Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)

Empoli Football Club had failed to win any of their previous 11 Serie A matches, dropping into the relegation zone as a consequence, when they lined up for a Coppa Italia clash with heavyweights Juventus. Not the kind of game they were prepared for after not even scoring a goal in any of their three most recent matches (which they’d lost by a combined 10-0 scoreline). Empoli and Juventus had already met once within this 11-game winless span, early in February, where the Azzurri did actually lead for most of the first hour... but then Juve found an extra gear and zoomed away to a 4-1 victory.

You know what though? Just like in that previous meeting, Empoli scored first and remained ahead at half-time. The torrid recent form and an imperious opponent had caused a change-up at the back with Empoli doing something rare under Roberto D'Aversa by lining up with a back four in a 4-4-2 formation. Cacace had been playing centre-back recently amidst a bundle of defensive injuries. This time he was used in the role he usually takes for the All Whites: left fullback. They’ve put him in so many different positions that they finally ended up putting him in his best one.

Where he promptly copped a Dušan Vlahović elbow to the noggin in the tenth minute...

Cacace also got bumped off the ball on the end of one of his usual long, charging runs that took him to the middle of the pitch, twenty metres out, only they didn’t give him a free kick for it. At least he was going to get one when Timothy Weah followed through on his leg before the ref played advantage. He was in the trenches from the very beginning... and probably loving it.

All of a sudden, Youssef Maleh banged one into the net from outside the penalty area in the 23rd minute, catching Juventus sleeping when nobody else closed him down properly after a little shimmy took him past the closest bloke. Maleh was also the left midfielder so he was doing a lot of dropping in and letting Cacace operate more like a central defender in those moments. But Cacace also found opportunities to push forward like a wing-back which allowed Maleh to drift infield as he did for his goal. Nice tactical give-and-take between the two bros.

They could easily have been 2-0 up at the break had Ismael Konate’s shot fizzed inside the post instead of into the post with the last act of the first half, running through onto a long ball with nobody tailing him. Maleh also went close to begin the second stanza when he forced a good save with another long shot. Up until this point, Juve hadn’t really thrown a punch. That’d soon change, leading to a triple-sub by Empoli on the hour which sent Giuseppe Pezzella on with Cacace slotting into central defence... but with instructions to be aggressive closing out that had him looking almost like a defensive midfielder. The Azzurri weren’t able to stop Khepren Thuram from scoring a delicious equaliser on 66’ after some wicked individual skill. But they were able to – somehow, desperately - keep it at that.

With no extra time in the Coppa Italia we skipped straight to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Juventus went first and Vlahović sent his effort soaring over the top. Liam Henderson scored for Empoli to take the advantage. Both teams buried their next couple, including Libby Cacace who went third for the Azzurri and belted his take down the middle, the keeper getting a hand to it but unable to deny him. Phew. Immediately afterwards, Kenan Yildiz had his attempt saved by Devis Vasquez and then Luca Marianucci converted for the 4-2 penalty shootout victory.

Incredible result. Great performance from Empoli who then owned the shootout. Cacace was fantastic for them, a very physical game from him across multiple positions giving his manager exactly what he wanted. With this result, Empoli advance to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia for the first time in the club’s history where they’ll face Bologna while Inter Milan and AC Milan scrap it out in the other semi. Meanwhile, they just ruined Juventus’ entire season. This came a week after Juve were knocked out of the Champions League by PSV and they’re now fifth in Serie A, probably too far back to compete for that trophy.

Speaking of the league footy, Empoli had to quickly refocus for a trip to face Genoa a few days later. This time Pezzella started at LWB so Cacace lined up on the left side of the back three again. Same as the Juve game, this was a very disciplined yet aggressive Empoli side and equally like the Juve game they took a lead into half-time thanks to Alberto Grassi’s goal after 35 minutes. Sneaky finish from out of some post-corner-kick messiness. That’s what we like to see.

Regrettably, there was also another thing in common with the Juventus game, and with so many other Empoli games this season, and that was an inability to close the game out. They had Genoa right where they wanted them, only having allowed a handful of shots all match, when their keeper Marco Silvestri (not the same keeper as the guy who won them the Coppa shootout) let one slip through his hands for an 81st minute equaliser. Shocking mistake for a team trying to climb out of the bottom three. They did at least hold onto a 1-1 draw so at least they’re in a slightly better position than they were beforehand. Hey but they are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

Up Next: Empoli vs Roma at 6am on Monday (NZT)

Tyler Bindon – Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

There is no limit to this lad’s abilities. With five minutes to go against Wigan Athletic, there he was when Reading needed him. First attempt got saved but of course he reacted fastest to rip that bloody thing into the roof of the net and win the game for his team. Not quite as good as the bicycle kick he scored earlier in the season, or as athletic as the goal-line clearance he produced a week ago, but it was just as timely and important. With this win, Reading are up to ninth and a mere three points away from the playoffs. Against all the odds they continue to stick around (unlike Wigan’s manager who was sacked a day later).

Wigan had taken the lead through Jason Kerr after 59 minutes, despite Reading laying down the more cohesive performance. But Jayden Wareham tied things up on 71’ and then Bindon did what he did near the end. A deserved victory for the Royals... and don’t for a second even consider the idea that Bindon’s goal was his only major contribution towards it. He owned that pitch from start to finish. Commanding in the air. Confident and accurate with his distribution. A threat from attacking set pieces. He’s a remarkably well-rounded player who continues to find different ways to be impactful each week.

It feels like he’s gone to a new level since the Nottingham Forest transfer. With the focus on him multiplying tenfold, he’s managed to avoid all the pressure and only take on board the confidence and vindication. Probably helps that his CB partner, Amadou Mbengue, has also been in fine form. The Senegalese defender hit the crossbar moments before Bindon’s winner so it could have been his day in the spotlight instead. Mbengue is 23 years old and last week played his 100th game for Reading. Bindon only recently turned 20 years old and has played 80 times for RFC. And as if this wasn’t already a bright enough week for Reading, it now sounds like there may finally be some relief on the way with their ownership situation.

Elsewhere in League One, there was shock and scandal at Northampton Town as Nik Tzanev was dropped to the bench with Lee Burge returning between the sticks. Burge had been ahead of Tzanev to start the season but an injury allowed Tanz to step in and take over and make the spot his own. Manager Kevin Nolan had seemed happy to keep rolling with Tzanev in perpetuity until this away trip to face Exeter City. Results had been good with three wins from the last five. Dunno... maybe this was just a quick rotation to keep Burge active at the start of a run of three games in eight days. We’ll see. Northampton Town drew 1-1 with Exeter City and Burge did nothing particularly interesting other than his 4/32 passing success (13%). Not that Tzanev’s has been much better lately – it’s because they just pump it long all the time like a relegation-threatened battler ought to.

Max Crocombe’s Burton Albion and Ben Waine’s Mansfield Town played against each other but you’d have been way too optimistic if you got up to watch the thing. Waine-o’s an afterthought there for whatever reason. Didn’t get off the bench. Max Crocombe made a couple good saves in a 1-1 draw so he’s still getting the job done. Burton Albion are still two points adrift from safety but that’s one point closer than they were a week ago. They’re trending in the right direction. Northampton Town and Mansfield Town are both a little further ahead – comfortable as things stand but could be dragged back into the muck with a bad few weeks.

Up Next: Reading vs Exeter City on Weds at 9am; Crawley Town vs Reading on Sun at 1.30am (NZT)

Lara Colpi – FC Thun Berner-Oberland (Swiss Super League)

That’s how you do it. This wasn’t the first goal that Lara Colpi has scored since moving to Switzerland – she’s already got a bunch of them for the Young Boys U20 side – but it was her first in the Swiss Women’s Super League. Smashed it top corner with a bit of curl. Magnificent stuff. Yet another young kiwi footballer showing serious attacking abilities on the global scene.

What’s weird about this situation is that she scored against BSC Young Boys... who are the club that she’s out on loan from. To take it even further, she’s got this dual-registration thing going on which allows her to go back and forth between first team for Thun Berner-Oberland and U20s for YB. She scored in an U20s game last week for one club and then scored against them at senior level the following week. Whilst being registered to both. What a unique situation this is.

Young Boys won the match 6-2 so the goal was only a consolation. But it was still fine reward for Colpi as she made her fifth appearance (third start) for Thun, going the full ninety minutes in the midfield. Thun are dead last, yet to win a game after 15 attempts and probably hurtling towards relegation... but remember Colpi is on loan from Young Boys who remain third, four points off top, thanks to this victory. Colpi couldn’t have picked a better opponent to score that goal against. Let them know first-hand what she’s capable of. Then again, with five goals in nine games for their own U20s this season they’re probably already well aware.

Up Next: Depends who she’s playing for but Thun host Aarau at 8am on Sunday (NZT)

Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)

A little over a week ago, Callum McCowatt didn’t have a Superliga goal this season. Lingering injury problems through the first couple months had severely limited his availability for Silkeborg and since then he’s mostly played off the bench. He did get a start in their first game back after the winter break, only his third of the campaign, but they lost 1-0 to last-placed Vejle in that match and he was back on the bench for the next one. Where he promptly popped up and scored. That one got the coverage last week.

This week he did it all over again...

Had a bit more to do this time around. No simple tap-in, this was a speedy counter that ended up with McCowatt collecting the ball on the move on the right wing. Chopped back inside onto his non-favoured left foot and thumped it into the bottom corner. Might have been a slight deflection off the defender but nothing substantial - the key was how he used that defender to obscure the keeper’s line of sight so that he couldn’t get across in time. Two goals in two matches for Callum McCowatt. Both times as a substitute. He actually scored the winner in their final winter friendly too – three goals in four games, even if the first of them doesn’t actually count.

McCowatt’s latest goal was scored away against Sønderjyske hence it also meant a reunion against his Ole Academy bro Dalton Wilkins, two teammates at many stages of their careers (including the All Whites and FC Helsingor). Wilkins had been out injured lately but he returned for this specific game and was subbed on for the last quarter of an hour. This was after McCowatt had already scored to make it 2-1. CMC got subbed on after 57 minutes, then scored after 67 minutes. No time to waste. Wilkins played on the left side of defence so he was briefly in direct combat with right-winger McCowatt although Sonders spent a lot of that time pushing for an equaliser so the action was mostly up the other end... until Silkeborg scored a runaway third goal in stoppage time to send the home fans heading for the gates slightly early.

That’s a third defeat in a row for Sönderjyske who’ll soon be doing the relegation rounds shuffle – though they are five points ahead of the bottom two. None of this is very shocking having only just been promoted. They’re still in a good position to stay up, particularly with Dalton Wilkins back. A weird aspect of their campaign is that they have a +1 goal difference in the 277 minutes that Wilkins has played (he’s had a couple of injuries plus there’s a lot of competition at fullback in this squad) and -23 goal difference in the other 1523 minutes.

As for Silkeborg, these two consecutive wins have really gotten the train back on the tracks. They’d won 1/12 in the league prior, including a streak of seven draws in a row at one point, but six quick points now has them back in the top six with two games left to secure a spot in the championship rounds. They’re only three points (and some goal difference) away from third-place which would mean European qualifiers. Plus they’re into the semi-finals of the Danish Cup as they seek to win that whole thing again. They’ve got Brøndby over two legs in about a month. Viborg and FC København are the other semi-finalists.

Up Next: Silkeborg vs Lyngby at 2am on Monday (NZT)

Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

We’ve reached the chunky part of the season, where vibes and unpredictability can carry Nottingham Forest no further. From here it’s all about grinding out results. A spot in the Champions League is there for the taking if they’re able to. And yet Forest lined up for their midweeker against Arsenal off the back of consecutive defeats after losing to Fulham and Newcastle (only the second time this Premier League season that they’ve lost consecutively). This was a massive game and they really needed to avoid making it three L’s in a row.

Good news: they did. NFFC may not have won but a 0-0 draw was enough to steady the ship. Can’t complain. Forest were much more competitive here than in the Newcastle game, creating as many clear chances as the Gunners did despite Arsenal having more shots and way more possession overall. Not a lot of that went Chris Wood’s way but there was an obvious intent to send those early balls in his direction. Morgan Gibbs-White picked him out on the edge of the box with one of those but the shot was blocked. Woodsy would have also been licking his lips when Callum Hudson-Odoi got bumped over in the area by Riccardo Calafiori... but there wasn’t enough contact for the referee or the VAR to bother with it. About a minute later, Calafiori went up the other end and whipped a shot off the post for Arsenal in what proved to be the closest this game got to disrupting the scoreboard operator.

Wood’s best chance arrived on 71’ when MGW again whipped an early ball into the middle, trying to get his striker in space, and Wood’s first touch was almost perfect bringing it down out of the air... only for William Saliba to lunge in and keep him from shaking free on goal. Those two were scuffling all evening. Lots of aerial challenges. Bit of shirt-tugging. Not a lot of direct action with the ball but that’s how it goes. It was a great battle. Otherwise Chris Wood made sure to keep himself active in defence when Arsenal would have spells of overwhelming dominance. He eventually got substituted with five minutes remaining, no doubt pretty knackered. The point here keeps NFFC slightly ahead of Manchester City in third with eleven matches to go.

That result also gave Nottingham Forest a bit of momentum heading into the FA Cup fifth round tie against Ipswich on Tuesday morning NZT. There were several changes to the eleven for this match and one of those was Chris Wood being rested on the bench. However, they would need him before the night was over. Forest conceded early in the second half (George Hirst 53’) and had to rally back through a Ryan Yates goal in the 68th minute. Wood joined the action for the last ten minutes of regulation time but despite giving them that target man presence, with several crosses mailed towards him, there wasn’t much of note outside of his fine hold-up play. The game stayed 1-1 all the way through extra time and you know what that means...

No dramas there. The world’s greatest penalty taker strikes again.

Same as they did against Exeter City in the previous round, Nottingham Forest went to a penalty shootout where Chris Wood went first and scored with an assured take. In fact, they used the same five takers in the same order as they did in the Exeter game and everyone else scored too. As did all the Ipswich shooters... until Jack Taylor was denied by a Mats Sels save with Ipswich’s fifth and final penalty. Nottingham Forest progress after a 5-4 triumph via spotties. They’re into the FA Cup quarter-finals where they’ll be away to Brighton & Hove Albion - a club that Chris Wood scored a hat-trick against a few weeks ago. Forest did make the quarters a couple of seasons ago so this isn’t completely rare air but the last time they went further was a runner’s up effort in 1991... the year that Chris Wood was born. Forest’s two FA Cup titles came in 1959 and 1898.

By the way, don’t be too concerned here but Chris Wood has now gone 276 minutes without scoring a goal. That might be normal for most strikers but it’s not normal the way that The Woodsman has been going lately. Perhaps he’s saving them all up for the crunch game against Manchester City next week. On the other hand, his penalty streak is up to 32 in a row across regulars and shootouts. Still hasn’t missed since April 2016. This was the ninth time that he’s gone first in a shootout and he’s scored them all, with his team winning seven of those shootouts. Happily, he’s getting plenty of opportunities to extend the streak this season – this was his fifth penalty of the campaign (including shootouts, obviously).

Up Next: Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City at 1.30am on Sunday (NZT)

Indiah-Paige Riley - Crystal Palace (English Super League)

Poor old Indi Riley returned from a pretty excellent Ferns tour, during which she scored a pretty excellent goal, and found that her Crystal Palace manager had been sacked. Laura Kaminsky had gotten Palace promoted to the WSL – and signed Riley from PSV - but they’re also looking likely to go straight back down so she was replaced during the international break by Norwegian coach Leif Smerud in an attempt to try and stay in the top flight. Coincidentally, the team they were playing, Liverpool, also gave their coach the flick during the break. Matt Beard’s was a very harsh dismissal but that’s football for ya.

The important thing is that Indi Riley retained her starting spot under the new boss... what’s more she ended up getting a full game, only the second time in 12 WSL appearances that she’s done that (the other instance was also against Liverpool). Smerud went with a back four, meaning that IPR moved even deeper to a right fullback position instead of the wing/wing-back spot she’s gotten used to. She’s making the opposite evolution to Libby Cacace, apparently. Wing-back was perfect because if the Footy Ferns are going to begin using her there consistently then she’ll be learning the role in one of the best leagues on the planet... fullback is arguably a step too far but it beats sitting on the bench.

She did alright there. Liverpool can be pretty dangerous with their speed out wide but Riley and company kept things compact and organised. The only exception was a scrambling goal scored by Jasmine Matthews in the tenth minute and that came from a corner kick. Riley did have trouble advancing the ball with none of her 20+ yard passes finding a teammate, albeit that speaks mostly to Palace’s defensive set-up. IPR also made a couple of tackles and blocked a shot as Palace kept it close enough to have a real go in the last ten minutes. On a luckier day they might’ve got something out of that match.

As for that other right-sided kiwi defender in the English Women’s Super League, CJ Bott likewise did ninety minutes for Leicester City. This was away to Manchester United, who won 2-0 thanks to goals from Melvine Malard (19’) and Leah Galton (45+2’). That one went about as expected. CJB was marking Galton for a lot of that match and managed not to get dribbled past once... granted, that’s only because she hacked her down in the 71st minute after falling for the dummy. Easy yellow card. Third of the season for CJB. On the whole, it was a routine win for United. Highlights here.

Up Next: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarters on Monday at 3.30am (NZT)

George Stanger – Ayr United (Scottish Championship)

Good ol’ Georgie boy continuing the fine mahi. A delicately guided header against Airdrie means he’s now got three goals this season plus an assist. As a central defender. He’s blossomed into one of Ayr United’s most important players and surely they’ll be doing their best to get him to sign a new deal soon. They managed to retain him in January but his current contract expires at the end of the season. Then again, Stanger will probably want to know what he’s in for so from his perspective he’s best to wait until they either get promoted or don’t get promoted.

A 4-1 win against Airdrieonians takes them another step closer to the Scottish Premiership. George Oakley got them started after six minutes. Stanger scored on 36’. Curtis Main quickly got a third (39’) and then later pocketed himself another (78’) for the icing on the cake after Ben Wilson had pulled one back from the penalty spot for Airdrie (59’). Sorry to say that it was George Stanger who conceded the spot kick after dawdling on the ball in his own area and losing it. The bump on the attacker was pretty gentle but he wouldn’t have been in that situation had he not coughed up the ball in the first place. That was only a consolation in a big Ayr Utd win and Stanger cancelled that out with his goal anyway.

Just as welcome as that result was the news that both Falkirk and Livingston only drew their respective fixtures, meaning that Ayr United climb back within three points of top spot. They’re third right now. Plenty of games left to get to the summit with only the champions earning automatic promotion – though with a 13-point drop to fourth place it’s practically guaranteed that Ayr Utd will at least be partacking in the playoffs. This was a great way to respond to dropping points against both of the teams currently above them. They blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Falkirk then lost 2-1 to Livingston conceding deep into stoppage time... but the combination of results over the last few days means that they’ve already undone half of the damage from the previous fortnight.

Up Next: Away to Queen’s Park at 8.45am on Weds; Away to Greenock Morton at 4am on Sun (NZT)

Jana Radosavljevic - CF Marítimo (Portugese Campeonato Nacional)

Boom, get in. That goal got Marítimo started in what ended up being a 3-1 win against Estoril Praia. They conceded an equaliser pretty soon afterwards but a pair of second half goals sent them onwards to victory, with Rado playing as an attacking midfielder before being subbed off with a couple minutes remaining and the points in the bag. JR has made 16 league appearances and this was her second goal to go with five assists for a club sitting right in the middle of the standings. Excellent form coming from a player who only has three international caps for Aotearoa, the most recent of those coming five full years ago.

Up Next: Away to Clube de Albergaria at 0:00 on Sunday (NZT)

Finn Surman - Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Finn Surman: “I felt pretty good to be honest. I only played thirty minutes against Charlotte [in preseason] so I wasn’t coming in with full fitness. But I felt pretty good. When the red card comes, you kinda think to yourself I might need to look after myself a little bit more and make sure that my positioning’s really good. The team tried to slow the game down a bit. But yeah I felt really good and I’m ready to go again.”

The first Portland Timbers game of the season was a mess, with that early Kamal Miller red card dooming the Timbers to a 4-1 defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps. Call it a false start. But Finn Surman was ready to go again after starting on the right of a back three and giving them 66 strong minutes before being subbed on account of match fitness (as he alluded to in that quote, he was injured for almost all of preseason). No dramas there because coach Phil Neville had already confirmed that Surman would be starting once more against Austin FC. He didn’t have too many other options at his disposal but there’s also no doubt that Surman’s making waves at Timbers HQ.

The Timbers lined up with three at the back again... and this time they kept the trio intact without any errant red cards to spoil it. Finn Surman on the right, Zac McGraw through the middle, and rookie Ian Smith on the left. All three got full games within a very strong defensive performance that only allowed four shots on target from Austin FC and they were all from outside the box. That was good enough to shut Austin out but a goalless draw would only have been a small step forward after last week’s disappointments. Fortunately, that’s where new Portuguese playmaker signing David da Costa comes into the story. In his first start for the club, he whipped over a free kick from the left edge that curled around everybody and inside the far post for an 89th minute winning goal. Surman was one of those lining up at the back stick to get on the end of it but he didn’t even need to. Portland took the 1-0 win and their campaign is up and running.

Surman made six clearances, one tackle, and had a pass completion of 96%. He did give away three fouls but no harm was done there. This was his fourth MLS appearance and the first time he’s won or kept a clean sheet. There are three unavailable CBs in this squad right now so he’ll have to impress to hang onto this starting spot... but so far so good.

Up Next: Sunday at 2.30pm away to Nashville SC (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

We’ve got one centre-back early in his professional career doing quality things in the USA. We’ve also got this centre-back at the other end of his career still doing quality things himself. Minnesota United lost 1-0 to LAFC last week but they were very good at the back, they just didn’t put their own chances away. For game two they hosted CF Montreal in literal freezing conditions... and this time they did bury something. Kelvin Yeboah with the 69th minute winner as Minnesota United took it 1-0. And how, pray tell, did that goal come about?

It came about from a Michael Boxall long throw into the box which striker Tani Oluwaseyi flicked on for Yeboah to sneak around the back and convert. Long Throw Boxy is still out here serving. Interesting to also see him in the middle of a back three, allowing him to drive forward into midfield a few times. He was awesome in this game. So much so that he’s launched into the MLS Team of the Matchday, hopefully the first recognition of many for the kiwi lads in the competition.

Both Portland Timbers and Minnesota United were able to bounce back from week one defeats with victories. Happy days. Meanwhile, Bill Tuiloma was an unused substitute for Charlotte FC in a 2-0 win against Atlanta United. The status quo. Perhaps one day he’ll get the chance to stretch his legs and possibly even earn a seat on the Charlotte FC Man of the Match Throne.

Up Next: Sunday at 4.30pm, Minnesota Utd are away to San Jose (NZT)

Ronan Wynne - Atlanta United 2 (American MLS Next Pro)

Atlanta United: “Defender Ronan Wynne joins ATL UTD 2 after being selected No. 53 by the 5-Stripes in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. Wynne is a two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year with the University of Denver. Wynne, 23, started all but one of his 70 career games with the Pioneers, winning three Summit League Regular Season Championships in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and a Summit League Tournament Championship in 2021. In 2024, Wynne helped the Pioneers reach the NCAA College Cup for the first time in eight years. Wynne is internationally eligible to play for New Zealand, where he was a reserve for the U-23 youth national team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

Confirmation there that Ronan Wynne has indeed signed with Atlanta United’s MLS Next Pro reserve side. That was entirely as expected... this way he’ll get immediate minutes as he continues his development with the opportunity always there for sporadic call-ups to the MLS team when necessary. Wynne joins Finn Linder (Vancouver Whitecaps 2) and James Bulkeley (North Texas) in Next Pro for 2025. Clearly they love a kiwi defender over Stateside.

Up Next: The Next Pro season begins next week, with AU2 vs NY Red Bulls 2 at 1.30pm on Saturday (NZT)

Abby Erceg - Deportivo Toluca (Mexican Liga MX)

Toluca were supposed to use the signings of Abby Erceg and Amandine Henry, two massively experienced internationals, to jumpstart the second half of their season. That plan wasn’t looking so good after a slow start before Erceg arrived then a managerial change immediately after her debut. But it seems that they’re settling into their work now...

That was Erceg setting up Henry for an early goal against Necaxa. Henry went on to score another from distance (helped by some dodgy goalkeeping) before Michaela Abam bundled one in later on for a 3-0 win to Toluca. It could easily have been double that from how they played. That’s two wins from the last three fixtures now and although this was against one of the teams below them on the ladder, the way their new signings controlled things should give them a big boost of belief.

Erceg was unlucky not to have already scored before any of that happened – Toluca were a menace from set pieces and five mins in Erceg flicked a corner kick onto the crossbar. Next came Erceg’s assist off the hip for Henry to tap home... then Henry tried to return the favour with a sweet back-post cross that Erceg headed on target for the keeper to make a very good two-handed stop. There was another Toluca strike off the crossbar later in a dominant half (not Erceg this time)... so when the Necaxa goalie made a mess of Henry’s stoppage time shot for the second goal at least you could say it had been coming. Overdue, in fact. Mariel Roman later had a bicycle kick touched onto the bar by an outstretched glove before Abam’s eventual third. Toluca cruised a bit more in the second half, Erceg not bothering to go up for set pieces as much. Instead she was rock solid in defence as Toluca made sure of that clean sheet.

Up Next: Midday on Wednesday against FC Juarez, then midday on Monday away to Atletico de San Luis (NZT)

Katie Kitching - Sunderland (English Championship)

Didn’t take Katie Kitching long to get back on the bike after international duty...

This was actually a Flying Kiwis duel against Durham, though those folks were a little more careful with their returning Ferns. Michaela Foster and Hannah Blake were both on the bench to begin with, Foster getting subbed on at the half while Blake only got a few minutes towards the end. Hence Kitch was free to run rampant. She was drifting around and pulling strings... and very nearly scored when she whipped a first-time shot off the inside of the post, hands in the air as it bounced across the face of goal and away. Foster’s introduction was probably meant to slow her down but instead Sunderland scored a second, via Amy Goddard, not even two minutes into the second stanza. It wasn’t a Kitching assist but it did come from one of her typically tasty corner kicks.

Sunderland went on to take the River Wear Derby by a 2-0 scoreline. Tough break for Durham who fall six points behind leaders Birmingham, although if it’s any consolation for Mickey Foster she did get nominated for both Player of the Month and Goal of the Month for the WSL Championship in February. She’ll find out if she won in a couple of days. Probably won’t... but the recognition is already flowing. Also, Sunderland are only two points behind Durham. The Championship table is a logjam this season.

Elsewhere, there was a devastating result for Sheffield United. Up against last-placed Portsmouth, they figured they could be a little more attacking and switched to a back four, meaning that Olivia Page dropped to the bench to end a run of seven straight starts across all competitions. But the switch didn’t work because central defender Izzy Hobson got sent off in the first half for a last-defender foul. Jacqui Hand backed up after Ferns duty with 77 mins up top but struggled for service as her team went nearly an hour with ten women. The Blades then conceded twice in the second half (59’ & 77’) to lose 2-0 and allow Portsmouth to leap to within one point of them. The relegation duel just got a whole lot more interesting.

In the other game of note, Grace Neville was graced with three minutes plus a bunch of stoppage time for London City Lionesses... who appeared to be on course for a narrow defeat away to Charlton until Kosovare Asllani scored an amazing free kick in the 90+6th minute to book a 1-1 draw.

Up Next: Manchester United vs Sunderland in the FA Cup quarters, Sunday at 6.15am (NZT)

Kees Sims - GAIS (Swedish Allsvenskan)

And for their third Svenska Cupen group stage game, with a spot in the knockouts on the line against IFK Norrköping... GAIS lost 3-0. Eliminated by the other top division club in their group. Ah well.

As you’d expect, this was much more challenging game for Kees Sims than the last couple. He made a diving save within a few minutes of kickoff. He saw his left post rattled within eleven minutes. GAIS did have some bright moments on attack while it was still 0-0 but then they conceded on 38’ when a close-range finish was swept past Sims and the second half only ramped the pressure up further. Looked like he had some tough ones trying to deal with the aerials, punching a couple away unconvincingly, but it was only in the last ten minutes that the game got away from them. In fact, GAIS had a couple of set pieces which they easily could have scored an equaliser from. Then Sims got beaten by a pair of 1v1s on 83’ and 88’ and that was that.

The real season kicks off in a few weeks and when it does Sims will probably settle back onto the bench. These pre-season cup games were a good way to get him some minutes, keep him active, keep the development going, and now Mergin Krasniqi will return at the top of the depth chart. Injuries and suspensions do happen though and KS managed to make eight Allsvenskan appearances during 2024 so we’ll see how he tracks in 2025... might even have graduated into the occasional rotation start without having to wait for Krasniqi to be unavailable, who knows.

Up Next: Game one of the Allsvenskan is home against AIK on April 1 at 6.30am (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

You might have thought that Vic Esson flying to Costa Rica and playing 180 minutes for the Football Ferns during the international window would be valid cause to give her a rest as Rangers faced Hearts on Monday morning NZT. Especially when they’ve got two good goalies that they’ve regularly rotated throughout the past couple seasons. But nah mate. For the seventh time in the past eight fixtures it was Vic Esson who wore the goalkeeping gloves for Rangers WFC... although she did lose her clean sheet streak in the process.

Esson had kept three cleanies in a row in SWPL action but, on a very windy afternoon, Hearts were clearly up for the task as they threatened from the outset with set pieces and then took a sixth minute lead when Bayley Hutchison turned her marker and slotted past Esson from inside the area. Hutchison then doubled that after 33 mins with an alert touch at the back post after some swirling aerial tennis off a corner kick to put Rangers in the very unfamiliar situation of being 2-0 down at half-time.

But Laura Berry scored with her first touch after being subbed on, a sweet finish on the run after 65 mins, and then later set up Rio Hardy for an equalising header on 81’. In between there was a very sharp save from Esson down low to keep her team in the hunt. They didn’t end up grabbing a winner but a 2-2 draw was more than it looked like they’d get at the midway stage. Both Glasgow City and Hibernian won their matches so this drops Rangers down to third... yet they do stay ahead of Celtic who were beaten 1-0 by Hibs. Hearts are further back in fifth. This was the last round of the first phase so from this point onwards they’ll all have ten more games – home and away against the rest of the top six. It’s about to get very funky.

Up Next: Scottish Cup quarter-final, Rangers vs Spartans at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Monty Patterson - Atlético Ottawa (Canadian Premier League)

Fresh from winning the Most Valuable Player award in the last New Zealand National League, Monty Patterson’s taking the show on the road having signed a two-year deal with Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League. We’ll breeze past the cringiness of a Canadian team having a Spanish name (there is a reason: the club is owned by Atlético Madrid) because this is an exciting move to get him back amongst the overseas brigade. Patterson joined the Ipswich Town Academy as a teenager (playing once for the senior team) before stints in Norway, America, and the Wellington Phoenix. He also earned 15 caps for the All Whites during that part of his career – including scoring the goal in a 1-1 draw against USA.

More recently he’s settled back into the domestic scene and put an equal focus on his coaching... but an outstanding campaign with Birkenhead United was apparently reopened a few doors. Atlético Ottawa were third in the league last season then lost to Forge in the playoff semi-final. The CPL has always had eyes open on the New Zealand scene with the likes of Myer Bevan, Moses Dyer, and now Jay Herdman having great success there. Stephen Hoyle also spent a season in the CPL and don’t forget English attacker Ollie Bassett who was once a Waitakere United and Team Wellington import before later sharing the CPL Golden Boot with another familiar NZ National League bloke in Myer Bevan during the 2023 season. Bassett spent three years with Atlético Ottawa but recently left to join Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American USL... so Patterson is effectively replacing him.

Monty Patterson: “A few of my good friends have played in this league before. Moses Dyer, Myer Bevan, and I know Ollie a little bit as well, who obviously did a really great job here. I spoke to Moses a bit before coming. I kinda followed them while they were over here playing so I’ve loosely followed the league over the last few years already.”

JD Ulanowski, Atlético Ottawa General Manager: “Monty is a versatile, dynamic number nine that fits our style of play and model. We expect him to bring lots of attacking output in the final third for us.”

What’s more is that AO team manager Drew Beckie was once a teammate of Patterson’s at Oklahoma City Energy in the USL. Beckie finished his playing career at Atlético Ottawa before moving into a backroom position two years ago. That’s “team manager” in the old fashioned sense of the term, by the way. He’s not the coach, he’s the bloke who sorts out all the contingencies. But no doubt he put in a good work for Monty as this all came together.

Up Next: The 2025 season kicks off in late-April

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