Flying Kiwis – October 15
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
Joe Bell’s had a fair few career highlights over the past 12 months. This was another... as Viking FK drew 3-3 against the juggernauts of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. They scored after 70 seconds when New Zealand Olympian and U20s representative Gianni Stensness headed in from a corner kick, then Peter Christiansen made it extra funky when he polished off a wonderful counter-attacking move later in the half (38’). Against the odds, Viking’s first home Champions League fixture in over three decades had them leading by two goals at the break against Bayern.
That situation did not last. The Bavarians got a penalty via VAR intervention, one of those ones where a defender is clearing the ball but a forward sticks a leg out and collects the follow-through. Harry Kane scored from the spot (54’) and then scored again with his head (60’) before Luis Diaz made it 3-2 (71’) and the fairytale seemed to be vanishing into the pleasant wistfulness of What Might Have Been.
But then Michael Olise did something silly by throwing the ball at a Viking player immediately after collecting a yellow for a foul. Two bookings in the space of a few seconds and Bayern had to do the last twenty with ten men. Mere minutes after Diaz had given them the lead. The game swung drastically as Viking gambled for an equaliser. Joe Bell was substituted within that push, stepping out after a typically dependable 85 minutes at the base of midfield. Not a lot of touches and the passes he completed were almost all safe ones aimed back towards his goal but that’s what the task required. Also after three instances in a row where he didn’t, this time he escaped a Champions League fixture without getting booked.
It was fullback Herman Haugen scored the equaliser in the 90th minute. Would say he headed in from a Zlatko Tripic cross but actually it was more like his shoulder. Nevertheless, they all count the same and this was a very famous goal for Viking FK to earn a 3-3 draw against the German champions. How good!? Put that down as Aotearoa-flavoured revenge for what Bayern did to Auckland City at the Club World Cup last year. Very obscure circle of relevance here but there were four players who started both that game and this game for Bayern: Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and Harry Kane. One of those, Harry Kane, also scored against the All Whites in a 1-0 win for England a few months ago, a game which Joe Bell was also part of.
All that UCL funkiness came after a 2-0 win away against Brann back in the Eliteserien, where Viking went two up inside twenty minutes (Henrik Heggheim 11’ and Peter Christiansen 20’) before Bell’s midfield partner Kristoffer Askildsen was shown a straight red late in the first half for raised sprigs in a sliding challenge. It took VAR to confirm it but once they showed the replay there was no doubt about the colour of the card. Bell then had to marshal a dogged defensive effort the rest of the way, not getting many touches (and only completing 5/13 passes all up) but putting in a huge shift out of possession. Nobody in the game covered more than Bellinho’s 12.7 kilometres run and he was a busy presence with nine clearances, 5/7 ground duels won, a couple fouls committed, a pair of interceptions, and a shot blocked. Great backs-to-the-wall clean sheet there which you’d imagine helped them plenty when it came to the Bayern Munich task a few days later.
Bodø/Glimt won 3-1 against Kristiansund the following day to put the Eliteserien title race in the most finely balanced predicament imaginable:
Viking FK – 22 G | 17 W | 2 D | 3 L | 56 GF – 20 GA | +36 GD | 53 PTS
Bodø/Glimt – 22 G | 17 W | 2 D | 3 L | 56 GF – 20 GA | +36 GD | 53 PTS
Exact even records, all the way down to goals scored, with eight games remaining. Both are balancing this domestic title race with Champions League fixtures. They play each other in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Viking safely progressed past the second round of the Norwegian Cup during the international break. Bell didn’t link up with the All Whites so he was free to play half an hour during the 3-0 win against fourth-tier side Madla. It’ll get tougher when they host KFUM Oslo in round three. Not only a fellow Eliterserien outfit but also that game is three days before the crunch match against Bodø/Glimt so they might choose to prioritise their efforts elsewhere. If they get through that round then the last sixteen fixtures won’t be until early next season.
Up Next: Viking vs Fredrikstad at 5am on Sunday; then Aston Villa vs Viking at 8am on Thursday (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - SC Farense (Portuguese Liga 2)
When Sarpreet Singh wasn’t included in the latest All Whites squad. He stayed back with his club in order to make use of this pretty critical opportunity for him to make a strong impression, something that Darren Bazeley is always sympathetic towards, and you know what? It would appear that plan has been a raging success.
The first month of the season saw Singh increasingly getting longer cameos off the bench. Unused sub in game one, stoppage time sub in game two, quarter of an hour in game three, half an hour in game four. Following that, he moved into the starting line-up where he’s played two full games, been subbed in stoppages once, and been subbed after 82 mins in the other. Huge minutes. And plenty of impact too. This was him last week in a 4-0 win against Chaves...
And then this was him this week in a 2-1 win against Feirense...
What’s buzzy about it is that he’s playing as a genuine midfielder, deeper in the formation than we’d usually expect to see him. Can’t expect there to always be a CAM role waiting for him but previous clubs have tended to chuck him out wide when that’s the case. At Farense, they’ve injected him into a midfield three where his passing and technique are emphasised more than his crossing and dribbling. Seems like a more effective way to use him... and with a goal and two assists in seven league fixtures you certainly can’t really argue with it. What’s more, there’s been no hint of any injuries. He’s fit and he’s firing. That’s what we love to see.
Farense have managed three wins and a draw from Singh’s four starts, including advancing to the third round of the Portuguese Cup. This latest victory has lifted them up to third in the standings, only three points behind leaders Lusitania Lourosa. Sporting CP Reserves are in second – which puts Farense in an even better spot because reserve teams are ineligible for promotion so if the league finishes with the current order then Farense will go up automatically with the third-place playoff going to Penafiel in fourth. So, yeah, probably made the wise call to hang back in Portugal over the past couple weeks.
Up Next: Farense vs Marco 09 in the Taca de Portugal third round at 3am Sunday (NZT)
Katie Kitching – Sunderland (English Super League 2)
Sunderland have had a terrific start to the WSL2 season and Kitch has been a huge part of that... although it wouldn’t be a lie to say that she probably should have had another goal or two to show for her mahi. She’d certainly missed a few chances since scoring on her birthday in game one. But that’s fine, can’t be perfect every game, and with the influence she was having out there it was only a matter of time until she did something like this...
Sunderland 3-1 Leicester City. Katie Kitching scored one and assisted another. Excellent result leading into the international break to keep the Black Cats second on the ladder with four wins and a draw after five weeks. Newcastle United, their biggest rivals, have won 5/5 to lead the way. The way it works since they expanded the WSL is that top place in the second division goes up automatically while spots two and three have a playoff to see who advances into another playoff with second to last in the top flight. Based on how they’ve been tracking so far, Sunderland should absolutely have designs on getting into that playoff.
As for Katie Kitching, she’s got two goals and two assists from those five league games. She also set up a goal in the defeat to WSL team Liverpool in the League Cup group phase. That adds up to 2G/3A through six matches this season. They’ve mostly played her as a number ten this year, though she has also served on the right wing. It’d be awesome to see Kitch get a chance in the top division after a couple of excellent seasons of form in the second tier – she might have chased that in the summer but chose instead to re-sign with Sunderland after their recent takeover. That decision’s now looking rather astute.
Grace Neville also got an assist for Watford prior to linking up with the Football Ferns in Panama, where she was recalled after missing the previous four squads (some of that due to injury, to be fair). Didn’t get to play any games in Panama but that was out of everyone’s control. Neville’s assist wasn’t as fancy as the Kitching efforts, just a deep cross from her position on the right edge of the Watford back three that found the head of Phoebie Poole who looped it home to put Watford ahead. Sadly, the Neviller got called for a handball turning her back on a shot five minutes later. Penalty awarded. Little bit harsh but her arm was protruding from the ol’ silhouette. Wolves scored from the spot for a 2-2 draw to keep Watford winless with three draws and two losses. Neville’s starting to get some decent minutes, though.
Didn’t seen anything of Alina Santos as Southampton were beaten 2-1 away by Bristol City because she was suspended after her League Cup red card. If you want to see that send-off, here’s the video...
You watch those highlights waiting for her to rush out of her area and clean out a West Ham player and you’re constantly double-guessing as runner after runner goes through in separate highlight clips before we finally get to the relevant one. Safe to say the Saints backline wasn’t helping their goalkeeper out. That should only be a one-game suspension so Santos ought to make her first WSL2 matchday squad in due course. Looks like she’ll be back-up but this is her first year as a pro so can’t complain about that.
Up Next: Monday at 2am, Newcastle vs Sunderland... except it’s in the League Cup (NZT)
Helena Errington – FH Hafnarfjörður (Icelandic Besta Deild)
You’re just about to catch a plane to link up with your national team for the first team, seeking a senior debut (which would be delayed by an earthquake but that’s a whole other story), and you’ve got one more domestic game to play first. How do you approach that game? Well, if you’re Helena Errington you go absolutely bonkers with a goal and four assists in a 5-0 victory...
What’s even wilder about that game is that Nia Christopher scored from all four of those Errington assists. It was the New Zealand x Bermuda connection for FHingar as they absolutely whalloped ÍBV in a statement result following their exit from the Europa Cup four days prior. Errington was already putting up some monster numbers before adding five goal contributions in a single game. She’s now tied second for the most assists in the Besta Deild with nine in total (to go alongside seven goals scored). Under any circumstances at any level that’s an incredible day at the office.
The only bummer about it is that it doesn’t gain them any ground in the title race (other than a boost to their goal difference) because leaders Breiðablik somehow managed to rally back from 4-1 down at half-time to win 5-4 against Thróttur. They scored the equaliser on 83’ and the winner on 90’. So close to a perfect day for FH yet it wasn’t to be. At least the goal difference thing helps because while they remain three points adrift of Breiðablik, they play those guys in the last round of the season and if they win then goal difference could be what determines the title. There’s one round before that so can’t get into any permutations just yet. FH have already qualified for next year’s Champions League prelims.
Up Next: FH vs Thróttur at 3am on Monday (NZT)
Matthew Garbett – Peterborough United (English League One)
Ah, there he is! Back around the international window as promised. Garbett made his return in very comfortable circumstances against Ipswich Town U21s in the EFL Trophy group stage, a fixture that would have been a carefree reintroduction even if they hadn’t already been 4-1 up when he was subbed on. No more goals were scored while he was out there though he kept himself busy and had a couple bright moments in what was also the first game in charge for new manager Robbie Savage.
Strange situation there because Savage left Forest Green Rovers to take this job, jumping two divisions up the pyramid and leaving FGR without a head coach... though for now they’re in no hurry to replace him. The owner wants to try operate “without [a] big-ego manager for a little while and see what happens”, letting the coaching staff make decisions as a collective. Well, one of the staff in question is a recently hired goalkeeping mentor named Jonathan Gould – yes, that one, formerly of Auckland FC. Savage played for Gould’s father Bobby Gould when he was coaching Wales back in the day, in fact BG once dropped Savage for taking the piss during a TV interview when he chucked a Paolo Maldini jersey into the bin ahead of a game against Italy. Tyler Bindon played alongside Savage’s son Charlie Savage at Reading. Okay, that’s enough six degrees of separation for now.
Peterborough followed that up with a 3-1 win away to Leicester City in which Garbett played another half an hour, getting a yellow card this time. Posh were three up at the break and managed things smoothly after conceding on 68’. That was only their second win from nine league games and it gets them out of the relegation zone. Fair enough, it’s been a quality start from Robbie Savage as the new bossman. Garbs was used in the midfield where he had one shot on target, pulling up from outside the area during a counter attack with that effort palmed away by the diving goalie. That’s two extended substitute runs now, hopefully he’s in the starting mix again soon. That injury not only cost him a World Cup appearance but it put his whole career on hold, preventing an anticipated move to a Championship club. But he’s back now.
Up Next: Posh vs Burton Albion at 12.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Norman Garbett – Dundalk (League of Ireland Premier Division)
But wait, there was another Garbett injury comeback just a couple days earlier. Younger bro Norman may not have missed out on a World Cup that he’d been selected for but he’s been injured for a whole lot longer. 251 days elapsed between him playing the first-half of a Leinster Senior Cup game in January and his comeback in a 2-1 LOI defeat against Bohemians in October. What’s worse is that this wasn’t his first injury dabble either. His entire tenure at Dundalk has been tainted by hamstring issues – in two and a half years, he’s only played 416 minutes of league football in Ireland, appearing in 19/81 league games from his debut onwards. Four unused sub outings in there and the rest of the absences were down to injuries.
Now he’s making up for lost time. Dundalk were beaten in that comeback game but it was Norman Garbett who won the late penalty that gave them a hint of hope, running hard at his marker and drawing contact. That was one of a number of instances in his 18 minutes of action where he got the ball out wide and looked lively. There are only three more games left in the season but we should see a fair bit of Garbs in them, all things going to plan, as Dundalk try to haul themselves up another couple rungs on the ladder.
Norman Garbett: “It has been a tough time. I thought after last year that I had got over the hump of things. I got something like 14 games and had a positive end to the season and we won the league. My dad was here for that as well so it was a bit of a knock at the start of the season when I got injured again. It was in training and wasn’t so bad but then the knock-on effect of trying to get back, not quickly but in a reasonable time... I’m an explosive player so sometimes you need to take things a bit longer but it was just unfortunate. It has been a tough couple of years but I just want to get back to enjoying my football and enjoying every moment with the team and this coaching staff and just Dundalk as well because people have been great to me here. The Ward family , I can’t repay them really, so it’s not all bad. There are a lot of positives to take out of my time at Dundalk and I’m just hoping to get more positive times and more joy now. I’m just focused on playing football and enjoying football. It has been a long time, I don’t know how many weeks, but I just want as many minutes as possible now between now and the end to show what I can do.”
This gives us a rare excuse to chat about the kiwi lads in Ireland... and you’re about to see why they haven’t had a Flying Kiwis mention for ages. Norman Garbett only just made his first LOI appearance of the year for Dundalk, who currently sit sixth with 10 wins, 11 draws, 12 defeats (no worries there for a promoted outfit). Down near the bottom and trying to avoid a relegation playoff are Drogheda United. Jago Godden began his Drogs loan with a hiss and a roar by scoring the winner on debut and subsequently had a good run of starts around March to April. But he’s been stuck playing off the bench ever since. He missed the month of September out injured before returning with half an hour in a 3-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers this past weekend. 31 appearances across all competitions with 21 of those being as a substitute. The timing’s a little weird here because when he finishes his loan at Drogs, his parent club Walsall (League Two in England) will have a decision to make about whether to embed him into their team in January. Drogheda and Walsall have shared ownership.
Lee Grant, Walsall coach: “I think it's one where him and all of us as a football club sit down. When I say all of us, that's myself, him and his representatives, Stewart [Mairs], Ben [Sadler] and everybody because it's a full club decision. I think it's right that we map out what the next steps look like, but we probably need to get there first, before we start making those calls. When we do, we'll sit down as a collective and map out the next steps for him individually.”
That makes it sound like another loan is more likely but as the bloke says, gotta get everyone in a room before having those talks. Walsall have had an undefeated start to League Two, albeit with twice as many draws (six) as wins (three). Should also mention that Lee Grant wasn’t the coach when Godden was signed back in February. That was Mat Sadler who was sacked about a month later.
Up near the top of the League of Ireland standings sit St Patrick's Athletic. They’ve got four fixtures remaining in which to overhaul a three point gap between themselves and leaders Shamrock Rovers. If they do then Max Mata will get himself a champions medal and entry into the early round Champions League qualifiers (they’re already guaranteed at least Conference League qualifiers). But if so then it’d be an achievement largely done without him because Max Mata has been injured since June and even before that there were a couple other knocks, meaning he’s only started one of his 14 appearances.
The guy who has playing the most of any of them is actually Finn McKenlay down in the second division, where he’s started the past eight games in a row for Finn Harps. They’ve got one win and seven losses from those games although that’s no different to what they were doing before he arrived – there’s no relegation from the first division so nothing to lose. And they’ve gotten much more competitive with McKenlay in the midfield. He scored a goal a couple weeks ago only to have it was disallowed for a foul earlier in the move. McKenlay has one game left in his season and then his short-term deal ends. He’s probably done enough to earn an extension though it also depends on whether his agents can muster something better.
Up Next: Sligo Rovers vs Dundalk at 7.45am on Sunday (NZT)
Marko Stamenić & Elijah Just – Swansea City (English Championship)
Swansea City were top of the English Championship before the international window... and they’re still top now after winning 2-1 against Norwich City and 1-0 against Millwall. The Norwich game didn’t mean much to us because Marko Stamenić and Elijah Just only played twenty minutes, protected following busy workloads for the All Whites in the knowledge that there was also a midweek game coming afterwards. All the goals were scored before they were introduced but they did their bit to ensure that Swansea held that 2-1 lead until the final whistle.
The dynamic duo then returned to the Swansea midfield for a meeting with the club that used to be known as Max Crocombe’s Millwall but these days Crocombe only sits on the bench hence they’ve had to shorten the name. Crocs had his opportunity and couldn’t take it, that’s how it goes. No such issues for Stamenić and Just who have been heavy presences for the best team in the division.
It was Stamenić who had the first big chance when he collected a pass into the penalty area on the turn and then chopped past his marker before firing into the side-netting. Huge performance from Stam, especially defensively as he stomped around the park winning duel after duel. The things that Just does so well tend to be less obvious (pressing, support runs, etc) and this was no different but he very nearly dished up an assist with a low cross that was put onto the post by Moussa Yeo via a close-range save. A similar thing happened to Stamenić when he smacked a low cross that was turned on target by Goncalo Franco and then cleared off the line. The kiwi lads were making things happen. Just was subbed after 65 minutes while Stamenić completed the full match.
Swansea’s coach afterwards called it a mature performance. The way that both Millwall and Swansea set up made it difficult for the other to play the way they prefer so it became a war of attrition, with discipline and focus the keys to the outcome. A seven-minute stoppage during the second half only added to that challenge as the referee called a halt while allegations of racial abuse were dealt with in the stands (it was Millwall fans targeting insults towards Ji-sung Eom... who didn’t even play). Attempted to be dealt with, anyway, because security never actually found the culprits. But Swansea City did find a 90th minute winner thanks to Ronald at the back post, touching home from a long ball that Millwall switched off for. That’ll do it. 1-0 to the Swans. Coincidentally, Millwall almost signed Ronald at the end of the last window only for the deal to collapse at the very end... just like Millwall during this game.
Tyler Bindon didn’t play either game for Charlton Athletic. The first of those games was a 1-1 draw against Bristol City where he was rested entirely after playing the most minutes of any All Whites player across the four-game FIFA window. But don’t forget he was subbed at half-time of the 3-1 loss to Cardiff right before the window and hasn’t really won over the fans with his performances just yet. Doesn’t help that Charlton haven’t won in any of his five appearances. And there’s another bit of context here which is that they brought him in on loan due to a lack of centre-back depth amidst injuries.
Well, both Billy Koumetio and Kayne Ramsay returned to fitness during the extended international break and it was those two who were recalled alongside Lloyd Jones when Charlton switched to a back three for a 2-2 draw with Burnley. Tyler Bindon was an unused substitute as the three CBs all played maximum minutes. Ramsay scored the first goal for the Addicks while wing-back Ivan Mesik scored the 90+6th minute leveller that saved the day. Wouldn’t be fair to say that Bindon’s been dropped when all that’s happened is that the incumbents have gotten fit again. However, he may have to stay patient for his next opportunity. He did the same thing with Sheffield United and then was awesome once he got back in there. Nothing to panic about.
Matt Dibley-Dias recent minutes for Newport County: 83, 89, 90, 81, 90, 90.
During those six starts, County have only conceded three goals. The latest was a 1-0 win over Colchester. Dibs has actually played more minutes this season in League Two than Ben Waine, who got 11 mins off the bench for Port Vale in a 1-0 win over Grimsby Town in the latest outing. The Vale have only scored four goals in eight games.
The race is on to see which former Wellington Phoenix striker scores a league goal first: Ben Waine with Port Vale in L2 or Luke Supyk a division down with Gateshead. Supyk’s playing bigger minutes but his team has only won 1/13 games and are currently on a seven-game losing streak. Happier non-league times for Zac Jones at Fylde where a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United earned him his third clean sheet of the term. Jones has played all 59 league games for Fylde since transferring at the beginning of last season. Fylde are currently a very commendable seventh on the ladder as a promoted team.
Up Next: Swansea City vs West Ham at 3am on Sunday (NZT)
Liberato Cacace – Wrexham (English Championship)
Now for some bad news...
Phil Parkinson, Wrexham coach: “Libby, unfortunately, keeps having recurrences of calf injuries. It is very difficult for us all and him to explain why that is happening. We can't quite work that out. We have got him close a couple of times, and he's either picked up a fresh injury or injured the same one. They have been baffling because we bought a player who had a great [injury] record. We can't quite work out why and it's not for lack of trying. Our medical department has done everything and so has Libby himself. We will get there with him. He's very committed and professional. But he's had a period of mysterious circumstances surrounding his injuries. We have the scan reports to show the injuries are there but the circumstances as to how they have happened have left us scratching our heads a bit. We will get to the bottom of it. We will find a solution, but I have to be honest that he won't be with us for some time.”
Wrexham’s medical department are so bad at keeping Libby Cacace fit that they’re outsourcing the problem to London. One setback after another, unable to get those calves right... and they don’t even seem to know the hows or whys of it – “mysterious circumstances” is a hell of a way to phrase things. So don’t expect to see Cacace on the pitch for Wrexham any time soon because his fate is now in the hands of the big city specialists. Those specialists do work some magic at times... it was a knee specialist in Switzerland who suggested they surgically alter the placement of Ryan Thomas’ kneecaps to fix the pressure going through his joints and prevent further ligament damage and lo and behold that seems to have saved his career.
Up Next: There’s a muscle doctor somewhere whose entire life has been preparing for this opportunity
Chris Wood – Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Another twenty-odd minutes for the Woodsman this week. Strange game in which Nottingham Forest played really well (the coach afterwards called it their best performance of the season so far) but ended up losing 3-1 away to Crystal Palace after the home side took their chances and the visitors did not. Coach Oliver Glasner suggested that the defeat was down to karmic reasons as he took charge against his former team.
Dan Ndoye put Forest ahead in the third minute running onto a lovely diagonal switch, converting their first shot of the game. They then failed to score from any of their subsequent 23 shots (combined xG of 3.27). Liam Delap missed what should have been an open goal to make it 2-0 after Morgan Gibbs-White had chipped one off the crossbar. He had the entire rest of the goal to aim for from six yards out but he went for power and slammed it straight into the keeper’s chest.
Palace then scored twice in the last five mins of the first half and would add a third before Chris Wood was summoned to replace Delap and he had one big chance of his own, throwing his forehead onto a lovely cross from MGW but putting it too close to the keeper who made a sharp stop. Good contact but you’d have expected better placement there from Wood, to be honest. That’s just kind of day it was for Nottingham Forest. They’ve begun the Premier League with one win, two draws, and three defeats... and they host the defending champs next up. Chris Wood has played 80 minutes across five substitute appearances within that. This spell was actually the most he’s played for the club since Liam Delap was signed.
Up Next: Monday at 4.30am, Nottm Forest vs Arsenal (NZT)
Alex Paulsen – Motherwell (Scottish Premiership)
That there was one of the 12 (yes, twelve) saves that Alex Paulsen made during Motherwell’s 2-0 loss against Celtic. They were very easily brushed aside by the Hoops, entirely dominated, yet thanks to Alex Paulsen and Alex Paulsen alone they were able to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable. Only two goals from 4.31 xGOT.
Motherwell went behind in the ninth minute so Celtic were on top basically the whole way – maybe if Paulsen was a little taller he’d have gotten to that bottom corner effort from Camilo Durán. And perhaps he could have had more success diving at the feet of Benjamin Nygren to prevent the second (58’), albeit after his defenders missed multiple chances to clear their lines. Jake Girdwood-Reich only played seven minutes off the bench, you see. But that’s nitpicking because Paulsen was otherwise flawless. They’d have lost by at least six without him.
It’s early days so don’t wanna go too far along this road just yet but the difference between Alex Paulsen last season at Lechia Gdansk in Poland and Alex Paulsen this season at Motherwell in Scotland has been massive. He’s conceding a similar amount of goals but with way more saves alongside (and really good saves too, as the gif above illustrates). Two clean sheets in eight Premiership games already matches his tally from 24 appearances in the Ekstraklasa. There have been errors, we’ve covered those in previous weeks, and Scottish teams are testing his aerial game less than he had to cope with in Poland (though he’s been far more effective in those moments for Motherwell). But what really stands out is his passing, looking right at home for a team that is leaning all the way into his short game. The respective heatmaps tell a similar story of a much more involved goalkeeper when his team is in possession. He’s not sweeping any more than before... those hot spots outside the box are more about his starting position.
| Alex Paulsen Per90 GK Stats | Lechia | M'well |
|---|---|---|
| Saves | 2.67 | 3.88 |
| Save percentage | 61.00% | 70.50% |
| Goals conceded | 1.71 | 1.62 |
| Goals prevented | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Clean sheets | 0.08 | 0.25 |
| Error led to goal | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Acted as sweeper | 0.63 | 0.63 |
| High claim | 1.46 | 1.13 |
| Successful passes | 14.00 | 38.00 |
| Successful passes % | 62.30% | 85.40% |
| Accurate long balls | 4.46 | 4.00 |
| Accurate long balls % | 35.10% | 39.00% |
That does make it four defeats in a row for Motherwell though. Not really where they want to be, even if two of those were against Rangers and Celtic. Wasn’t much better for Kilmarnock as they lost 3-1 away to Rangers, conceding all three in the first half. Ninety minutes for George Stanger following his senior international debut. Quite a good performance from him, to be fair.
George Stanger: “It’s been really easy [to stay focused]. I’m under contract to Kilmarnock. My contract is not up until the summer so it is just a matter of concentrating on the games. That's always my focus: the games. There was a bit of noise around [transfers], but for me it was always, you know, full focus on our next game and it always be my approach. I’ve always been that way throughout my career and will continue to approach things that way.”
Meanwhile, Dundee United won 1-0 against Hibernian with Daniel Bennie getting the only goal (35’). There were 77 quality minutes in there from Jesse Randall on the right wing. Couple good early chances that drew saves. Set up a few chances for teammates. No dramas there.
Up Next: Kilmarnock vs Motherwell at 3am on Sunday (NZT)
Tim Payne – Club Olimpia (Paraguayan Primera División)
He’s shilling burgers for Maccas Paraguay now... Tim Payne must wake up every morning wondering how he’s ended up here. He could have been preparing for another A-League season right about now.
Sadly, the footballing aspect of his new life has been easing up lately. T-Payne has appeared in four consecutive games for Olympia (he’d never played two consecutive games prior to this run) but mostly off the bench, having only started one of the past six fixtures. That lone start was a very disappointing cup exit in which Payne was substituted as soon as they conceded with Olimpia going on to lose on penalties against Sportivo Luqueno. Since then they’ve had a couple of pesky draws in which he’s gotten around 15 minutes each time. So we’re no longer getting alternating starts. They’ve now won games without his involvement. And they no longer have a perfect record when he does play.
The stats are balancing out and nothing has changed with TP’s situation: the coach simply likes Raúl Cáceres better in that right-back position. He’s given him more than 70% of the available minutes there this season... Cáceres has started 13 times and played 1162 minutes while Payne has started five times with 432 minutes. Good to see Payne getting more regular appearances, at least, but it’s probably going to take a coaching change for him to become a starter – despite plenty of evidence, and a fair amount of fan pressure, to suggest it’s at least worth a look. Coach Pablo Sánchez doesn’t appear to be a hugely popular figure though and after having dropped to second due to those two draws, combined with the early cup exit, there’s definitely some pressure on him.
Up Next: Olimpia vs 2 de Mayo at 11.20am on Sunday (NZT)
Kate Taylor – Madrid CFF (Spanish Liga F)
Prior to heading off to international duty, where Kate Taylor would have captained the Football Ferns in Panama until circumstances prevented it, Taylor laid down another excellent ninety minute performance in what was Madrid CFF’s most challenging game of the season yet. It was third versus fourth, Madrid CFF versus Athletic Club... and it ended in a 2-2 draw. Madrid went 1-0 up on 43’, conceded on 47’ and 62’ to fall behind, then levelled back on on 73’ for a share of the points. Nine clearances, a blocked shot, three recoveries, three interceptions... all in a day’s work for Kate Taylor.
That’s actually the first game they’ve failed to win with Taylor in the line-up (remember they lost 5-1 in the only game she’s missed) and yet it’s also one of their best results. This team was ninth last season and tenth the time before. Now, with Barcelona absolutely tonking Real Madrid 7-0 in the same gameweek, this point has raised Madrid CFF up to second on the ladder (behind Barca, of course, who’ve won 6/6). They were expected to be a good team but this has been a crazy start from them... and no bubbles we burst in the draw against Athletic Club.
Up Next: Derby time against Atletico Madrid at 5am on Monday (NZT)
Ben Old - AS Saint-Étienne (French Ligue 2)
Back to winning ways over these parts following a minor two-game dip. Ben Old went straight into team despite starting three straight for the All Whites against China, Panama, and Japan... although they were able to spare him after 79 minutes in a 2-0 victory against Rodez. Typical outing from Old where he worked really hard, progressed the ball smoothly up his wing, and while definitely not flawless defensively he did what he needed to do within a good clean sheet. ASSE did lose their goalkeeper to injury near the end, that was the only hiccup here (aside from a few chances gone astray that could have made the final scoreline more emphatic). This win keeps ASSE where they’ve been all season: in first place. 19 points from six games. Big fixture up next where they’ll face second-placed Red Star who have won four on the trot.
Up Next: Red Star vs ASSE at 7am on Sunday (NZT)
Callum McCowatt – AGF (Danish Superliga)
Callum McCowatt left All Whites camp early after getting a head knock against China. Pity for Callum because he’d looked awesome in that China game, combining brilliantly with his best made Elijah Just in midfield. But if there’s one advantage to missing the Panama and Japan matches it’s that at least he was back in time to be available for AGF’s first game back. Only for thirty minutes though.
That’s thirty mins more than Dalton Wilkins, who was rested entirely for opponents Sønderjyske, thus spoiling what could have been a great Flying Kiwis Derby what with McCowatt working his way in at a new club and Wilkins having made a couple recent starts after putting all his injury issues in the rearview. Sonders were obviously being careful with Dalton following the FIFA window and he wasn’t the only one: Bulgarian international Stefan Velkov and Guyana international Osaze De Rosario were also rested from training heading into this game, albeit both still took part in the match itself. Wilkins played on the wing in his two starts but take note that their first choice left-back, Ebube Duru, who’d played almost every minute until getting injured in the last game before the break, has had to have ankle surgery and probably won’t be seen again until after the winter break.
These were two teams lingering down near the bottom of the standings and desperate for points... and it was AGF who strolled it with a 3-0 victory scoring all of their goals in the first half. Not much left on the plate for McCowatt to eat once he got on – although he was the first man off the bench for AGF. The light workload could put him in line to start away to Gent for a Europa Conference League debut tomorrow morning. This result brought an end to a horrific nine-game winless start for the defending champs, lifting themselves off the foot of the ladder at the expense of their opponents (who’d had a draw and a win prior to the international break with Wilkins in the starting eleven both times).
Limited stuff going on in the other Scandi leagues. Owen Parker-Price was good to start for Örgryte in their first game back but they subbed him on the hour after conceding the third in a 3-0 defeat away to BK Häcken. Still only 3 wins from 23 matches for the promoted side, who are on track to head straight back down if they can’t get something going.
On the women’s side, Eskilstuna United lost 2-0 away to Vittsjö before the FIFA break which, again, would have been a Flying Kiwis Derby except Milly Clegg has left Vittsjö and even if she hadn’t she probably would’ve only gotten a handful of minutes. Full game for Rennie on the right wing. She probably should have gotten an assist or two for the quality of her crosses in that game. And over in Denmark, a 2-2 draw between HB Køge and FC Nordsjælland kept up the good run for FCN, including another full game for Malia Steinmetz in defence. This was first vs second and there wasn’t much between them.
We’ve also got a strange situation going on in the Norwegian second tier where Kees Sims joined FK Haugesund on loan to give them a jolt in the last few months of their promotion quest... yet he still hasn’t actually played for them. On the bench three times, not even in the squad the other four times. The team has won six and drawn once in those games so the results have been sublime and it seems they decided after all that they’re happy with what they already had.
Teenaged local Einar Bøe Fauskanger started most games during the first half of the season before they brought in Per Kristian Bråtveit, previously of Aberdeen, for a more experienced option. The 30yo had played over 100 times for Haugesund earlier in his career... but he got injured straight away. Frank Stople, who’d dropped to third choice when PKB arrived, now seems to have earned the trust of the coach despite them bringing Kees Sims in as cover. Sims did have some ankle issues with GAIS earlier in the year however he played for the Hausegund reserves during the international window so he’s not injured at the moment. He’s just not getting picked. Always tricky turning up mid-season for a successful team but this sorta seems like a waste of his time, doesn’t it? Like, good for Haugesund who have solved a conundrum but they brought in a goalkeeper seeking first team minutes and they aren’t giving him any.
Up Next: Europa Conference League on Friday at 5.45am, Gent vs AGF (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
You may recall that Ryan Thomas missed a couple of games with injury prior to the international break. Without him things crumbled for Zwolle losing 7-0 to Feyenoord and 3-0 to Groningen. He’s had the better part of three additional weeks to recover since then which meant he was good to go for ninety minutes against Cambuur... however they lost 1-0 to an 83rd minute goal from Nicolas Binder, leaving them one point above the relegation zone with a 1-1-6 record (just four points from eight matches). They were predictable much better defensively with Thommo back in the picture... alas, they cannot seem to score goals. Averaging less than one per game with three consecutive shutouts. Therefore coach Henry van der Vegt has become the first Eredivisie manager to be fired this season.
Ryan Thomas post-game: “They [the fans] are absolutely right to be whistling. It's just not good enough. The coach wants to do everything right and so does the team. In a difficult phase like this, you have to stand behind each other and we do that. We still stand behind the coach. But as a team and staff, we have to do better. We're on the field, he's not. It's not his fault we lost this game.”
Zwolle with Ryan Thomas on the pitch:
521 minutes | 6 goals scored (1.04 G/90) | 10 goals conceded (1.71 GA/90)
Zwolle without Ryan Thomas on the pitch:
199 minutes | 0 goals scored (0.00 G/90) | 11 goals conceded (4.97 GA/90)
Up Next: Zwolle vs Go Ahead Eagles at 11.15pm on Sunday (NZT)
Kyle Adams - Louisville City (American USL Championship)
Trophy time for Kyle Adams, who lifted the USL Cup for Louisville City after a 1-0 victory against Hartford Athletic. Aiden McFadden scored the only goal in the 12th minute when he flicked home a header from a corner kick. Captain Adams then led an excellent defensive shift same as this team produced throughout their cup run – they didn’t concede a single goal during their three knockout games. Two 0-0 draws with penalty shootout wins and then this narrow clean sheet victory in the final. Funny thing about that is they haven’t been particularly good defensively during their league action despite having been supreme at the back in 2025 when Kyle Adams won the USL Championship Defender of the Year award.
This makes Louisville City the first team to have won all three major trophies at this level: the USL Championship title (2017, 2018), the Players’ Shield (2024, 2025) and the USL Cup (2026). After consecutive minor premierships (aka the Players’ Shield) they’re only on track for a fourth or fifth placed finish this year. Not that that’ll bother them because they failed to turn those regular season exploits into playoff success in either of those years and that’s the real target. This USL Cup success oughta give them some confidence there. Three games left before the playoffs swing around.
As for the fellas up in MLS... you don’t really wanna read about that. Finn Surman remains injured for Portland Timbers who blew a 3-1 lead away to Sporting Kansas City to end up with a 3-3 draw, conceding twice in the last 21 minutes. Minnesota United were no better because having been on the brink of finally ending their winless streak... they conceded a stoppage time equaliser for a 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo. One of the earlier goals was directly Michael Boxall’s fault as he misplaced a back-pass. Portland are winless in five games. Minnesota are winless in seven. Neither team is currently in playoff position and nor are they trending towards fixing those situations. Hey but Kyle Adams won a trophy in the tier below, shout out to that guy.
Up Next: Louisville City vs Indy Eleven at midday on Sunday (NZT)
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