Flying Kiwis – June 18
Malia Steinmetz – FC Nordsjælland (Danish Kvindeliga)
Ladies and gentleman, may we present to you Malia Steinmetz, champion of Denmark...
In her first season in Europe, Steinmetz has helped FC Nordsjælland to their first ever Kvindeliga title. It had never happened before her. It has instantly happened with her. Last season it was Daisy Cleverley’s HB Køge that were lifting this trophy, this season a different Football Ferns midfielder got to put her fingerprints all over it.
Steinmetz played an important role for FCN across the whole season, setting her usual presence in midfield, but in the last game of the campaign she was even more valuable than ever. FCN faced Brøndby away knowing that a win or a draw would be enough to claim the trophy but defeat would consign them to second place at their opponent’s benefit. And, you know, that prospect wasn’t exactly going to plan when they conceded a soft penalty in the first half... fortunately Amanda Brunholt made a good save and FCN were able to hit the sheds at half-time with the job half done.
Quiet game to that point. Two teams well aware of what was on the line. One slip could have cost FCN everything they’ve been working towards, instead they came out of the sheds and very quickly scored one of the most important goals in club history. It was Steinmetz who collected the ball out wide and lifted a cross back towards the middle. The keeper rushed out but couldn’t hold the ball as she bumped into a forward. Winonah Heatley smashed the loosie into the net for 1-0 after 48 mins. Not quite an assist for Steinmetz but it was the next best thing.
That lead did not last long. In the 51st minute, BIF levelled things up when Hafruin Rakel Halldörsdóttir smacked in a tricky volley from a corner kick. However that turned out to be the last time that either net was disturbed this season. BIF had a quite a few chances, even aside from the missed penalty, but FCN always knew how to always get a body between ball and goal. The xG was 2.16 vs 0.62 in Brøndby’s favour yet it ended 1-1. Steinmetz was excellent. 82% passing, a couple clearances, a couple interceptions. The crucial delivery into the area which led to the goal. Big celebrations upon the final whistle. Too good.
Yet another kiwi player winning a trophy this season... and the job ain’t done. In a few days they have a rematch with Brøndby in the Danish Cup final with another trophy on the line. Couple be a league and cup double if FCN can play their cards right. Steinmetz appeared in 21 out of 22 Kvindeliga matches starting all but one of them and immediately proving herself to be a key player for the best team in Denmark. How much of a key player? Well, broadcasters ViaPlay named their Team of the Season and check this out...
Wonderful. Marvellous. Befitting of someone who, in the past twelve months, has evolved into one of Aotearoa’s very best footballers – one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Football Ferns and apparently the same is true of her status with the champions of Denmark.
Up Next: Thursday at 4am, FCN vs BIF in the Danish Cup final (NZT)
Claudia Bunge & Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeliga)
As all that was happening with Nordsjælland, HBK were busy trying to beat Fortuna Hjørring to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. That would only be possible if Brøndby lost though... which we already know did not happen. Still, a 26th minute Olivia Garcia goal did at least do the trick for HBK in 1-0 victory to ends their season on a positive note, even though their three-year championship streak has come to an end.
HBK had chances to add a second goal and make the result safer. Couldn’t quite manage that... and then got lucky when Fortuna smacked one off the crossbar ten mins into the second half. But they held on to win. Daisy Cleverley started and lasted 70 minutes before she was replaced. Claudia Bunge was an unused substitute once again. Same as Ally Green was for AGF in a 4-2 win away to Kolding that confirmed their fifth-placed finish. Clev and Bunge did at least get bronze medals though...
It was no doubt a day of mixed emotions for Daisy Cleverley, as not only did they miss out on second-place but it had already been announced prior to the game that this would be her last game for the club. She’s one of ten players who will be leaving HBK now that the season is complete. That includes Alyssa Walker and Georgia Eaton-Collins who have been sold for fees to foreign clubs. In Cleverley’s case her contract has ended and her coach suggested that she and a couple others were leaving in search of more game time.
HBK coach Kim Daugaard: “They have all acted professionally and contributed to our good environment, but for various reasons they have not been given so much playing time and therefore it is most natural to let them go, when their appointments now expire here.”
Ironically, DC had been getting regular starts towards the end of the term, although it’s true that she’d mostly been an impact substitute prior to that. In two full seasons with the club she made 35 league appearances with 15 of those being starts (including the last four matches). Scored four goals this season. Played in a few UCL qualifiers as well as getting a championship medal last year. She had a good time in Denmark but it makes sense why she’s departing.
Different story with Claudia Bunge in her first season with HBK. As soon as she arrived she settled into being a regular starter... but she was hooked at half-time of a game in March and has not played again since. Did not get on the pitch for any of their final seven fixtures despite being fit and available for all of them. But she’s not been released. She must still have at least one more year on her contract and, to be fair, her prospects will be brighter next season with English central defender Georgia Eaton-Collins having left the club (GEC was previously a teammate of CJ Bott’s at Leicester City). Bunge made 10 Kvindeliga apps this season.
Similar things happened with Ally Green at AGF. Like Bunge, she seemed to be going great up until the winter break. Like Bunge, she soon lost her spot entirely and barely played again after it. Other options were preferred (specifically a local favourite left back who returned from USA college soccer in the new year). Green made 15 appearances but only logged 36 combined minutes after the break and, like Bunge, has not played since the end of March. However, like Bunge, she wasn’t listed amongst the players leaving at the conclusion of her contract (though Aussie defender Matilda McNamara was). Bit funny how, of the three of them, it was the player getting the most recent game-time who was released to allow her to find more of it. Oh well, a new season is a fresh start for all so we’ll see what 2024-25 brings for Cleverley, Bunge, and Green at their respective clubs. And we’ll get confirmation around Malia Steinmetz next week after their cup final (assuming she’s probably got another year on her contract).
Up Next: To Be Determined...
Macey Fraser - Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The Utah Royals told us that they were going to let Macey Fraser acclimatise before chucking her into the deep end of the NWSL swimming pool but she debuted within two weeks of touching American ground. A couple of substitute appearances later and, with her team on a six-game losing streak, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that her third game for the team came from within the starting eleven. When you’re anchored at the bottom of the standings, having scored once from the past five matches, you don’t really have time for acclimatisation. They spent six-figures of kiwi currency on Fraser and are keen to show just why.
There are a few reasons why Utah are struggling, one of which being that they lined up for this game with only one player aged over 25: that was French international Armandine Henry, one of Fraser’s midfield partners. Compare that to their 2024 expansion rivals Bay FC, the opponents for this match, who broke the world transfer record to sign Racheal Kundananji (to be fair, Utah did at least break the A-League record to acquire Macey Fraser). There are different ways to settle into football club existence and the Utah Royals seem to be trying the slow, young build that the Wellington Phoenix also employed.
Despite that losing record, Utah came out playing some tidy passing stuff from out the back. Good style for Fraser to slip in amongst... though it can lead to mistakes when you’ve got a young team low on confidence. Bay FC didn’t create much of their own but they could have scored several early goals off the back of Royals mistakes. Nandanadji missed a sitter when a defender inexplicably waited for the ball to reach her in the penalty area and was pick-pocketed. That defender was Lauren Flynn who went off injured soon after.
Yet the Royals held on until the half... and then hugely lifted their game after it. With a little more possession, Utah were able to spark a couple of attacks (and more crucially avoid the pressure they’d previously been under). Wasn’t looking like they would get anything from it as they failed to turn good spells into good chances but a draw would still have been a happy result for them.
With five minutes to go they almost had their week ruined when Kundananji turned her marker and smashed home a mint finish... until the flag went up to disallowed the goal. Minutes later the Royals were up the other end when a loose ball fell for Fraser, who side-footed a bouncing lob towards the far post. It was a beauty of a cross but the defence got it clear... only to concede a free kick on Utah’s left wing. The Utah Royals scored from that free kick. Own goal. Or maybe Kate Del Fava got the decisive touch. That’s for the dubious goals panel to decide (if Abby Erceg’s one from the other week got ruled an own goal then this one probably should too). It didn’t matter. The Royals hung on for nine minutes of time added-on to claim a 1-0 win that snaps a ten-game streak without a victory. Only their second win of the year. Second clean sheet from 13 matches too. That’s what we call the Macey Fraser Effect. The Royals have not conceded in the 137 minutes that Fraser has been on the pitch.
So what did we learn about Macey Fraser as she adjusts to one of the toughest leagues on the planet? Above all it’s the physicality of the NWSL that is going to be the biggest leap up from the A-League. Early on she was called for a foul where she clearly won the ball. Later she got pretty obviously grappled while trying to hold the ball up on the break and got nothing for it, despite pleas to the ref. Then, after maybe half an hour, she got absolutely bodied by Kundananji, a big shoulder sending Fraser to the ground as she attempted to make a tackle. She did at least earn a free kick in 1H stoppage time challenging for a header in her own area, given for a combination of a push in the back and a step on the heel which caused Fraser to jump clean out of her right boot.
But even throughout the course of this game you could see her settling into that new standard... and all the while she was moving the ball excellently in possession and working hard without it. Sometimes too hard, as she often over-committed in a way that usually worked in the ALW but in the NWSL those players are smart enough and skilled enough to step through the press. But she did win 7/10 ground duels. 80% passing accuracy too. Fraser also stayed a factor on attack with a couple of threatening crosses and two shots off target, both from distance, offering American audiences a first glimpse of the Fraser Shuffle.
It wasn’t just that she played a full game as part of a rare winning effort... it’s that she already looks like one of her team’s better players. That’s what they paid the big bucks for.
Up Next: Orlando Pride vs Utah Royals on Saturday at midday (NZT)
Grace Wisnewski – Lexington SC (American USL Super League)
It turns out that this is what Grace Wisnewski was hinting at when she declined an offer to remain at the Wellington Phoenix in order to pursue “other opportunities”. The Welly Nix weren’t as specific about those being “overseas” opportunities as they were with Kate Taylor (destination pending) which left open the possibility of a move elsewhere in the A-League. But nope, fact of the matter is that The Wiz has become Lexington Sporting Club’s first ever signing ahead of their USL Super League beginnings. An inaugural Wellington Phoenix squad member continuing with her expansion speciality.
The USL Super League is a new competition designed to provide a second tier to professional women’s football in America. Think of how many players they have in the college system and how few of those go on to crack the NWSL. They’re the main target playing base for this competition... which, by the way, is likely to directly compete with the A-League for transfers. In fact it’s already happening. All of the Phoenix’s imports last season came through college soccer in the States, while several of the early USL SL additions have ALW experience. Players like Hannah Keane, Mia Corbin, Rylee Baisden... and Nix fullback Hailey Davidson. Now we can add Grace Wisnewski to the growing list.
This competition could potentially provide a pathway into the NWSL, although it’s tenuous whether that’s the case from Men’s USL to MLS so don’t get your hopes up. Either way, there should be plenty of room for a few more kiwi players to find their way into the Super League as a stepping stone beyond the ALW. Grace Wisnewski is the trailblazer though. Not only have Lexington SC gone out of their way to make her their first signing but they’ve done so before she’s even been able to return from her ACL injury. Yeah, this lot did their scouting.
Oh yeah and Lexington is less than a ninety minute drive away from Louisville where Abby Erceg and Wisnewski’s old Phoenix teammate Milly Clegg are based. So that’s nice.
Up Next: Season begins in August so Wiz should be ready to go by then
Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Sometimes it doesn’t take ninety minutes. Sometimes you get subbed on after 62 minutes and still manage to score a hat-trick in a 5-1 Suomen Cup victory against EBK. This was a lower-tiered opponent so a game that Haka were always expected to win. It was only 1-0 when Whyte was introduced but not to worry because Arlind Sejdiu (67’) quickly added to Marko Bacanin’s goal (49’) before Ollie Whyte went bang bang bang in the last ten. He scored his goals on 81’, 84’, and 89’.
Whyte is having a solid season in the Veikkausliiga with a goal and two assists so far after ten appearances... but he’s been absolutely sizzling in the cup stuff. It was his goal and two assists in four Liigacup matches that earned him his contract whilst on trial. As for the Suomen Cup, we’re talking four goals and four assists in just three matches. That’s a goal contribution almost every twenty minutes. FC Haka have only played against non-Veikkausliiga opponents so far hence the heavy wins were to be expected but it’s Whyte who is doing all the damage. Eight goal contributions out of the 12 goals that his team has scored in this competition overall. How about that? Granted, they do face PK-35 in the round of sixteen so things will get tougher from this point onwards.
Up Next: Thursday at 6am against Inter Turku (NZT)
Gabi Rennie - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)
Look who’s been at it again...
Dashing in behind from the right edge and beating the keeper 1v1. That really did look like the type of goal she used to score all the time on the NZ domestic scene back in the day. Now she’s repeating it as a professional. Rennie has four goals and four assists through her first nine matches for Åland.
This was a bit of a wild afternoon’s football. Rennie’s goal put Åland United up 1-0 after quarter of an hour at home against Honka, and at that stage it seemed as though they were going to romp towards victory. Rennie herself had another chance ten mins later when she beat her marker for strength and smacked an effort near post that was saved down low. But they couldn’t sustain that and leaked a sloppy one later in the half – Daniela Sandas followed up a shot that’d hit the post with a finish that itself crept in off the other post. Then a terrible lapse midway through the second half saw AU concede twice in three minutes to be trailing 3-1.
But they salvaged the situation with two late goals. First it was Anni Hakasalo on 84’ with a great strike from range. Rennie was open on the overlap out wide but fair enough if you’re gonna shoot like that. AU would hit the crossbar with another deep shot before Silja Tuominen popped up with an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time, getting on the end of a hopeful long cross. Rennie logged her usual ninety minutes as the two sides settled for a 3-3 draw. Everyone looked exhausted at the end. Catch some highlights here.
The concern for Aland United is that they’ve only won 1/5 home games so far... despite their island being notoriously difficult to get to. Not making the most of that advantage. But they’ve been able to win a few on their travels to sit fifth after nine matches with 14 points. Their three defeats have all been against teams ranked higher in the standings.
Hey but check out who got shortlisted as one of the three forwards in the Kansallinen Liiga’s best players of April and May:
“Gabi Rennie - The New Zealand national team player has been an excellent fit in the Åland team since the beginning. A really strong and fast player who played a significant role in most of Åland United's goals.”
She ended up finishing second behind Lotte Kalske in the fan voting. Kalske (HJK) got 55.9% of the vote, Rennie got 26.2%, and Gentjana Rochi (KuPS) bagged 17.9%. Not bad for her first couple months as a pro. A lot was made of how Rennie was following in Jacqui Hand’s footsteps at this club but you know what? She’s actually settled in faster and more effectively than Hand did. Extremely encouraging.
Up Next: Bit of Finnish Cup fourth round away to Apassit at 4.30am on Thursday (NZT)
Owen Parker-Price, Dom Woolridge, Harry Moss-Edge & Sean Bright – Torslanda IK (Swedish Ettan Södra)
Peek at that video around the forty second mark and you’ll see Owen Parker-Price scoring another goal. This one from the penalty spot against Lunds BK. Torslanda went on to lose 2-1 but only due to a 79th minute winner from the side currently occupying second place in the Swedish third tier ladder (Torslanda are currently in the relegation zone, having been promoted last year). And while the results aren’t yet clicking for them, there’s a lot to like about the style that they’re playing. Check out three of the kiwi lads featuring brightly in these league-wide passing stats...
Torslanda have two more games before the league takes a break for a month, with both of those games against midtable teams therefore they should be able to climb out of the drop zone if they can pocket a win or two. Should also mention that they won 2-1 in the first round of the Swedish Cup last week too, beating Onsala (who are last in their same divisional conference). Guess who scored the goals in that one? Owen Parker-Price x2. Both were penalties. All four of the kiwi lads started in each of those two fixtures: the Lund match and the earlier Onsala tie.
Up Next: Torslanda vs Norrby at 5am on Thursday (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Bad week for Minnesota United as they lost 2-0 away to Seattle Sounders, made worse by finishing with ten men after a late red card for Moses Nyeman. They only had 40% of possession and had zero shots on target. But worst of all was having captain Boxy limp off injured to be substituted at half-time. These were the first minutes that he’s missed all season, having previously iron-manned his way through the first sixteen matches of the year.
Too early to say how severe the injury might be. It was an ankle knock and the coach did suggest it was partly precautionary so fingers crossed it’s nothing drastic. It would be sadly ironic if he did miss time as Boxall recently spoke about how he’d opted out of All Whites x Nations Cup selection in order to stay with his undermanned club during a tricky spell.
Michael Boxall: “Had a few conversations — happy to stick around. It will give some younger players from New Zealand the opportunity to get some minutes and some experience. I’ll be around. And my wife will be happy I’m not gone for three weeks.”
That Nations Cup squad was always likely to favour the younger, more emerging options anyway with the Olympics on the horizon and very few overseas-based regulars seem to have been considered. No dramas there. Just hoping that ankle is all good.
In other news, Bill Tuiloma sat on the bench and watched Charlotte win 1-0 against DC United, while Tyler Boyd got 79 mins in a 0-0 draw for Nashville SC against NY Red Bulls. Nothing to stimulate the mind from those games.
Up Next: Assuming the ankle is fine, they Loons have two games in the space of three days coming up with FC Dallas away at 12.30pm on Thursday then Austin away at 12.30pm on Sunday (NZT)
Abby Erceg & Milly Clegg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)
As for the rest of the kiwis in top flight American soccer, this is about as interesting as it gets...
Racing Louisville lost 2-0 against Gotham FC in a dull performance after an early home kickoff. Erceg was good at the back but they couldn’t hold the ball long enough to threaten and didn’t have the defensive stocks to withstand an in-form opponent. Milly Clegg was an unused substitute for the fifth consecutive game. Stiiiiiill waiting on that debut. Might’ve thought an impending 2-0 defeat might have been a decent time for such a roll of the dice but nope we roll on into next week.
Elsewhere Ali Riley remains absent with whatever injury it was that she picked up away with the Football Ferns. She has not gotten on the pitch for Angel City since April, which means six games without a meaningful kick. The Angels are on a five-game winless streak so once she’s back to a hundy percent she might just be able to challenge for her place back. Their most recent match was a 0-0 draw away to Houston Dash.
Up Next: Coincidentally, it’s Angel City vs Racing Louisville at 2pm on Thursday (NZT)
Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)
Glasgow City FC: “Glasgow City can today provide a squad update following the conclusion of the 23-24 season. We can confirm Meikayla Moore, Kinga Kozak, Aoife Colvill, Carlee Giammona, Cori Sullivan and Niamh Noble will be departing the club this summer... Everyone at Glasgow City F.C. would like to thank each and every departing player for their hard work and contributions to the club and wish them the very best luck in their future endeavours.”
And with that another kiwi footballer enters the transfer portal. Meikayla Moore just had probably the best season of her club career with GCFC, earning several SWPL Team of the Week selections and even getting nominated for Player of the Month across the entire league in September. She earned her way back into the Football Ferns squad picture. Scored a few goals. Kept a bunch of clean sheets. Also, she made this pass...
But it wasn’t a great season for Glasgow City as a team. They were defending champs having won 14 of the previous 16 titles yet they finished way off the pace in third place. Nine points back from joint-leaders (Celtic won on goal difference, denying Vic Esson’s Rangers with a late goal as you’ll no doubt recall) and missed out on Champions League qualification. It’s still a surprise that she’s leaving... but perhaps she simply got a preferable offer somewhere else. We’ll find out soon enough.
As for Vic Esson at Rangers, they’ve not yet revealed their overall Retained List, so far instead choosing to announce re-signings and departures on a steady individual basis. In other words, we’re overdue for some news one way or the other. When Esson re-signed ahead of last season it was implied that it was a one-year deal so club and player have a decision to make.
Up Next: Yeah dunno
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
Hopefully if you’re reading this, you’re also subscribed to our newsletter over on Substack because that one happens to be the home of the Flying Kiwis Transfer Tracker. The confirmed stuff gets reported in the proper Flying Kiwis, whereas the rumours tend to find their way into the email. Here’s the latest edition if your attention has been perked.
Yet sometimes there’s a tenuously factual yarn that still needs the FKs treatment... such as what’s going down with Liberato Cacace right now. After Empoli’s magical last-minute escape from relegation, they’ve been dealt an upsetting blow with manager Davide Nicola likely to end up leaving for Cagliari (who are headhunting him after Claudio Ranieri’s retirement). The deal has been agreed to but he remains under contract at Empoli so some sort of compensation package is likely, be that a fee or maybe even a player swap. That already makes Empoli’s transfer situation murky with a number of loans ending and now an impending empty manager’s seat.
Meanwhile Libby Cacace is entering the last year of his current contract. Usually that’s the trigger for clubs to start acting. Perhaps a new contract. Perhaps cashing in with a transfer fee. Empoli did pay around €3-4mill for the bloke so they’re not going to want to see him walk for nothing (even if it’s doubtful they could fully recoup their costs if they sold him now). So it is that Serie B sides Palermo (recently beaten in the promotion semis) and Salernitana (just relegated) are already being reported as Cacace suitors, especially Palermo who are making a big push to get back into the top flight and who are ready to dump their existing left back, Giuseppe Aurelio, out on loan somewhere because apparently he’s not cutting the mustard.
Cacace is 23yo and has made 53 Serie A appearances so we don’t really want to see him dropping down to the division below... although admittedly with Palermo he would have a good shot at being back in Serie A in 12 months. It sounds like Empoli aren’t likely to go small on their demands and those second tier clubs might not have the cash on hand to make a deal happen anyway. Who knows, it could all just be deliberate agent leaks to boost his contract talks. Interestingly, Palermo did have Scottish midfielder Liam Henderson on loan from Empoli last season – Hendo seemed to be one of Cacace’s closest mates in the squad when he first joined Empoli (probably because they both spoke English). They’re not taking up his option-to-buy though.
Up Next: Oceania Nations Cup and let the speculation take care of itself
Marko Stamenic - FK Crvena Zvezda (Serbian SuperLiga)
It was two weeks ago when Serbian media first reported that Marko Stamenic was on the verge of a move to Coventry City in the English Championship. Two weeks of waiting for that final confirmation only to keep on waiting. Even his Red Star coach has been talking about it as a done deal, though the English media were always a little more hesitant to commit. Turns out the delay may have had something to do with this...
The Athletic: “Nottingham Forest are working on a deal with Red Star Belgrade to sign the New Zealand international midfielder Marko Stamenic. Stamenic, who has 14 international caps, would cost around £4.6million after impressing Forest while helping Red Star, or Crvena zvezda, win the Serbian SuperLiga last season. If everything goes according to plan, he is expected to join Olympiacos on a season-long loan, similar to other arrangements in the Evangelos Marinakis operation, with the Greek billionaire owning both clubs.”
Basically what seems to have happened is this: Crvena zvezda received an offer from Coventry which they quickly accepted for a player they’d signed on a free just twelve months earlier. Stamenic was initially hesitant to accept but ended up agreeing to the move in principle. We don’t know the order of these next two events but Stamenic appears to have held back on completing the Coventry move as Nottingham Forest stepped in with a slightly bigger offer. Now it’s Nottingham Forest who’ve usurped the move. Here’s the general director of Crvena zvezda having a yarn about it...
Zvezdan Tercic: “We agreed on everything with Coventry but we didn't sign anything. Stamenic didn't want to go to the Championship, he exclusively wanted a move to the Premier League. A club from there contacted us, we negotiated, and I think that tomorrow we will sign the transfer for compensation of 5.5 million euros.”
There you go. By all accounts, Stamenic won’t be an immediate teammate of Chris Wood there but will be loaned to Olympiakos in Greece – a sister club of Forest due to their shared ownership. There are two reasons why that would happen. One is that they want to develop him within their own wider system for another year before unleashing him in the Premier League. Two is that they’re severely restricted by financial fair play rules right now so registering him could prove tricky (remember they nearly got relegated last season due to a points deduction).
Olympiakos finished third in the Greek division last season but won the Europa Conference League, beating Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. Stamenic won’t be adding to his Champions League appearances next season but he will have a chance to keep his league title winning streak up in a third consecutive country. That is... assuming this one actually happens. Best not get ahead of ourselves until the official channels start piping up.
Up Next: Refreshing the feed until something’s confirmed
Jay Herdman & Finn Linder - Vancouver Whitecaps II (American MLS NEXT Pro)
Wouldn’t be a week if there wasn’t a Jay Herdman effort in there. This time it’s an assist for his buddy Mihail Gherasimencov, after a quick burst past his man on the right wing. This was the equaliser against Minnesota United’s reserves and the Caps Juniors went on to win 4-1. Herdman only played 64 minutes but captained the side while he was out there, while Finn Linder got a full match earning a yellow card and also hitting the crossbar with a header.
Herdman is now up to three goals and three assists in MLS Next Pro this year (from 12 games). He’s already had three call-ups to the MLS side, including making his first team debut with a late cameo against Seattle Sounders back in April... though there is a limit to how often he can do that. After their fourth Short-Term Agreement a player either has to be signed permanently to the MLS side or else cannot cash that card again until next season. So if you’re seeing other VW2 players getting nudged up ahead of him right now, that’s why. But we’ll see what the rest of the year holds for JH. He’s a good shot at making the Olympics squad, but for now the task is to keep doing what he’s doing for the reserves and racking up the numbers.
Up Next: Monday at midday against LA Galaxy 2 (NZT)
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