Flying Kiwis – April 1
Moses Dyer - Galway United (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Every week there are goals being scored by the talented assortment of kiwi footballers around the world. Every single week... but rarely does anyone score a goal as spectacular as the one Moses Dyer just scored for Galway United. In actuality, he scored two goals. The first of them was a fine header to put Galway 1-0 up against the run of play after 18 minutes and that one was good enough. But the volley he scored in the 66th minute, running onto a long ball and nudging it past the nearest defender then smashing in from a tricky angle, that was magical. Feast your eyes...
Courtesy of those two goals, both stemming from long kicks by the goalie as you may have noticed, Galway United were able to claim a 2-0 win away against Bohemians despite only having 28% of the possession. Bohs attempted 31 shots and Galway just six. The crossing attempts were similarly lopsided. Only Moses Dyer had the finishing touch, mate. Check out his second goal from an even sexier angle...
Moses Dyer: “Probably the best goal of my life, to be honest. I got a chance in the first half, exact same scenario, I decided to cut back and they were screaming at me at half-time: just shoot. So I was lucky enough to get the same chance in the second half, smacked it... goal.”
So good. You’d better believe that clip is doing numbers – Galway have been counting up the views just so they can brag about it. Moses Dyer now has three goals in Galway United colours and he seems to be settling in beautifully. What’s more, Galway are the last remaining undefeated team this season. Seven games in and they’ve had three wins and four draws to be sitting one goal differential mark out of first place.
That, sadly, is substantially better than Sligo Rovers in last place. Oskar van Hattum has broken into the starting eleven over the last couple games but whether or not he remains there is another matter since it was his awkward backpass that cost them the opening goal against Shelbourne after only two and a half minutes. OVH had some rough words for his goalie who hesitated to step out for it, but the pass was still made blind and off target. Sligo ended up losing 2-1 with a red card halting their attempted comeback. Van Hattum was subbed after an hour.
Elsewhere, there was no Norman Garbett in the Dundalk side as they won again in the second tier. Seven games gone and they already have a five-point lead in the title race. Seven games gone and Norm has only played 17 minutes. In the Women’s Premier Division, Cork City lost 3-2 to Treaty United, conceding the winner near the end when the Cork defence allowed a long ball to bounce over then and Una Foyle couldn’t clean up in time. Foyle should have done better for the second goal but the first looked pretty offside. Made some good saves in there too though.
Up Next: Saturday at 7.45am it’s Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers (NZT)
Ben Old - AS Saint-Étienne (French Ligue 1)
It was in training after the October international break that Ben Old tore his lateral knee ligament. He’d just gotten back from starting consecutive games for the All Whites against Tahiti and Malaysia and he’d appeared in six of seven matches for Saint-Étienne, five of those being starts. This after a breakthrough season with the Wellington Phoenix leading to a big money transfer to ASSE in France. Things were going gangbusters and then suddenly that knee injury left him with a five-month injury layoff. But he’s back now, folks...
Sticking exactly to the schedule that was set out for him when he returned to training for ASSE in March, Ben Old was subbed on for the last 27 minutes of the match against Paris Saint-Germain. They chucked him onto the right wing where he had a few enticing involvements including multiple opportunities to cut inside onto his left foot in the penalty area (one of those led to a blocked shot). But of course they were playing against PSG so most of the action was aimed in the other direction. ASSE did score early through Lucas Stassin after seven minutes and they held doggedly to that lead until a Goncalo Romas penalty just before half-time. Then it got very ugly.
It was already 4-1 to PSG when Old entered proceedings. Desire Doue then scored his second for PSG straight after that substitution and there was also an Ibrahim Mbaye goal near the end as the perennial champs moved 11 points clear at the summit of Ligue 1 with a 6-1 win. More to the point, ASSE still only have 20 points from 26 matches and are four points away from a relegation playoff and six points away from confirmed safety. That’s with a goal difference currently worse than all the teams above them. There’s work to be done over the remaining eight games... through that work was never going to realistically involve getting anything from PSG. The main thing was that they used this game to get Benjamin Old back in the swing. Now the survival quest can properly commence.
By the way, one of those last eight games is the abandonment away against last-placed Montpellier from a couple weeks ago – which ASSE were leading 2-0 when crowd trouble cause the game to be stopped with half an hour remaining. ASSE did have a red card so there’s no guarantee they’d have held on (Maxime Bernauer still had to serve his red card suspension). They’ll find out on Thursday morning NZT whether they get the points from that fixture or if they’ll need to replay or resume it. There’s a big meeting gotta happen first. It was Montpellier fans who were to blame (on this occasion – but there’s history between these two rivals) so there is a good chance of that happening which would, needless to say, be a huge boost in that survival quest.
Up Next: Monday at 1am, Lens vs Saint-Étienne (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
During the international break, Ryan Thomas did an interview (which was quoted in last week’s Flying Kiwis) in which he spoke about his injury battles and his footballing ambition and all sorts. He also mentioned, more short term, that he was planning to go ninety minutes against RKC Waalwijk in the next match. Well, he’s only gone and done it. Full game for Thommo in a 2-0 victory.
Once upon a time that wouldn’t have meant much but for Ryan Thomas this was like a waking miracle after what he’s been through. This was obviously the first time he’s lasted a full ninety this season. He didn’t manage this feat at all last season so it’s also the first time he’s done so since before PEC Zwolle were promoted – we’ve gotta go back to a 3-1 win against Roda JC in May 2023 for that instance. As for full games in the Eredivisie, bloody hell, the last time Ryan Thomas managed that feat was two knee surgeries ago. It was a 2-0 win for PSV Eindhoven against Fortuna Sittard on 4 October 2020. Four and a half years into the past.
He had another reason to be beaming after this match: the result. At home against last-placed Waalwijk, this was Zwolle’s most winnable remaining game and a crucial step towards staying in the top division. There was a scare a couple minutes in when old mate Oskar Zawada, former Wellington Phoenix striker, ripped a shot on target from a tight angle. But it was saved comfortably and that was the only shot Zawada was able to muster all match. Zwolle battled away in an uneventful first half... then took control after the break as their wide forwards started to get more involved.
Eventually it all bubbled over in the last twenty when RKC’s Faisal Al Mazyani was sent off for shoving over a runner in the penalty area, denying a goal-scoring chance as the last man back, also leading to a penalty which Dylan Vente buried (74’). Filip Krastev then bagged another one (80’) as Zwolle were able to play on the counter attack with the lead in place. Frankly, they should have gotten at least one more. They were partying even before the final whistle thanks to a 2-0 win that puts them five points clear of the danger zone with seven games left. Also snaps a six-game winless streak. Ryan Thomas completed 56/65 passes, made a couple tackles, covered gigantic pastures of grass with his running, and generally just anchored the show from midfield. Such a joy having him back doing this stuff again.
As for Oskar Zawada, he did a post-game interview in which he apologised to the RKC fans “for having to watch that shit”. Hard not to feel a bit sorry for him... especially since it’s emerged that he rejected a move to Plymouth Argyle during the January window. The Polish striker might not have wanted to swap one relegation battle for another... he also might have done this in a wee dose of solidarity with the last Wellington Phoenix striker who moved to Argyle, Ben Waine, given how they’ve hung him out to dry on loan with a team that doesn’t have any use for him. Chur, Oskar. We see you. An ally to Aotearoa.
Up Next: Almere vs PEC Zwolle at 7am on Sunday (NZT)
CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)
Back into the starting eleven on the right side of defence. It was Leicester City versus Tottenham Hotspur... and CJ Bott had a brutal match-up against the speed and skill of Jessica Naz. That’s what led to that yellow card late in the opening half. Naz had burst through and Bott tried to drag her back on half-way, that didn’t work, then further down the line she had another bite and this time she brought a halt to the danger... at the expense of her fourth yellow of the year. Bott is one of the best tacklers on the planet but Naz had her in fits during this one. Bott didn’t win any of her four tackle attempts (then again, she also won all four of her take-ons so maybe it was just that kind of game), although she did make sure that nothing came easy for Naz. Great battle between those two.
Bottom line, Leicester City took the lead on 53’ when the Spurs goalie parried a shot into one of her defenders for an own goal. Drew Spence levelled up within ten minutes – bunting the ball home after Naz had whipped in a great cutback. Bott stayed with her to the byline but couldn’t prevent the cross. The game ended 1-1 with Bott playing the full contest. Nothing glamorous about that result yet it gives Leicester City another point as they edge closer to safety.
Alas, that safety is likely to come at the expense of Crystal Palace who lost 4-0 to Arsenal with Indi Riley getting around 25 minutes off the bench (it was 2-0 when she was subbed on). Worse still, Aston Villa won 2-1 against Liverpool to snap out of their own awful form... so with four games left, Palace are four points behind the Villans. Those four games are against Chelsea (A), West Ham (H), Leicester City (H), and Manchester City (A). They’re going to need to win at least two of those and that’s hard to imagine happening. Not sure what that’ll mean for Indi Riley.
Up Next: Couple weeks off from WSL happenings
Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)
Normally, you might expect an easing back into things after an emotionally taxing international break like Libby Cacace just had. Remember he got subbed off with cramps at the end of the second game. Elijah Just and Sarpreet Singh got that treatment, each only used as substitutes by their clubs hence no chat about them in this edition. Others like Michael Boxall and Tyler Bindon were rested entirely. But Empoli have no time to waste so not only was Cacace straight into the line-up again, not only was he used in the attacking role that he got accustomed to a few months ago (rather than the more recent centre-back role), but he played the whole thing as Empoli grabbed a late-ish goal and an important point.
Empoli were away to Como and they played like a team that hadn’t won a league game since December, hardly keeping any possession and being very impatient with the ball when they did get it. However, the direct attacking style created as many chances as their frustrated hosts could muster. Como did take the lead on the hour but Christian Koame’s 75th minute goal, heading in at close range from a Giuseppe Pezzella cross, tied things back up again. Jacopo Fazzini did get sent off near the end for a second yellow due to a game-managing professional foul. Also they’d have won if Kouame could shoot on target from further out than two metres. But no dramas. The winless streak is up to 16 games yet the rest of the bottom four all lost so this is a point gained. With Lecce tumbling to defeat after defeat, Empoli are only two points from safety with eight matches left. Hope remains.
Cacace was moved back into the defensive three just before the goal (when Mattia Viti was subbed) so he spent two-thirds of the game in attack, one-third of it in defence. Whipped in a few crosses, picked off a few interceptions. The usual mahi. Also, that Cacace to Besiktas rumour continues to swirl...
Empoli quietly extended his contract through next season, possibly via an automatic trigger, but they won’t be able to play that card again so next season he really will be on an expiring deal. If Empoli gets relegated there’s little doubt that Cacace will be able to find something else without needing to drop down the levels. If they don’t get relegated then Empoli still might want to sell him anyway for financial reasons. Before that, we’ve got a couple of the most important games this club has ever experienced: the two legs of the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Up Next: Empoli vs Bologna at 8am on Weds in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semis... then Empoli vs Cagliari on Monday at 1am in Seria A (NZT)
Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)
Meanwhile in Serie A Femminile, Inter Milan flipped the script on their recent wobbliness with an incredible 3-2 win against leaders Juventus. It looked like another bottle job when they conceded in the 88th minute to go behind but then a Tessa Wullaert penalty in the third minute of stoppage time was followed by an Elisa Polli goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time and there you go. Brilliant victory from Inter that revives their chances of holding onto second place. Only problem was that Katie Bowen went off injured twenty minutes into the match. It happened chasing back against a counter when she lunged out a leg trying to win the ball and immediately pulled up in a limp.
Looked like she was grabbing at the back of her right leg around the ankle/heel/lower calf region. The game paused while she got some treatment, out came the cold spray, and after limping off the field she did re-enter and attempt to continue. It wasn’t to be but hopefully that’s a sign that it’s not anything too drastic. There’s an international break next that she wasn’t going to be a part of anyway so she’s got a couple of weeks in which to recover before a hugely important game against third-placed Roma.
Up Next: Inter vs Roma at 1am on 20 April (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
After a resurgent return to form last year in his second stint with Viking FK, helping lead them to a third-placed finish and earning Conference League qualifiers for later in the year, the trick for Joe Bell is to now take that further and restore his rightful place as one of the Norwegian league’s most dominant players. To once more be the Bellinho that was pocketing assists left, right, and centre before his ill-fated Danish sojourn.
There’s no reason to doubt that he’ll do that... but jeepers week one was a shocker for Viking. They played away against promoted Vålerenga and did not bring the funk at all. After failing to assert themselves in the initial stages, they fell behind to a deflected shot after 40 minutes. Things did improve a little bit after the break but even then they were lucky not to go further behind when a long strike from a VIF dude ripped off the inside of the post. Then it did get worse when Martin Roseth got his second booking after 56 mins and it was ten men from then onwards. Nevertheless, Viking equalised on 62’ when Hilmir Mikaelsson touched home at the near post – a move instigated by Joe Bell’s feed into the area. But further concessions on 66’ and 79’ meant a 3-1 defeat.
Bell was subbed off after 88 minutes which is about as much of a concession to resting him after the international break that they were willing to make. As per last year, it looks like Bell and Zlatko Tripic will be the main men. Gianni Stensness is going to be out for a while with the ACL tear he suffered in October. Bell was good here, completing 91% of his passes with a key pass that led to their goal. Won three fouls and committed none. Two tackles and four defensive clearances. But that was a stinker of a way to begin the 2025 campaign.
Up Next: Viking vs KFUM at 5.15am on Monday (NZT)
Olivia Chance & Liz Anton – Kolbotn (Norwegian Toppserien)
See, now that’s just wonderful. Liv Chance is back on the pitch and Baby Tyler was there with her. That’s a special one, no doubt about it. Chance was subbed on for the last fifteen minutes of Kolbotn’s second match, having missed week one while the paperwork was still being done – maybe that’s why Liz Anton didn’t feature in this one after her transfer from Canberrra Uinted was only announced last week. It was Chance’s first competitive football since the 2023 World Cup.
Unfortunately, Kolbotn had to follow up last week’s 6-0 defeat against Vålerenga, the 2024 champions, with LSK Kvinner at home, a team that won in 2019 and which is usually up near the top three or four places. They performed better in this fixture... but still lost 2-0 thanks to goals from Christina Herseth (24’ & 60’). Could have been three except Tonje Erikstein missed a penalty right at the end. It was a very one-sided game featuring a very young Kolbotn team which only confirms that they’re going to need their two kiwi additions sooner rather than later. There’s now an international break (which Anton will be part of) so that ought to buy them enough time to be pushing for the starting eleven.
Up Next: Away to Stabaek on April 13 when Liz Anton should be available (NZT)
Grace Neville - London City Lionesses (England Championship)
We do appreciate a Grace Neville start and we’ve just had two in a row. Neville was the right wing-back for London City in a very competitive game against Newcastle United... which LCL won 2-1 thanks to goals from Issy Goodwin (4’) and Sofia Jakobsen (45’). Newcastle equalised once but not twice. Neville played almost the whole thing, getting subbed off in stoppage time. She also picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away after her team had conceded a free kick. Neville’s up to 13 appearances for LCL this Championship season, with five of those being starts. What’s more, Birmingham had the bye this round so London City have cashed in their game in hand and gone top of the table with three matches remaining. Two points clear. Win out from here and they’ll be champions and earn promotion to the WSL.
In contrasting events, Sheffield United recalled Jacqui Hand to the starting team but dropped Olivia Page and lost 3-0 away to Bristol City. The three goals were all around the middle of the game – two right before half-time and one slightly after. They do have a game in hand on Portsmouth but are three points adrift in last place. Maria Farrugia hit the crossbar in the second half from what would have been a Jacqui Hand assist. Hand played 89 mins, Page was unused on the bench.
Durham were also playing mix and match with Mickey Foster getting 80 mins from the start and Hannah Blake only subbed on after 73. This was against Portsmouth and they did Sheffield United a favour by beating Pompey 6-0. No goals or assists for the NZers but the first Durham goal happened after Foster won possession, the second was from one of her corners after the keeper couldn’t punch clear, and the fifth was a follow-up after a Blake shot was saved.
Finally, Sunderland somehow found themselves 4-0 down at the midway point against Charlton Athletic. That was a shambles... until they almost pulled off an incredible comeback, scoring three times but falling short of a fourth. The third was a penalty kick won by Katie Kitching who got sandwiched trying to squeeze between two defenders (to be honest, she was a bit lucky they gave it). Anyway, Sunderland lost that game 4-3. With between two and four games remaining for each team, London City are fighting for promotion, Durham are aiming for somewhere in the 2-5 range, Sunderland will be trying to sneak back ahead of rivals Newcastle, and Sheffield United are trying desperately not to get relegated.
Up Next: Bit of a break before Southampton vs London City on 19 April (NZT)
Macey Fraser - Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
The good news was that Macey Fraser returned to the starting eleven for Utah’s trip to face Kansas City Currents. The bad news was that they lost 3-0 so she didn’t get to do much. Fraser was picked in that hybrid/inverted right wing role again where she worked hard, got into some good positions, didn’t give the ball away cheaply, scrapped away in defence... and watched her team concede three soft goals in the first half, largely due to inadequate marking in the box. There was also another goal disallowed for offside in that span so it could have been even worse. The second goal happened after Fraser won a tackle in her own half, worked the ball out of trouble... then one of her teammates coughed it up and they got countered.
Fraser did pop one of her trademarked shots on target late first half, giving it the shimmy on the edge of the area before shooting... but there was too much dip and not enough power for it to threaten. Fraser was substituted after 72 minutes as part of a double change meaning this was the most she’s played this year. She’s roughly one half of football away from surpassing last year’s minutes total. As for the rest of the game, the highlights package there is nine minutes long and eight of those minutes are dedicated to the first half. The rest was mere formality.
Up Next: Utah Royals vs Portland Thorns at 2pm on Saturday (NZT)
Finn Surman - Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
This guy just doesn’t shut up about how much he loves Finn Surman. It’s Finn Surman this, Finn Surman that. And the rest of the MLS is starting to take notice - even if the commentator for this week’s game got a bit condescending talking about him being “practically unknown in 2024” like they didn’t spend a chunky fee on him, like he isn’t a full international. But that’s okay because this is how they learn... and they’re learning fast.
Surman started for the sixth game in a row as the Portland Timbers bossed their way to a 3-1 win against the Houston Dynamo. Same CB partnership alongside Kamal Miller as last week. Miller is 27yo, Surman is 21yo, the two fullbacks were 22yo... pretty young backline for the Timbers but just like last week they were fully in control. Surman didn’t have to make any highlight-worthy blocks like in the previous match but he did make ten defensive clearances and won both his header duels and passed the ball safely and surely around the back at 96% - the best accuracy of any starting player on the pitch. He also managed a cheeky shot off target, plugging one over the bar with his left late in the first half having been lurking just inside the area for some afters off a corner kick. Surman does continually get sent forward for set pieces so this could easily be another aspect of his game that comes on strongly in Portland... although this particular effort was admittedly pretty bad.
Other than that, Portland took the lead after six minutes through Felipe Mora. They were hauled back by a Franco Escobar goal after 12 minutes. Antony scored on 23’ to restore the lead. Then that same bloke eventually extended it on 71’. If they’d been a little sharper they’d have added another towards the end when the game opened up to them on the break. Houston had more of the ball but their goal was the only shot they managed to get on target.
After a sluggish beginning, Portland have now won back to back games and things are brightening up. Surman has started all six games. Only Antony (Brazilian import), Jimer Fory (Colombian import), and David Ayala (Argentinian import) can match him in that feat. It’s the lad from Christchurch alongside three South Americans in Portland, Oregon.
Over in Minnesota, the Loons had an okay result without Michael Boxall during the international window so they were confident enough to rest him (he was on the bench) for the 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake. Expect to see Boxy return next week, there was no need to rush him back. Minny Utd are five games unbeaten since that narrow week one loss. And over in Charlotte, even with a centre-back suspended there was no room for Bill Tuiloma. They slid Tim Ream infield instead for a 2-0 loss against Colorado. Since August 2023, Bill Tuiloma has played 197 minutes across four league games. It’s gone beyond rude and into the realms of offensiveness.
Up Next: Austin FC vs Portland Timbers at 11.45am on Sunday (NZT)
Maggie Jenkins - Gaziantep ALG Spor (Turkish Süper Ligi)
They didn’t livestream their game this week like they normally do... possibly because it was a Thursday game local time, dunno. That was a damn shame because Maggie Jenkins scored again. ALG Spor could only draw 2-2 against Ünye Gücü, a match they ought to have won, but at least a draw still keeps them in fourth place... and Jenkins now has 8 goals and 2 assists from her 20 appearances, most of which have come on the wing. It’s been a superb first season as a professional and she’s not done yet.
Up Next: After the international break it’s away to Trabzonspor at 11pm on Sunday 13 April (NZT)
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
We’re still awaiting proper news of the injury that Chris Wood suffered on All Whites duty. Wood fell hard on his hip attempting a volley against New Caledonia, then was subbed after being unable to carry on. Wood had a scan before flying out of New Zealand. He then had a scan after he got back to England. Nobody seems to be talking like it’s a long term thing but they also don’t seem to know exactly what the damage is yet. Right now it’s all about pain management and by the sounds of it there’s still plenty of that.
Nuno Espirito Santo: “Not good. Let's wait and see. It is going to be day by day we have to assess him. It is all about the pain he has. It was a big impact on his hip and it is very painful. We have to assess him. We are gutted that Chris is not here with us.”
Day by day is better than week by week which is better than month by month. Doesn’t sound like he’ll be available for the midweeker against Manchester United though, having already missed the FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton. Like Nuno said, we’ll wait and see. They’re all big games with Champions League qualification on the line... Nuno did offer an update on Tuesday NZT when he said that Wood: “is improving. He is getting better day by day. We have to assess him day by day. It is all about him being pain free and then getting back to fitness”. So at least it doesn’t seem to be anything serious.
The fact that Chris Wood missed the FA Cup tie with Brighton was a bummer after he scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win against that same opponent last time Forest played them. It’s also nothing new as far as this FA Cup run goes. Wood hasn’t actually started any of these games. He got 16 mins off the bench in a 2-0 win against Luton. He played the extra time period (30 mins) against Exeter City before scoring in the successful shootout following a 2-2 draw. He then got 38 minutes, most of it extra time again, of a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town before once again scoring in the shootout.
So guess what happened in the Brighton game without him? The two sides drew 0-0 after 120 minutes of footy, some of it exciting, some of it rather boring, and then Nottingham Forest won on penalties. Chris Wood wasn’t there to add to his penalty streak but they got by without him. Three rounds in a row they’ve advanced via a shootout... clearly Woodsy is not the only spot kick specialist in this team. Therefore, Nottingham Forest have advanced to the FA Cup semis for the first time since they were beaten finalists in 1990-91 and they’ll face Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in that tie with the other match being Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa. Those games are pencilled in for 27 April so Chris Wood has got four weeks to recover.
As for the rest of the folks in England, there’s not much to talk about. Tyler Bindon was given a very rare rest for Reading and they responded by beating Peterborough 3-1. Fantastic victory... and the first instance of them prepping for the departure of Bindon in the summer. He’d only missed 18 minutes of League One action all season prior to this, but with midweek games in each of the next two weeks and after his All Whites travel it made a lot of sense not to rush him straight in. Reading are now sixth on the ladder. If they can hold on, they’ll get playoff footy.
Meanwhile, Max Crocombe played as usual for Burton Albion but they lost 2-1 away to Stockport. Nik Tzanev was on the bench for Northampton’s 1-1 draw away with Cambridge – the sixth consecutive match he’s had to watch from the sideline (NTFC have won one of those six). And naturally Mansfield Town were rude to Ben Waine and didn’t put him in the squad at all for their 2-1 win away to Bristol Rovers.
Up Next: Home vs Man United at 8am on Weds; Away vs Aston Villa at 4.30am on Sun (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)
Here’s another fella who didn’t rest after All Whites stuff. In fact, Callum McCowatt got a massive promotion into the starting line-up where he played ninety minutes for the first time all season. Not quite the recovery tale of Ryan Thomas but after an injury-addled start to the season this is pretty cool for him.
Silkeborg blew it in the last round before the international window by coughing up a half-time lead to draw 2-2 away at Brøndby. That result meant that they finished level on points with BIF but behind by a single digit on goal difference... thus ending in seventh place instead of sixth, thus finding themselves in the bottom half relegation rounds instead of the top half championship rounds.
The best they can do is hang onto seventh from here which will still get them into the European playoffs. You’d back them to do that given how their remaining ten games are all now going to be against teams currently below them on the ladder... but don’t get carried away because the first of those ten games didn’t go very smoothly.
Silkeborg were beaten 2-1 by Sønderjyske. No Dalton Wilkins because he’s out injured again, sounds like he won’t play again this term. McCowatt actually performed really well as the right-sided ten, completing 42/48 passes with two key passes in there. Lots of crosses. A couple shots on target, a couple more off target. He was very good... but his team lost. On the plus side, at least this result does massively improve the chances of Sonders avoiding relegation and keeping Dalton Wilkins in the top flight too.
Up Next: Silkeborg vs Lyngby at 0:00 on Monday (NZT)
Emma Pijnenburg – Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
Ryan Thomas isn’t the only kiwi in the Netherlands suddenly getting full games. Nope, not Matt Garbett... but Emma Pijnenburg. She did the whole ninety in a 2-1 defeat for Feyenoord against Fortuna Sittard. Not a good outcome but for the second match in a row she held it down at left-back. An opportunity arose and she’s doing what she can to take it... this after not starting a league game all season until last week.
Feyenoord may have lost but they did score first through Sanne Koopman who smashed in a great strike from the edge of the area after EP’s delicious cross towards the back post was only partially headed clear. Alas, they then conceded twice in the last fifteen minutes with one of those being an outright goalkeeping mistake and the other being a shot that the goalie still ought to have saved. Feyenoord remain fourth in the standings with three matches left... next time we see them it’ll be for the Dutch Cup semi-final. Here’s hoping they’re still in need of a makeshift left-back when that date comes around.
Up Next: Must be international break time
Abby Erceg - Deportivo Toluca (Mexican Liga MX)
They gave it a good nudge... but Toluca’s 2-2 draw with Monterrey probably means they won’t be making the playoffs. Toluca took the lead in only the third minute when Shanice van der Sanden ran in behind from the right wing... but by the time the clock read thirty minutes they were down 2-1. They did fight back to level things up through Michaela Abam after 65 mins yet a winner eluded them despite plenty of good chances along the way. Toluca are five points out the top eight with two games left. It’s not gonna happen. The question now becomes: whereto for Abby Erceg? Does she stay in Mexico or is there something else in her plans?
Up Next: Monday 14 April at 6am away to Puebla 9NZT)
Kees Sims - GAIS (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Despite playing all through the Svenska Cupen stuff and getting several preseason friendly starts, Kees Sims was always expected to return to the bench behind Mergim Krasniqi when the real footy began. As it happens, he didn’t even get to do that much. A knock to the head in training meant that GAIS chose to keep him out of the 1-0 defeat against AIK as a concussion precaution. He’s trained lightly since the incident so it doesn’t sound bad, they just didn’t want to take any risks with a backup goalie. Why would you?
There’s also another angle regarding Kees Sims: according to Fotboll Direkt, he’s attracting significant interest from the English Championship with Coventry City being specifically mentioned. Sims signed a new contract with GAIS in January that’ll last until 2028 so he won’t come cheap if that’s the case. But Coventry have clearly been paying close attention to the GK stocks in Sweden because they already signed goalkeeper Oliver Dovin from Hammarby in July 2024... however, Dovin just tore his ACL and will miss not only the rest of this season but probably half of the next one too. Thus they’re considering going back to the old well.
Remember that Coventry is also the club that were on the brink of signing Marko Stamenic before Nottingham Forest swept in and took him away. They’re currently coached by Frank Lampard. Also, Sims has a British passport so no issues there... in fact, before he signed with GAIS he went on a training/trial tour of England where he sampled the experiences at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and... Coventry City (as well as Lilleström in Norway... and the following offseason he trained with GAIS in Sweden, Hobro IK in Norway, and Örgryte in Sweden before ultimately signing with GAIS).
Of course, the report specifically states that there are “several” Championship clubs having a peek. Nothing can happen until mid-year when the English transfer window opens again, and nothing may happen at all (he’s in a good spot where he is, no stress). But it sure sounds like he might have some English scouts in the stands when he next plays.
Up Next: Mjällby vs GAIS at 2.30am on Monday (NZT)
Riley Peach – Elche CF (Spanish Segunda Liga)
Do you, by any chance, happen to recall the kiwi kid in the Barcelona academy who had a viral video during covidtimes where he juggled a football on a treadmill? Yeah so this is that lad now. He’s 16 years old and has joined Elche CF who are currently top of the Spanish second tier. It’ll still be youth football at this stage but definitely jot down the name for the future.
Up Next: La futura
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