Flying Kiwis – August 13
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
The last few months have put Liberato Cacace in a state of uncertainty. A new Empoli manager has been appointed yet Cacace missed much of preseason due to the Oceania Nations Cup, meanwhile his contract has entered its final year with plenty of rumoured clubs circling around him with curiosity. On top of all that, he isn’t even the starting left-back for the Blues. Giuseppe Pezzella performed those duties last season and a recent contract extension suggested he’d continue to do so into the future. The only reason Cacace played as much as he did last term was because of Pezzella getting injured. Lots to ponder as the Coppa Italia swung around to ring the bell for a fresh campaign.
You know what? It turns out that Empoli’s new boss, Roberto D'Aversa, has some ideas about that. For the visit of Serie B side US Catanzaro in the first round of the cup, he may have leant upon Pezzella as the left wing-back... but he picked Libby in the line-up too. Cacace did a job as the left-sided centre-back in a three. It was his duty to be defensively sturdy, to help build the ball up in possession, and to get into spaces that allowed Pezzella to burst forward. There was actually a huge disparity in performances/results in 2023-24 with Cacace in the team instead of Pezzella but one thing we’d not seen in any extended way was what they would look like together. And the answer was: pretty good. Albeit against a weaker opponent.
And in a pleasant stroke of irony, considering how it’s Cacace’s lack of attacking end product that’s probably keeping him out of first eleven left-back status, this happened...
That didn’t take long. Magic on that pass, mate. And just in case you’re wondering, Jacopo Fazzini timed his run perfectly...
That pesky Serie B side went and equalised straight away through a Federico Bonini header and things were still tied 1-1 at the break. But Empoli were clearly the superior team and they made that known in the second half with Lorenzo Colombo scoring within three minutes of the resumption with Sebastiano Esposito (56’) and Fazzini (90+3’) eventually adding further goals. It ended 4-1 though in all honesty it could have been a whole bunch more given some of the chances that Empoli spurned.
Cacace had a couple of clearances and a block and a tackle to go with his assist, as well as 90% passing accuracy. He was also unlucky not to get a second assist from a similar long ball forward for the third goal. In that instance, the defender sliced at the ball and partially diverted it before Esposito lifted it over the keeper. No assist but close enough. LC didn’t get to stretch his legs as much as we like to see however he did make one slick run up the line which led to a teammate hitting the crossbar. So much of Empoli’s best moments came down the left and they came via Cacace’s long passing, either lifting it over or around the backline or hitting the forwards at their feet.
Empoli sold Sebastiano Luperto, their best CB, to Cagliari during the offseason so they are looking for solutions at the back... it’ll be curious to find out of the Cacace LCB idea was a one-off or a legitimate plan moving into Serie A next week. And if it’s a genuine plan then surely there’s a contract extension on the way? Nor can we discount the possibility of a transfer happening before the window closes at the end of the month – there’s little doubt that Empoli would accept an offer as long as the fee is decent.
Up Next: Sunday at 6.45am, Empoli vs Monza to begin the Serie A stuff (NZT)
Indiah-Paige Riley - Crystal Palace (English Super League)
There she is. Fresh from her first Olympics campaign, Indiah-Paige Riley has joined Crystal Palace on a two-year contract... just one year after moving from Brisbane Roar to PSV Eindhoven in the wake of the World Cup. Big tournaments are basically just networking opportunities for IPR.
IPR: “I'm super excited. I can't wait to meet everyone, and I'm just in awe of these facilities. They're amazing and I can't wait to use them! It's always been a dream of mine to play in the WSL and to do it here with Crystal Palace, I'm so excited. It'll really help me take that next step in my career and keep on improving, because I'm still quite young, and there's still a lot of improving to go.”
CPFC Head of Women’s Football Grace Williams: “We’re excited to be working with Indiah-Paige, who has a bright career ahead of her. She’s an exciting young forward and we’re looking forward to watching her excel with us in the Women’s Super League.”
There was no mention in Crystal Palace’s statement about any transfer fee, though PSV made sure to specify that there was definitely some currency that changed hands - since she still had another year to run on her deal in Eindhoven. Good business from the Dutch club and a rare occurrence for a kiwi footballer, considering how a year ago there had only ever been one reported instance of a transfer fee for a New Zealand woman: Ali Riley’s move from Bayern Munich to Orlando Pride in 2020. Since then there have been three more courtesy of Rebekah Stott, Macey Fraser, and now Indi Riley...
Ali Riley - Bayern Munich to Orlando Pride (February 2020)
Rebekah Stott - Brighton & Hove to Melbourne City (August 2023)
Macey Fraser - Wellington Phoenix to Utah Royals (April 2024)
Indiah-Paige Riley - PSV Eindhoven to Crystal Palace (August 2024)
All four were undisclosed fees, though we do know that Fraser’s was an A-League Women’s record in excess of NZ$100k. It’s possible there have been more that weren’t reported as such. Probably not though, since it’s only in the last few years that multi-year contracts have become more prevalent in women’s football hence transfer fees simply weren’t necessary for a very long time.
The WSL doesn’t start for another six weeks so IPR will get plenty of time to ease into things. Starting with an American tour. The blokes team has regularly been going to the USA for preseason and now, after getting promoted to the top flight, the women get to do the same. They’ll be hosted by Utah Royals for a week, sharing the NWSL side’s “state-of-the-art facilities” leading into a friendly game against the Royals themselves... potentially giving us some Indi Riley vs Macey Fraser glimpses. Maybe. The NWSL is on a break right now so there hasn’t been news on how Fraser is tracking with her ankle injury but they probably won’t want to risk her for that one if she’s not 100%.
Up Next: Utah vs Crystal Palace on Saturday at 1pm in some exhibition antics (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
Here came an enormous game in the context of Viking FK’s season. They hosted league leaders Bodø/Glimt with the opportunity to win and launch themselves right into a title race... or lose and find themselves slumping in the quest for European qualification. In the end they did neither. But that’s alright.
Joe Bell was really good in the midfield, we’ll get that out of the way nice and early. He needed to be a strong presence against the best team in the land and he was (while also sparking a few big attacking moments). Couldn’t say it was Viking’s most clinical performance though. They thought they’d taken a 15th minute lead when Sander Svendsen smashed in a low finish from distance but it was ruled out for an earlier offside infringement. Then Zlatko Tripic had a penalty saved after 35 minutes. Got to make those ones count against the top teams. Chuck in a couple good saves from the B/G gloveman and a great first half went unrewarded as the teams hit the sheds at 0-0.
So when Haakon Evjen flicked a header in off the post for B/G after 58 minutes it was looking very much like an opportunity that had gotten away. Viking completely capitulated after getting into the title race last year which adds some more context to what they’re trying to achieve. But luckily Tripic was able to steal an errant pass in the 89th minute and feed Edvin Austboe running outside him. Austboe cut back in onto his right boot then squeezed a shot inside the near post. Late equaliser. That’ll do. 1-1 final score.
Other results were a bit rough as Brann and Molde both won to ensure that there are only two points separating second-placed VFK from fourth spot. Bodø/Glimt remain eight points ahead of Viking, although the Vikes do have a game in hand. Everyone’s dropping points in Norway this year and B/G have been no exception as they balance the domestic front with trying to qualify for the Champions League. Apparently Joe Bell ranks sixth-equal across the entire Eliteserien for accurate passes into the attacking third. Three of the five blokes ahead of him play for Bodø/Glimt but they didn’t have much joy up against Bellinho and Co.
Up Next: Rosenborg vs Viking at 5.15am on Monday (NZT)
Ava Collins - Kolding IF (Danish Kvindeliga)
Once again we give thanks and praise to the fine nation of Denmark for looking after another Aotearoa footballer. Ava Collins, after finishing up at St John’s University (12 goals and 10 assists in 61 games – one of the better kiwi college careers in recent times), has joined Kolding IF in the Danish Kvindeliga. It’s her first professional contract. Straight on in there for the club that finished sixth in the nation last season... the same league which Malia Steinmetz won with FC Nordsjælland, and where last season Claudia Bunge and Daisy Cleverley (HB Køge) and Ally Green (AGF) were also competing. Cleverley’s been released but the other three are still on board for 2024-25.
Allan Drost, Kolding IF head coach: “Ava is a player that I have been following for a while and when there was an opportunity to associate Ava to the squad, I had no doubt that it was an opportunity we should go for. With her speed and good 1v1 skills, she can perform at all the 3 front positions, and will be a challenge for all defences in the league – something she has already proven too both the New Zealand U20 national team and the A national team, for which she has already debuted. She also has a nice amount of experience from University Football in the United States, which will enable her to show the way for some of the many slightly younger players in our squad. I am very pleased that we have succeeded in linking Ava to the club and looking forward to the collaboration.”
Old mate wasn’t lying because a few days later the Kvindeliga got underway for the new season and Ava Collins was got a full game as Kolding were beaten 4-0 by defending champs FC Nordsjælland. FCN scored the first goal after just 34 seconds so the result was pretty comprehensive... though it does get easier from here. Collins played on the right-wing.
Unfortunately, AC was the only one of the Danish wahine contingent to play during opening weekend. Malia Steinmetz was left out of that same FCN side after only recently returning from the Olympics. No rush there... it’s the Champions League qualifiers early next month that she needs to be ready for. Likewise, Ally Green was nowhere to be seen for AGF in their 2-0 defeat against OB. And while Claudia Bunge was included in the squad for HB Køge’s win 3-0 away to promoted side B.93... she was an unused substitute. Same as she was for most of the second half of last season. Georgia Eaton-Collins has left for Sporting CP and still Bunge is sitting on the bench... though that could also have been an Olympics-based decision (Bunge was a travelling reserve for Paris 2024).
Up Next: Kolding vs AGF on Saturday at 5am; HBK vs FCN on Sunday at 11pm (NZT)
Kees Sims - GAIS (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Remember last week how the regular GAIS keeper had to go off injured and Kees Sims therefore had a chance to go straight into the starting eleven on return from the Olympic Games? Yeah, well, that’s exactly what happened. His fourth appearance of the season. Swedish top flight football in a match against Elfsborg. Sadly, he won’t be playing next game. Mergim Krasniqi may well be fit again by then but even if he’s not, Sims is going to be suspended after this slippery incident...
He’s unlucky there, to be fair. His team were a goal down in stoppage time and gambling for an equaliser, so Sims was sweeping high to allow more players forward. Then they got counter attacked. Sims lunged to make a tackle with his feet but the Elfsborg dude’s touch instead bobbled under his leg and caught his arm which was holding his body weight behind him. Obvious handball, but there was a defender rushing across and they were 40 metres away from goal so it’s a bit presumptuous to say he stopped a goal-scoring opportunity. No outfielder would ever be sent off for a handball like that. Then again, no outfielder is leaving an open net behind them in the process. Again: unlucky. Centre-back Axel Norén had to go in goal for the closing stages.
Kees Sims: “It's very unlucky in a way. If the ball is a centimetre higher it hits my leg better and it is a nice block. I made the right decision but had some bad luck. It did hit my arm, but that wasn't the point. I haven't seen it afterwards, I don't know if it was the right decision.”
He also mentioned how proud he is to get the opportunity to play again, and laughed about his parents having travelled all the way to Sweden to watch him earn the first red card of his career.
On the plus side, Sims did make a few good saves in there and he passed the ball well. The coach is clearly encouraging him to play outside his penalty area. Might feel he coulda done more with the second goal, though it was deflected inside the near post by a sight-blocking defender so can’t really blame the keeper. Elfsborg were the more impressive team overall but a red card midway through the second half gave GAIS a real chance to get something from the fixture. Alas, we know how that went. 2-1 to Elfsborg.
This red card situation is weirdly similar to Anna Leat getting sent off for Aston Villa a few months back – also in a rare opportunity to start while the number one was out injured. Only hers was three minutes into the game, not three minutes into second half stoppage time.
Up Next: Monday at 2.30am against Halmstad... while Sims is suspended (NZT)
Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)
The English Football League is underway for another term and 19-year-old Tyler Bindon picked up right where he left off with another central defensive performance well beyond his years for Reading Football Club. It doesn’t matter that he played 44 times for RFC in his first season as a professional and then went on to start all four All Whites games at the Nations Cup and all three OlyWhites games at the Olympics and then only arrived back in London days out from the start of the new campaign. He still walked onto the pitch with the first eleven for their game against Birmingham, beginning a fresh League One campaign. Which, if they can sustain the levels they showed in the second half of last season (after Bindon emerged as a top choice CB, just sayin’), ought to be a pretty promising term. Admittedly, that’s a big “if” for a team with a transfer embargo.
RFC manager Ruben Selles after their final preseason friendly: “We gave [Bindon] an extra day off, so he missed this game, but it was important after the intense period at the Olympics and even before in the Oceanic Cup with his national team. It has been a busy summer for him but we thought the experience of both tournaments gave him a different challenge. It’s been really good to see him in the Olympics against France, where his performance was exceptional. He was with us during the warm-up and we are looking forward to having him back at training on Monday and helping us for the rest of the season.”
Anyway, Reading drew 1-1 against Birmingham... a pretty good result against a relegated team away from home. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored just before the break, then had one narrowly disallowed for offside early in the second stanza. Reading had less than a quarter of the ball yet defended stoutly until a harsh handball penalty call went against them and Alfie May converted from the spot for the 87th minute equaliser. Ah well. Interesting to see Bindon stepping into the midfield a few times when his team had possession, although since they didn’t actually have much possession it’ll need to be other games that give us a proper indication as to whether that’s a specific ploy.
Up Next: Colchester vs Reading in the EFL Cup first round on Weds at 6.45am, then Reading vs Wigan Athletic on Sun at 2am back in League One (NZT)
Max Crocombe - Burton Albion (English League One)
Aaaand that’s all we had for the kiwi EFL blokes in this opening weekend. Ben Waine was understandably absent for Wayne Rooney’s first game in charge of Plymouth Argyle. He’s only just gotten back from the Olympics and, unlike Bindon, was not already an established starter with a known manager. Waine wasn’t even in the matchday squad so there you go. Might have more luck in the EFL Cup midweek... then again maybe not because the Pilgrims have bought a new striker, Muhamed Tijani, who started their opener instead of last year’s preferred centre-forward Ryan Hardie (Hardie replaced him after 57 mins). Rooney’s been using a 4-2-3-1 formation and throughout preseason Tijani and Hardie never shared the pitch. It was always one or the other... which doesn’t leave much room for Waine-o, right? We’ll see how it goes. Plymouth got thrashed 4-0 by Sheffield Wednesday so plans could change in a hurry.
Not sure what’s up with Scott Morris at Stoke City. He could go out on loan, although you’re allowed overage goalies in the U21s so he could get his games there instead. Probably gonna see Henry Gray get loaned away by Ipswich unless they move somebody else out – either way he’s in a good spot to build on what he achieved last season. Already had Bournemouth (strangely) loan Alex Paulsen to Auckland FC. Speaking of loans, Matt Dibley-Dias has gone to Northampton Town but was sick and missed their 1-0 loss to Bristol Rovers (conceding in stoppage time). Nik Tzanev was the backup keeper on the bench, as expected.
That just leaves Max Crocombe who, surprisingly, was on the bench for Burton Albion. The reigning club Player of the Season and he gets dropped for the first game of the following term? Madness. Burton spent an undisclosed fee on Harry Isted a fortnight earlier so he was the one who started. Isted was formerly a teammate of Jamie Searle’s while they were both at Barnsley so he’s got a history of keeper kiwis out of starting line-ups. Absolutely savage to drop the bloke who your own club has admitted, by giving him that award, did more than anyone to keep them from getting relegated last term.
There is new ownership in place at Burton and they’ve hired Mark Robinson to be the head coach – who used to be AFC Wimbledon boss and was really good with Nik Tzanev during that time, allowing Tanz to win the number one duties and then giving him a three-year deal (which recently expired, leading him to move to Northampton Town as a free agent). It appears that Coach Robbo has put a heavy emphasis on passing out from the back which is very much not Crocombe’s strong suit. This media exchange after a recent preseason fixture is rather enlightening...
Derby Telegraph: “Goalkeeper Max Crocombe is being asked to play more with the ball at his feet, as a sweeper, than he has been used to and his misplaced pass led to one of the goals. But bringing him off at half-time for Harry Isted wasn’t a punishment for that, was it?”
MR: “Not at all. Max has been excellent and I said to him at half-time, you’ve done lots of great things. We are asking him to do something different. We’re challenging people, taking them out of their comfort zone, and there are going to be errors. But the change was always planned, as were all the others, including taking Billy Bodin off after scoring a wonder goal! I took him off 20 seconds later and it probably looks like the worst substitution ever but they were all planned”.
Well, Crocombe started last season on the bench too and look how that ended up. Burton Albion lost 3-2 at home against Lincoln City as Crocs watched on from the sideline.
Also, it’s below the EFL now after they were relegated but Jamie Searle was an unused sub for Forest Green Rovers in a 3-3 draw away to Aldershot. Searle got iced out all of last season as mulitiple loan keepers played ahead of him. Now, after a couple of promising signs in preseason, they’ve brought in Bristol City’s Jed Ward on loan to play ahead of him. Like, why is he even still there if you actually just refuse to play him? In other National League (fifth tier) news, Matt Gould was an unused sub for Yeovil Town in their 1-0 defeat to Hartlepool but at least that one was expected (Gould is there as a hybrid player/goalie coach). So, of the seven NZ goalkeepers on the books of English top-five tier clubs... we got a grand sum of zero minutes between them this week.
Up Next: Should hopefully get Crocombe for the EFL Cup tie with Blackpool on Wednesday at 6.45am... might even see Tzanev in Northampton’s game against Wycombe at the same time (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)
Good news has cometh. Callum McCowatt has recovered from injury, apparently a little ahead of schedule, to make his season debut off the bench with ten minutes of action in a 2-0 win away to Randers. He even got a yellow card to mark the occasion (a goal would have been cooler but that’s alright, just happy to have him back). Ramazan Orazov (52’) and Younes Bakiz (66’) got the goals – both are new signings, so CMC’s got more competition for places than he used to. It was Bakiz that CMC replaced when he was subbed on.
That was Silkeborg’s third win from four games thus they’re now sitting second on the table after the first month of footy. Fantastic from SIF. Much better than promoted Sønderjyske who remain winless after a 2-0 loss to Copenhagen in which Dalton Wilkins was an unused substitute. Wilkins has only played 67 minutes so far but his only start was the only game they didn’t lose. In 67 mins with DW on the pitch, they’ve scored 1 goal and conceded 1. In 293 minutes without DW, they’ve scored 0 goals and conceded 7.
Also should be said that McCowatt’s return is very timely on the continental side of things. He’s already missed their 5-4 aggregate defeat to Molde (Norway) in the Europa League qualifiers but he’s recovered in time to perhaps play a role in their second leg Conference League qualifier against Gent (Belgium). They drew 2-2 in the home leg with both teams scoring during stoppage time. If they lose in Belgium then they’re out of Europe. If they win, they’ll have one more playoff tie to see if they can make the League Phase.
In addition to that, the Danish Division 1 was kind enough to gift us ninety minutes of Elijah Just in ACH’s 2-0 win away to HB Køge. Three wins in a row as Horsens up to fourth on the table. No goals or assists for EJ this week – although that’s only because his sneaky outside-of-the-boot pass in behind the defence led to his teammate rounding the keeper and then shooting into the side-netting with an open goal before him. It was still only 1-0 at that stage with less than ten minute remaining... the second goal came with basically the last kick of the match. Left it very late to seal the deal. Horsens also had a comfortable 5-0 win against Kjellerup in the Danish Cup midweek but Just was rested from a rotated starting line-up.
And then one division downwards we can proclaim the return of Oscar Obel-Hall, who has popped up with Middelfart BK. He debuted with five minutes off the bench of their season opener (a 1-0 loss vs Thisted), then got 16 minutes at the end of extra time in the Danish Cup, going on to score in the penalty shootout as Middelfart beat Division 1 side Odense after a 0-0 draw. Then came a further 14 minutes in a 3-1 win against Aarhus. Obel-Hall played in this same division last year with Esbjerg but only sparingly and they released him afterwards. Seems the 20yo forward should get way more opportunities with MBK, thankfully.
Up Next: Gent vs Silkeborg in ECL qualifying, Friday at 6.30am (NZT)
Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)
Nothing to worry about there. Vic Esson may have missed much of preseason due to the Olympics, where she backed up Anna Leat, but she finally got to be the Rangers week one starter in this her third year at the club. Carrying on from her excellent form late last season, all good signs with a Champions League qualifier against Arsenal coming up in a few weeks. Not that it made a difference who the goalie was in this game: Rangers beat Aberdeen 11-0. New signing Katie Wilkinson scored four times on debut after joining from Southampton, while Lizzie Arnot and Rio Hardy each got doubles themselves.
Ruthless signs from the jump... but remember that Rangers missed out on the SWPL title because of goal difference last year. Cruel as it may seem, it’s imperative to put the weaker teams to the sword because the other top clubs are all going to. Case and point, week one also saw Celtic win 9-0 vs Dundee, Hearts beat Queen’s Park 11-1, and Glasgow City win 7-0 away to Montrose. Things are a little different this year with Vic Esson the only NZer in the SWPL after several years with the likes of Meikayla Moore, Katie Rood, and Olivia Chance each passing through.
Up Next: Rangers vs Partick Thistle at 1am on Monday (NZT)
Nando Pijnaker – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Back in the winner’s circle after a blip last week. Sligo Rovers hung on for a 2-1 victory against first-placed Shelbourne, a brilliant result following a disappointing defeat last time out. Will Fitzgerald ensured they were leading at the halfway mark against Shels after he picked off a bad pass at the back and then fizzed a good low finish inside the near post after 23 minutes. Sligo were looking good... until they conceded an equaliser after 56 mins. More than an air of controversy about this one as it looked clear that Evan Caffrey was offside as he burst behind the Sligo defensive line. No call from the lino. Fortunately, Wilson Waweru restored the lead within ten minutes, slipping home after a teammate’s effort was saved. They then survived some nervous times at the end to emerge with three points. Good-o. Pijnaker’s winning influence on this team resumes... Sligo Rovers are up to fourth, although the two teams below them do have games in hand.
Elsewhere in Ireland, there was a 3-2 defeat for Bohemians at home to Waterford. Cruel result in which they were 2-0 up at half-time and then not only did they proceed to bottle it in the second half but they also won a penalty deep in stoppage time which could have salvaged a point except that Dale Rooney missed it, blasting it off the crossbar (in fairness the foul had seemed to occur outside the area – though Bohs also had a decent claim turned down earlier so it balances out). Alex Greive was back to the bench for this one and they didn’t bring him on until the 84th minute, right after Waterford had taken the lead. There’s the problem right there. Meanwhile Dundalk somehow held on for a 1-1 draw against Derry City despite having just 23% of the ball. Good news there is that Norman Garbett was fit enough to play the last eight minutes. Nice to get all three of the lads featuring in the same week. Next step is to get them all starting and scoring.
Up Next: Sunday at 6.45am, Sligo vs UCD in the FAI Cup third round (NZT)
Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eredivisie)
After that spectacular, amazing, incredible playoff run to earn promotion to the Eredivisie... NAC Breda were given a very rude awakening once they got there. Six minutes into their week one match away to Groningen they’d already had Enes Mahmutovic sent off – on club debut no less, having joined from CSKA-Sofia a fortnight ago. He dragged a bloke down in the box who only had the keeper to beat. Groningen scored the penalty and then kept on going to be leading 3-0 after thirty minutes.
After captaining New Zealand at the Olympics, Matt Garbett was never likely to be starting. He was mostly playing off the bench during their playoff run already and then missed most of preseason. To be expected. Garbs did still make the squad though and would be handed the last six minutes to stretch his legs. The second half was a lot better as Groningen took their foot off the accelerator. It ended 4-1 after Dominic Janosek scored a penalty for NAC early in the second half. Can’t sleep on an Eredivisie debut for Garbs. He becomes the seventh kiwi to play in this league after: Ryan Thomas (163 games), Ivan Vicelich (148), Fred de Jong (53), Marco Rojas (23), James McGarry (6), and Michael Woud (5).
It was also defeat for PEC Zwolle who went down 1-0 away to Utrecht. Looks like it could be a tricky season for both NZers in the Eredivisie... though on a positive note, Ryan Thomas did make the cut for the matchday squad. He’s been training all the way through but wasn’t considered match-fit for any of their friendly games. He didn’t play here either but the fact he was at least amongst the subs is a positive indication arriving one week after he signed a new one-year contract with the club. Wellington Phoenix fans will also be intrigued to learn that Oskar Zawada lasted ninety minutes on debut for RKC Waalwijk, albeit in a 5-1 defeat against defending champs PSV Eindhoven.
Up Next: PEC Zwolle vs Feyenoord at 12.30am on Monday; NAC vs Ajax at 2.45am on Monday (NZT)
Finn Surman - Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Straight into the training after the Olympic Games and straight into the squad... Finn Surman didn’t make a debut in Portland’s 3-1 Leagues Cup knockout defeat against St Louis but he was named on the bench. His first experience of a matchday squad in America. The defeat means he’s got to wait a couple of weeks before the next opportunity (also against St Louis, though this time at home in the MLS) which means plenty of time to hit the training paddock in the meantime. Veteran Portland defender Larrys Mabiala just announced a mid-season retirement so that clears up some room in the squad – albeit Mabiala (an old mate of Bill Tuiloma’s when they were Portland teammates) hardly played this year. All things in good time.
Up Next: Portland Timbers vs St Louis City on Sunday 25 August at 2.30pm (NZT)
Zac Jones – Haverfordwest County (Welsh/Cymru Premier)
Clean sheet victory to begin another season. A 1-0 win for Hwlffrodd against Connah's Quay Nomads. Couple strong saves in there from Jonesy, making up for the fact that his teammates probably should have scored a couple more goals. Regardless, it’s a tidy way to start.
Up Next: Away to Caernarfon Town at 4.15am on Sunday (NZT)
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League) / Marko Stamenic – Olympiacos (Greek Super League)
Marko Stamenic was finally fit enough to make his first appearance for Olympiacos... and coincidentally it came against his parent club of Nottingham Forest. This was Forest’s last game of preseason prior to the new Premier League season and an annual meeting between the two sibling clubs. As such, they took it pretty seriously, at least to begin with, in what ended up as a 4-3 win for Nottm Forest (it was 4-1 with twenty to go before the Greek side closed the gap after all the substitutes were unleashed).
That meant a familiar face among the opposition for Stamenic in the form of his national team captain Chris Wood. For Stam, this was an important milestone. He’d been named to start Olympiacos’ first friendly game a few weeks back but was a late scratch after presumably pulling up sore in warm-ups. He then missed several more games over the next couple weeks before finally kitting up in the #8 jersey as a defensive midfielder for the reigning Conference League champs.
However, it was Woodsy who stole the day with a goal and two assists. All three of them stemming from being a big bloke at set piece time. First he dropped deep off a corner kick to evade all markers, powering a header back into the middle where Ryan Yates held off Stamenic to nod home from close range. Later he put a gymnastic finish into an empty net after the Olympiacos keeper had rushed out to inadequately punch a free kick. Then, in the second half, a Forest shot rebounded off the post and Wood was alert to again touch it onto Yates who scored. Fair enough.
Wood’s scored in three of the five friendlies that he’s played. He’s good to go. Stamenic might need a little more time to integrate but he did get a solid hour in here... and then he got another half hour off the bench in Olympiacos’ final friendly a few days later. That was a 4-2 win against Aris Limassol away in Cyprus. Both Wood and Stamenic kick off their 2024-25 terms next week.
Up Next: Nottm Forest vs Bournemouth at 2am on Sunday; Volos vs Olympiacos at 5am on Sunday (NZT)
Rosetta Taylor - Valencia CF B (Spanish Segunda Federación Grupo II)
Valencia CF: “Valencia CF Feminine has reached an agreement to sign Rosetta Taylor to the VCF Feminine B squad. Rosetta Taylor is a midfielder with a clear attacking instinct. Of New Zealand origin, but having lived for many years in Spain, she arrived at the VCF Academy after a stint with Adelaide United in Australia. Rosetta is a very technical player who moves well between the lines and reads the game well to make passes and score goals, conditions that she will use to try and help Valencia CF Femenino. Rosetta Taylor is the fourth new addition to VCF Feminine B for this 2024-25 season in which the team, led by Naser Kayani, will compete in Group II of the Second Federation.”
There you go, one more A-League Women’s free agent to cross off the list. Rosetta Taylor is half-Kiwi, half-Aussie and previously spent several years living in Valencia so this is a return for her after a pretty disappointing spell with Adelaide United where she only made seven appearances for a losing team. The 23yo has also played for Nottingham Forest down the divisions in England. She’s only signed with the reserve team at Valencia so she’ll be playing in the third-tier of Spanish football.
Remaining ALW free agents from last season’s crew: Hannah Wilkinson, Deven Jackson, Ruby Nathan, Grace Jale, Michaela Foster, Michaela Robertson, Kelli Brown, Liz Anton, Annalie Longo, Georgia Candy.
Couple big names still on that list. The Phoenix have said they’ll announce a few re-signings soon but time will tell what happens with the rest of them. Could easily be a couple more Flying Kiwis additions from that lot, joining Kate Taylor (Dijon FCO), Grace Wisnewski (Lexington SC), Hannah Blake (Durham), and of course Milly Clegg (Racing Louisville) and Macey Fraser (Utah Royals) to have moved on already in the past few months.
Up Next: Brush up on the ol’ Spanish language skills
Ben Old - AS Saint-Étienne (French Ligue 1)
Lovely hit. First goal for the club. It doesn’t count because it was only preseason but the momentum is real after yet another sign of encouragement. Old has managed to both assist a goal and score a goal in these past few weeks whilst getting regular starts for ASSE... and in a few days it’ll all become real when the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season kicks off.
The only friendly games that Old didn’t start were the one he was injured for at the beginning of preseason (costing him his spot in the NZ Olympic side - although now that we’ve seen how he’s shaping to be a much more prominent player than previously anticipated, that outcome has become way more understandable), and the 1-0 loss to Getafe in which a youthfully rotated eleven was picked. The expectation around ASSE circles is that the starting team against Holstein Kiel in this last friendly will probably look a lot like the team that walks out for the season opener against Monaco:
Larsonneur | Appiah, Batubinsika, Abdelhamid, N'Zuzi | Tardieu, Fomba, Old | Cafaro, Davitashvili, Sissoko
That’s basically the exact same role he was doing for the Wellington Phoenix, operating as a left-sided midfielder whose job description involves a lot of progressive dribbling, so shout out to the des gens intelligents in the Saint-Étienne scouting department who did their jobs properly.
Up Next: Monaco vs ASSE on Sunday at 7am (NZT)
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