football around it) he was at it again on a Wednesday evening at home against Fulham. Still awaiting that day when Matt Dibley-Dias sneaks into the Fulham matchday squad again. The Cottagers are pretty safe where they are in the standings so maybe once that’s mathematically sorted they might do some future-proof rotation.
Anyway, Nottm Forest have not been able to sustain any consistent quality this season but they were fantastic out the gates against Fulham. Immediately on the front foot with Chris Wood holding the ball up strongly and making clever runs to occupy defenders – as he did for their first goal, dragging two blokes centrally allowing Callum Hudson-Odoi to get isolated on the right back. Morgan Gibbs-White showed some delicious touches to set him up and CHO chopped back to score after nine minutes.
That was good, but this was better...
Pretty awful defending, to be fair. Wood drops in to collect the ball and nobody follows him. Then nobody closes him down as he shuffles into a shooting position. Bottom corner. Keeper blindsighted. It was as emphatic as him taking a penalty... weirdly this was only the second goal that he’s scored this season with his right foot (out of 11 in the Premier League). It was also just the third of his 66 career EPL goals scored from outside the penalty area.
Anthony Elanga nearly made it three soon afterwards, not even half an hour gone – it was so bad for Fulham that they made an astonishing triple tactical sub in the 33rd minute (right after a Wood through ball nearly sent Elanga into the area). You always feel bad for the bloke who gets subbed in the first half but when three of them are hooked maybe it’s not such a humiliating experience. Regardless, just look what Chris Wood is doing to folks. Heads gone all over the show. Morgan Gibbs-White scored again before the half was over.
The nerves did return when Fulham scored quickly into the second half, a strong header from Tosin Adarabioyo. The consequence was a more conservative Forest team, although they still had their chances. A shout for a penalty declined. A banger off the crossbar from Neco Williams. A drilled follow-up shot from Danilo that smacked straight into Chris Wood’s midriff. However, that much-improved Fulham team did have the better of that half and unfortunately Chris Wood doesn’t even get a rest when they’re in game management mode (which all the rest of the front four did) because he’s so important for defensive set pieces. NFFC won 3-1 and Wood played ninety.
There’s very little reprieve at this stage of the Premier League season, hamstring issues or not, so a few days after that effort Chris Wood was starting once again for Nottingham Forest’s match against Tottenham. Tough game away to a top four candidate. They even brought it forward 26 hours to avoid a train strike, recovery time be damned.
Spurs were swiftly into the ascendency but almost got caught out when Murilo tried to beat the keeper from way inside his own half. Chris Wood had made a run looking for a switch, dragging attention towards him, but Murilo simply thumped it straight... beating the goalie but bouncing wide of the post. Five minutes later Murilo went from almost scoring the goal of the season to instead scoring an own goal, as he turned a Timo Werner low cross into his team’s net. Despite that, Spurs got sleepy after scoring and you probably don’t need to be told who it was that punished them for it...
Make that 12 for the season. Another right-footer to make it a dirty dozen golazos. Four consecutive games in which The Woodsman has scored, and he’s got 9 in his last 10 Premier League matches. Anthony Elanga claimed the assist after a nice combination with Neco Williams out wide on the right. 1-1 after 27 minutes.
It could have been even greater because he missed a simple one after Ryan Yates’ attempt had been parried into his path. Guglielmo Vicario had made a very good save there and was quick to get back up and challenge Wood... who tried to thump in the rebound from a couple of yards, just outside the post, and smashed it into said post instead. Maybe a more controlled touch would have done the trick, although Vicario was right there on him so it wasn’t quite the open goal it’s been claimed. Still one he should have scored, especially with the touch he’s in these days.
He also went close early in the second half when putting his head onto a flicked-on long throw... but there wasn’t enough power in it to beat Vicario (who you may remember used to be a teammate of Cacace’s at Empoli). Another goal-scoring afternoon for Woodsy although with one goal from 1.15 xG this was the first match all EPL season in which he has scored and still gone unders on his Expected Goals. He has 12 goals from 7.86 xG overall, an absolutely incredible strike-rate. How incredible? This incredible...
That stat was from before the Spurs game but that won’t have made a difference. Another goal from only three shots still keeps him at 38.7% conversion and keeping that 20+ shot qualifier there, the next best mark is Elijah Adebayo of Luton Town at 32%. Then Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart at 30% (albeit with 24 goals).
Anyway, Spurs turned it on in the second half to cruise towards a 3-1 victory, Micky van de Ven (52’) and Pedro Porro (58’) changed the course of this one in a hurry. Spurs had made two half-time changes to their midfield and that seemed to do the trick. Chris Wood was subbed after 68 minutes as part of a double-change that also removed Morgan Gibbs-White... a clear white flag with more winnable future fixtures in mind. Unfortunately, Luton Town beat Bournemouth 2-1 so it’s only goal difference that’s keeping Nottm Forest in the top division as things stand.
Up Next: Nottingham Forest vs Wolves at 2am on Sunday (NZT)
Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)
There’s no containing this bloke. Already playing more minutes than any other teenager in League One this season, already proving himself as a powerful defender in a very difficult situation with cash-strapped Reading, now he’s out here scoring goals too. This header was his second of the season, earning his team a 1-1 draw against in-form Lincoln City – who had previously won five games in a row and are now 16-games undefeated.
Reading were good value for the point too. Their manager called it one of their best performances all season, with only some wonky finishing preventing them from claiming the win. They were unlucky with a first half chance that might have been cleared off the line by a defensive hand but they still had more than enough chances to feel they’d deserved something long before Bindon’s 83rd minute equaliser (following Freddie Draper’s 72nd min goal for Lincoln). The attackers couldn’t do it so a defender did. Manager Ruben Selles said afterwards that this is an area, attacking corners, where he feels that Bindon can make big improvements and is something they’ve specifically worked on in training. Hard work leads to results. To make it even cooler, Tyler had his parents in the crowd for this one.
Tyler Bindon: “I thought the boys played really well. It's nice to walk away with a point, but three would have been much better. We dominated the game and created some good chances, and it's a case of working on the finishing touches in the final third. Scoring was amazing, it was a special moment! I always enjoy scoring goals, I think everyone does, and especially to get the team back into the game made it even better. I probably need to do more attacking training if I'm honest! I focus most of my time on defending, and obviously I can get better at both ends of the pitch.”
With that point, Reading remain six clear of the drop zone with games running out. That’s despite a points reduction. They are where they want to be... which is the opposite to Max Crocombe’s Burton Albion who lost again this week. Thrashed 4-0 by Des Buckingham’s Oxford United, meaning they’ve only taken one point from their past seven matches. They’re right on that relegation line now, with four games left to save themselves.
Up Next: Bristol Rovers vs Reading, 6.45am Weds; Barnsley vs Reading, 2am Sun (NZT)
Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eerste Divisie)
Last week we featured an excerpt from one of the Dutch media outlets not so much criticising Matt Garbett but simply laying out the case that the club will want to see more influence from one through the rest of the season. This is the kind of thing they were on about...
Yeah mate, more of that please.
NAC Breda were expected to struggled again third-placed Groningen, who were at home and had won their previous six matches in a row. For much of this game, that’s how it seemed to be going with Groningen keeping more possession and creating more chances. Garbett did slip a couple of smart passes into the area but his team would have been happy enough to be level at the break.
Then they turned up the heat, winning a penalty early in the second half after right-back Boyd Lucassen got clattered on the overlap. Dominik Janošek missed that penalty... but Garbett kept the play alive and chipped a smart ball over to Manel Royo who headed home at the far post. 49 minutes played. Johan Hove would tie things back up quarter of an hour later however a 1-1 draw still brought a welcome point from one of NAC’s trickiest remaining fixtures. Garbett played ninety minutes for only the third time this season. NAC remain on track to sneak into the promotion playoffs.
Up Next: Saturday at 6am against Dordrecht (NZT)
Marko Stamenic - FK Crvena Zvezda (Serbian SuperLiga)
Nothing to worry about here. Red Star played twice this week and both were 2-0 wins. Marko Stamenic started one and was a substitute in the other. Not getting huge minutes since the managerial change but still in and amongst it for the best team in Serbia. Which they very clearly are once again, having moved four points clear of Partizan on the way towards what would be a seventh consecutive league title should they see things through to the finish line.
Stamenic was subbed on after an hour of the win against IMT with the goals already having been scored. He did nearly earn them a third though, with a shot from just outside the area that hit a defender and was initially given as a handball penalty... until VAR took a closer look and saw that the arm was tucked into the defender’s body. Fair enough. He then started away to Radnik Surdulica except they subbed him off at half-time. His stats were good but the score was nil-all and they seemed to want to mix up the formation with a more attacking midfielder brought on in his place. So it goes.
Up Next: Serbian Cup quarter-final against OFK Vrsac on Thursday at 5am (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)
There’s not much that Silkeborg can do in the remainder of the Superliga. They’re adrift at the bottom of the top six, nowhere near the European qualification spots, pretty much there just to play spoilers for everyone else. That and to stay sharp for their cup run, with the second leg of their semi-final tie against FC Fredericia coming up in a couple of days – having won the home leg 6-1 it’d require an almighty bottle job to miss out on progressing to the final where either AGF or Nordsjælland will await (the two teams directly above them on the ladder). Winning the cup will also early then Europa League qualifiers if they can manage that feat, by the way.
They definitely played spoilers this week by drawing 1-1 with leaders Brøndby to allow FC Midtjylland to go level with them on points. Ohi Omoijuanfro scored for BIF on 55’ but Silkeborg retaliated with an 80th minute equaliser through Oliver Sonne (a deflected bicycle kick!). Callum McCowatt started and had already been subbed off by then, though not before setting up a couple of big chances for teammates along the way. A strong team performance, much improved after a 4-1 loss to the same opponents three weeks ago.
Up Next: Second leg of the Danish Cup semis away to Fredericia on Friday at 4am (NZT)
Abby Erceg & Milly Clegg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Say would you look at this...
Back on the pitch and joining in full training session, about four weeks after she first arrived in Louisville. Realistically, Clegg’s going to be eased into matchday squads and that might not even be a one-year process. She’s signed for three so they might see her as a long-term project player. But opportunities will arise. Aotearoa’s most promising attacking player is now close to full capacity again, training in one of the most competitive leagues on the planet. At 18 years of age.
Up Next: Racing Louisville vs San Diego Wave on Sunday at 11.30am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
There doesn’t seem to have been an official update on the Minnesota United captaincy. When Ozzie Alonso left ahead of the 2022 season, it was midfielder Will Trapp who succeeded him but then at some stage last year they started referring to Trapp and Michael Boxall as co-captains. This year they seem to still be doing the co-captaincy thing at least in spirit... but it’s Boxy who has worn the armband for each and every game. Something that we can potentially thank NZ’s Cameron Knowles for as he was the interim coach to begin the current MLS campaign.
Minnesota United haven’t really clicked this season, but they do have a tendency to scoop up points thanks to late goals. Such was the case again versus Real Salt Lake. Chicho Arango had put RSL into a 24th minute lead with a strong downwards header, probably a fair reflection of how the game had started, but the Loons picked it up after that and kinda bossed it from there. Boxy himself almost scored in the second half with a header from a corner that flew over the top. RSL’s defence kept them at bay for most of the way... but not all of the way, because substitute Tani Oluwaseyi popped up with an 86th minute equaliser almost as soon as he was introduced. Joseph Rosales then got sent off for MNUFC in the time remaining. 1-1 was the final score. Five of their nine goals so far have been scored after the 85th minute, including two equalisers and a winner.
In other MLS events, Bill Tuiloma sat as an unused substitute once again for Charlotte FC in a 1-0 loss away to New England Revolution and at this stage he might need an intervention. He last played a club game in July 2023, missing some of that time through injury but also watching from the bench on 11 different occasions. Free Bill Tuiloma! Also, Tyler Boyd has been out injured with a groin strain these past couple Nashville SC games, while Jay Herdman’s not shown up on the Vancouver Whitecaps bench since the reserves season started. He and Finn Linder have started all four matches for VW2 so far, keeping bust there instead.
Up Next: Minnesota Utd vs Houston Dynamo on Sunday at 12.30pm (NZT)
Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle (English Championship)
It’s not easy to fit Ben Waine into these weekly updates when he’s usually only playing 5-10 minutes off the bench each match. Especially not at a time like this when there are regular goals flying in from kiwi footballers all over the planet. But every now and then we’ve gotta make that check-in. Like this week, for example, after Plymouth Argyle sacked manager Ian Foster after only three months in charge. Foster had replaced Steve Schumacher who was the bloke who signed Waine and who had gotten them promoted last season, but was poached away by Stoke City in December. Foster came in with a strong history coaching England youth sides and initial results were pretty sweet. Then the slump happened.
At the time that Foster was given the flick, Argyle had lost eight of their previous 11 games including five in a row at home. A 1-0 loss to Bristol City on Easter Monday had left them just three points above relegation, with their previous six matches netting one point and only two goals. Given that last-placed Rotherham were to follow, they absolutely had to sharpen things up. So out went Foster. First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell was instead appointed as interim boss for the rest of the term.
Fortunately it worked, as they beat Rotherham 1-0 thanks to a Bali Mumba goal in the 32nd minute. A well-taken goal that earned them a deserved three points and provided some breathing room with five matches left to play. It also confirmed Rotherham’s relegation back down to League One. Ben Waine was subbed on with quarter of an hour remaining, replacing a tired Ryan Hardie as they nursed that lead late against a Millers side that, to be honest, didn’t really have much of an attacking threat.
Waine brought that required energy and also had a couple of great chances to ice the game with a second goal. One saw him pick up the ball deep then turn and charge at the defence, chopping past the last man to reach the perimeter of the area but his left-footed drive was straight at the keeper. Then there was a corner kick which Dan Scarr headed towards goal which bobbled back up in the crowd. Waine was able to get to the rebound first except he headed it off the post. An errant pass across the defence fell his way later on but the keeper rushed him bravely and made a brilliant stop with an outstretched leg. Three big chances there. No goals though. Good impact, could have been a great impact. Most important thing was a season-correcting victory for the team.
Up Next: Argyle vs QPR on Weds at 6.45am; Argyle vs Leicester City on Sat at 7am (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - Hansa Rostock (German Bundesliga 2)
It wasn’t a shock that Sarpreet Singh didn’t get rushed straight back into the Hansa Rostock team after the international break. He’d played big minutes for the All Whites so, given his injury history, that just made sense. When he also wasn’t in the squad for their next game though... concerns emerged. Instead he was given sixty minutes for the reserve team where he immediately set up two early goals as they won 3-1 against table-toppers Greifswalder FC.
Two other blokes from the first team, Felix Ruschke and Alexander Rossipal, were also given a game here. One of Singh’s assists was from a free kick, the other from open play after a defensive giveaway. He was given the chance to play as a number ten like he does for the national team and was instantly effective. Hopefully he did what he needed to do to stay fit and boost his case, but the fact he was playing second team at all only adds to the weirdness. Clearly these Hansa fellas aren’t watching the All Whites play because how Singh can be so effective there and then hardly get a chance back for his club (at a level he’s proven he can dominate before, for this same manager) remains completely baffling.
The first team did win 3-1 away to Wehen Wiesbaden without him though. A win that lifts them out of the relegation zone for now, with six more games remaining.
Up Next: Hertha Berlin vs Hansa Rostock at 4.30am on Saturday (NZT)
Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
The good news:
The bad news:
Not sure what “an extended spell” out will add up to, but we shan’t be seeing Nando Pijnaker for a wee while after scans revealed he’d suffered broken ribs in the 3-0 defeat to St Pat’s last week. It was a collision with his own goalkeeper that did it – keeper Ed McGinty was also going to need a fitness test before he could play this week, although that got canned when Sligo Rovers’ match against Galway United was postponed due to travel issues.
Tough news for Nando, tough news for Sligo Rovers too who have already been without their other starting centre-back John Mahon who has yet to feature in 2024. Usual estimates have it at about six weeks out for broken ribs, though of course it depends on the severity with each individual case.
At least there’s another in-form kiwi to rely upon at the Bit’o’Red. Max Mata didn’t win the club’s Player of the Month award but he did get nominated for the League’s Player of the Month award. One of six blokes shortlisted, following all of his goals and assists lately. He had four goals and three assists during the month of March. Seven goal contributions is tied with Pat Hoban of Derry City for the most in the comp.
Up Next: Away to Shamrock Rovers at 7am on Saturday (NZT)
Indiah-Paige Riley - PSV Eindhoven / Emma Pijnenburg – Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
See, how cool is that? Emma Pijnenburg and Indi Riley with the snapshot after playing against each other – marking each other, even – a few weeks ago in the Eredivisie. Indi Riley had done a video interview with the PSV team prior to that game in which she mentioned that there was a fellow New Zealander playing for upcoming opponents Feyenoord, a match that was covered in Flying Kiwis two weeks ago when it happened. We only got this image made public after Pijnenburg was called up to replace Kate Taylor in the Football Ferns squad though. Would have been nice to catch that at the time, but still.
Up Next: Massive enormous footballing activities as Feyenoord play Ajax in the KNVB Cup semi-finals on Wednesday 17 April at 5.30am (NZT)
Riley Bidois - Loudon United (American USL Championship)
That explains why Riley Bidois had been distinctly absent from the early rounds: he wasn’t in the country yet. Doesn’t explain why that was but we can probably assume it was visa/passport/paperwork related because these things usually are. The important thing is that he’s there now and not only ready to rock but in fact he’s already made a debut. Swept straight into the matchday squad for a 3-1 defeat to Birmingham Legion. Bidois got about quarter of an hour off the bench, playing slightly deeper than the striker’s role he’s more used to...
As for the other blokes in the USL Championship, Kyle Adams is loving life with Louisville City after captaining them to a 5-3 win against Indy Eleven. Clean sheet might have been nice but Elliot Collier played off the bench for the other team so had to give them something (not that Collier got any goals or assists). Lou City have won all four matches and have the best record in the competition at this early stage. James Musa’s Colorado Springs team lost 2-0 to Sacramento Republic and Moose was subbed at half-time. They’ve lost all four games, in complete contrast to Kyle Adams’ lot.
Up Next: Loudon United vs Memphis 901 at 8am on Sunday (NZT)
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