Flying Kiwis – February 10
Max Crocombe - Millwall / Liberato Cacace - Wrexham (English Championship)
After waiting more than half of the Championship season for a proper Flying Kiwi head to head (Crocombe vs Bindon last week), we got another one straight afterwards (Crocombe vs Cacace). Millwall versus Wrexham, two clubs challenging for playoff places. Cacace’s been building up his match fitness after injury but he was good to start this one. Crocombe’s just seen his club sign another Premier League loanee but he was picked ahead of Anthony Patterson for this match, with the AP sitting on the bench for his first matchday as a Millwall player. Wrexham were the home team... but this was Max Crocombe’s afternoon.
Millwall won 2-0 with Crocombe making four saves and eating up anything that got loose in his penalty area on the way to another clean sheet. Wrexham began pretty brightly with a few good moves stemming from Cacace’s wing. But there was no way through. Millwall’s been playing dogged footy lately, a really tough team to beat. They took the lead on 59’ via an own goal and then withstood a bit more pressure (Wrexham’s finishing left plenty to be desired in this match) before Josh Coburn scored a second with five to go, clinching the points despite Wrexham having the jump in almost all of the stat categories except the one that matters most.
Brilliant performance from Crocombe at a time when he needed a game like that to reinforce his number one status at the club. Not that he’d done anything wrong before... but a reminder like this immediately after Patterson’s arrival makes it even tougher to drop him. Maybe more than tough, maybe insane to drop him. That was his ninth clean sheet of the season with only Carl Rushworth (Coventry) and Thomas Kaminski (Charlton) having more and they’re both only one ahead on 10 clean sheets despite playing way more games. Crocombe now has the best save percentage in the division (76.0%) and ranks fourth for goals prevented, having only allowed 24 goals from 27.2 xGOT. The win pushes Millwall (fifth) further clear of Wrexham (sixth), although the Red Dragons still stay in the playoff spots thanks to results elsewhere.
But there was bad news for Libby Cacace. With his team conceding twice in the space of half an hour, you might assume that he must not have been on the pitch for that to happen... and you’d be correct. Cacace collected a knock somewhere along the way and five mins into the second half he had the medical staff out testing his knee. He was subbed off after those checks (51’). The word is that he felt a pain behind his left knee. Given the muscle issues he’s already had for Wrexham, they would have subbed him even if it was only a precaution so hopefully that’s all we’re dealing with. He didn’t look in too much pain but he did look very frustrated as he was forced to wander on down the tunnel, potentially facing another setback in his season.
Wrexham had already lost Matty James to a broken toe in the first half so a pesky consequence of Cacace’s additional injury was that had to spend two of their sub windows and were limited in how they could alter things once they fell behind. So we’re stuck waiting on news about Cacace... and the same is true of Matt Garbett who missed the latest Peterborough game (a whopping 6-1 win vs Wigan, who promptly sacked their coach) and was seen watching from the stands with a honking big moonboot. Same as Cacace, it sounds like Posh are still trying to figure that out, though they hope that a short stint on the sidelines now will avoid a long stint down the line.
PUFC coach Luke Williams: “It is protective. We are trying to take a precaution because he is in pain. He is suffering, otherwise he would play. There is no doubt the boy is desperate to play but he can’t if he is in that much pain. We are trying to get to the bottom of it and there is something more serious that could be a problem so we have to take the load off him before that happens. We have to protect him so that he can make a quick recovery rather than having an extended time out.”
Luke Williams a few days later: “Matt’s problem needs protection and constant monitoring. It’s a minor injury that could become a major one if we don’t look after it. We also want to send him to the World Cup in the best possible shape, although believe me he would play now if he could. We will take no risks and we will monitor him until we see the key markers are improving. I’m very confident by taking this action we will see a relatively swift return. I’m in no doubt it’s the right course of action.”
We’re getting close enough to the World Cup that serious injuries can now rule players out. It’s already happened with Oli Sail (even if he was unlikely to be involved anyway). Chris Wood has been out for a couple months. Cacace and Garbett have current scares. Fingers crossed for the lot of them... and big churs to Max Crocombe because the more pressure you put him under, the better he plays. The mentality of the man is untouchable.
Up Next: Sheffield Weds vs Millwall at 4am on Sunday )NZT)
Tyler Bindon - Sheffield United (English Championship)
You know, there could have been some nervousness going into Sheffield United’s midweek game against relegation-zoned Oxford City. Japhet Tanganga was back from his suspension and with fellow centre-backs Ben Mee and Mark McGuinness having gotten reps during recent games, including together while Bindon was out with illness, that meant four fully fit CB options for Chris Wilder to choose from. Last time they had four CBs to choose from, Bindon was stuck at #4 on the list. But Wilder has grown to love that Tanganga x Bindon partnership so that’s what he went with against Oxford United... and just to hammer home his case, Bindon proceeded to deliver one of his best individual outings in a Blades jersey.
A fumble by the keeper, unable to hold a relatively tame long shot allowing for a simple finish on the rebound, meant that the Blades were 1-0 down after 14 minutes against Oxford... but they thoroughly outplayed their opponents the rest of the way. Bindon was slinging beautiful passes and winning crunchy tackles. Headed over from a corner kick too, supplying some attacking threat as well. It took a wee while for Sheffield Utd to finally equalise but when they did, there was a bit of Bindon involved as he got his foot on a loose ball after a corner to keep the move alive, leading to Sydie Peck’s goal on 41’. The second half was more of the same with Andre Brooks (66’) and Chiedozie Ogbene (83’) scoring additional goals. Another good win by Sheffield United as they haul themselves up the ladder.
They did lose 2-1 to Middlesbrough this morning though. The Tanganga-Bindon combo remained in tact, that’s clearly the first choice duo now, but a couple of concessions in the first half (including a goal for Aussie winger Riley McGree, getting to a rebound off the post before Bindon) were too much to overcome in a game where Sheffield United were far too wasteful. Boro went first with that win, their sixth in a row, so no shame in a narrow defeat like that. Just the frustration that they were capable of more.
Which means that Swansea City have leapt back ahead of them after they smoked a woeful Sheffield Wednesday side 4-0. Marko Stamenic only played 55 minutes and it was still 1-0 when he was replaced. He was on a yellow card which was probably why. Swans in full control, no need to risk anything. He’s up to eight bookings for the season... that’ll mean a two-game suspension if he gets two more within the team’s next six matches.
Up Next: Portsmouth vs Sheffield United at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Luis Toomey - Vancouver FC (Canadian Premier League)
Yeah, that’s our guy. Luis Toomey went nearly a year without playing a professional game from his last appearance for Auckland FC to his debut for Vancouver FC. It can be that way sometimes in this sport. But his return to competitive action was a goodie, lining up from the start as Vancouver hosted Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup first round. Straight into it with some continental footy.
VFC finished last in last year’s Canadian Premier League yet a strong run in the Canadian Championship cup competition earned them this spot despite their overall poor efforts. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul were the defending champs of the competition, having beaten Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 in the 2025 final - oincidentally, it was the Whitecaps who beat VFC in the Canadian Championship final (4-2 scoreline). Put those two facts together and there was little hope of Toomey’s Vancouver lads pulling off an upset. And they didn’t... but they only lost 3-0. Very commendable. Jose Paradela (22’), Amaury Morales (44’) and Agustin Palavecino (64’) got the goals.
Toomey didn’t get much room to show what he can do with a sight of goal... Cruz Azul were in total control and that included 70% possession. Vancouver did have some moments playing on the break though; Toomey helped facilitate the best of those with a runaway for Elage Bah who shot into the sidenetting. Tooms played as a the second striker though mostly hung out on the wings looking to latch onto clearances. Linked up well, gave away a couple free kicks. Promising stuff. There’s a second leg in Mexico this week that’ll be purely academic but should be a funky experience nonetheless. As long as he does better than Jay Herdman who got red carded at the same stage last season, playing away for Cavalry against Pumas.
Luis Toomey becomes the 12th man from New Zealand to play in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Duncan Oughton leads the way with eight matches, followed by Jake Gleeson (6), Simon Elliott (4), and Andy Boyens (4). Then there’s a list of blokes who played exactly two games (aka first round exits): Tommy Smith, Dan Keat, Bill Tuiloma, Deklan Wynne, Myer Bevan, and Jay Herdman. With Toomey to follow in a few days. Oughton and Bevan are the only two kiwi goal scorers in the competition’s 60+ year history.
Up Next: Friday at 2pm for the second leg in Mexico (NZT)
Jacqui Hand - FC Basel (Swiss Super League)
A debut in Switzerland for one of the Football Ferns’ most productive forwards. Hand is skipping out on the Ferns games later this month, presumably to prioritise this spell with FC Basel as she tries to make an impression as a mid-season signing. Game one didn’t offer her much of a chance though. At home against GC Zurich, the highlights were all for the away team leading up to their opening goal credited to Ella Ljustina after 50 minutes (though it kinda looked like an own goal for the keeper). Hand played 77 minutes on the right wing, having to do more defending than she would have preferred. All the action happened after she got subbed.
Having kept it close, Basel were able to roll the dice and create some chaos, leading to Mara Tauriello running onto a long ball and touching it past the goalie to equalise on 82’. Sadly, they conceded a penalty five mins later. Looked a harsh call, might have gotten a toe on the ball. GC scored from the spot to take the 2-1 result. Very muddy conditions playing on a natural grass surface at this time of the year. GC are second in the standings so that outcome went as expected. Basel are a little further back in fifth.
Meanwhile, Lara Colpi’s FC Thun had a spectacular result in their first game back after the winter break. They’d had one draw and 11 defeats from the first half of their fixture list... but they’ve started the new year brilliantly after winning 4-2 away against Luzern, thus climbing out of last place and closing the gap above them to four points. Luzern are the team they’ll need to overtake to get out of the relegation zone. This was a must-win game for a team that hadn’t won all season and they won it. Colpi played 84 minutes in midfield (it was 3-2 when she was subbed).
Up Next: FC Zürich vs Basel at 8.30am on Sunday (NZT)
Ben Waine - Port Vale (English League One)
Into the starting eleven again and on the scoresheet... and that’s just the start of it. Ben Waine was in the action from the very beginning, getting dragged down on the edge of the area for a defensive yellow card within five minutes of kickoff. Port Vale then scored direct from that free kick when Ethan Archer curled it top corner. Waine did then have some culpability in Burton equalising as he left his near post assignment without getting to the ball, which was flicked past him and inside the post. But he pounced up the other end from another corner kick scenario to put the Vale back ahead after 29 minutes.
Opponents Burton Albion would level up again shortly into the second half but with a bit more luck perhaps Ben Waine might have scored a second to win it for his team. He got busy on the press at 2-2, turning the ball over and charging forward at a fractured defensive line before unleashing a shot from twenty yards that rattled off the crossbar and away. So close. He was subbed with quarter of an hour left, exhausted after a massive shift. Big praise coming his way from the fanbase. The Waine Train is moving on schedule again.
Port Vale ended up settling for that 2-2 draw. This was a game against a relegation rival where victory would have bitten a chunk out of the nine-point gap between themselves and second-to-last Rotherham in League One (Burton are one further point ahead of Rotherham). It was also a situation where defeat would have massively harmed their chances of survival. They need all the points they can get and they got this one thanks to the efforts of Benjamin Waine so we’ll take that to the bank and see about winning something next week.
Up Next: Port Vale vs Stockport at 8am on Wednesday in the EFL Trophy quarters; then Port Vale vs Bristol City at 4am on Sunday in League One (NZT)
Ben Old - AS Saint-Étienne (French Ligue 2)
There were two very interesting aspects to Philippe Montagnier’s first match in charge of ASSE. The first was that he picked Ben Old at left-back, even giving him ninety minutes. The worry was that it had been such an out-of-the-box decision from the previous gaffer to put him there that another coach would not see the logic. But Oldy had enough games at LB to put build up a reputation so it didn’t have to be a crazy decision. It was actually the status quo by that stage... and it definitely is now that we’ve seen it continue into a second managerial reign. Ideally Old would be starting on the wing and scoring goals but whatever keeps him playing is fine and dandy.
The other interesting aspect is that they won. 1-0 against Montpellier HSC. Desperately needed win after the slump that saw Eirik Horneland sacked, getting their promotion quest back on track. ASSE dominated the game but some awful shooting (low confidence getting in the way) meant that it wasn’t until a sweet close-range volley from Julien Le Cardinal with fifteen to go that they finally claimed a deserved lead. Oldy and his defensive bros then made sure that one goal was enough by preserving a clean sheet. Every other team in the top six dropped points except for St-Étienne so they’re now only four points off top again (and two points from automatic promotion). Let the Ben Old LB era continue.
Up Next: Guingamp vs ASSE at 8am Sunday (NZT)
Suya Haering - Carl Zeiss Jena (German Bundesliga)
Carl Zeiss Jena had to postpone their first game after the winter break, same as their men’s team had to postpone a couple of lower league games themselves. In order to clear their home pitch so that it’s playable for the next few weeks, the club put out a call to supporters to volunteer on the shovels which led to them bringing around fifty folks into the stadium to lend a hand. Sounds like they got the job done. Fortunately their game against Union Berlin this week was an away fixture and the weather was fine over those ways, allowing them to serve up a wicked performance in a 2-1 victory.
Union Berlin hit the crossbar midway through the first stanza to spark a period of pressure which somehow Jena managed to scrape their way through for a 0-0 half-time scoreline. Then things got really funky when a bad pass from the UB keeper turned the ball over in the area, leading to Suya Haering whipping a snapshot off the crossbar herself. Never really looked like it would dip in time after she struck it off-balance... but it was an encouraging move, a boost to the team’s belief, and what do you know a bit of back and forth between Haering and Melina Reuter soon had CZJ leading 1-0...
That’s Haering’s first assist in the Bundesliga. She’s been stuck on some very bad teams these past two years – it was only in mid-December that she finally won her first game in the division (in her 22nd match). That was also her first start for Jena following nine substitute cameos. They won 1-0 against Köln that day. Now in her third start they’ve beaten Union Berlin 2-1, because even though UB did equalise five minutes after Reuter’s goal (a long free kick, probably meant as a cross, that bounced and skipped into the net), a mistake at the back in the fourth minute of added time allowed Olivia Alcaide to sneak past defender and goalkeeper and knock the ball into an empty net for the win. Haering played the full thing at left wing-back. She was still running up that line as Jena pushed for that last goal.
So just to clarify here... Jena had won 0/12 games with Suya Haering outside of the starting line-up. They brought her in at LWB for the two games before the winter break and this one straight afterwards and all of a sudden they’ve won 2/3. They’re now out of last place, above SG Essen on goal difference, and only one further point from climbing out of the relegation zone (with two games in hand on Hamburger SV). Neither of those wins came against those two other relegation rivals (they drew against both of them earlier in the campaign) so they’ll get to play them each again before the season is done. All it took to turn their fortunes around was a 20yo New Zealander on the wing.
Up Next: CZJ vs Bayern Munich at 6am Thurs; then CZJ vs Eintracht Frankfurt at 4am Mon (NZT)
Alex Paulsen - Lechia Gdansk (Polish Ekstraklasa)
Couple decent saves in there from AP at the beginning. Didn’t have much to do after that because Lechia’s opponents, Cracovia, got a red card at the end of the first half for undercutting a bloke in the air. Lechia were already ahead 1-0 at that stage and should have scored more. Instead they conceded a penalty for a high boot, Paulsen dove the wrong way, and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after failing to find the net in the half hour that remained despite the man advantage. Cracovia are fifth in the standings so not the worst result. Keeps Lechia’s unbeaten league streak going into a sixth game.
Up Next: Monday at 12.15am, Motor Lublin vs Lechia (NZT)
Blair Currie - KTP (Finnish Ykkönen)
You know what we need more of? Professional female goalkeepers. The Football Ferns have been searching far and wide to find more GK options beneath Anna Leat and Vic Esson, hence it’s fantastic to see Leat’s former U17 World Cup deputy Blair Currie popping up with a contract for the 2026 season at FC Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (better known as KTP) in the second tier of Finland footy. Same country that Gabi Rennie and Jacqui Hand had such impressive starts to their pro careers (albeit in the division above).
Currie is a Christchurch native who had a very strong career over in the United States doing the college thing. Did some semi-pro stuff in between her uni seasons too, down the grades in the USL. After graduating she had a spell with Calder United in Australia... before a tidy stint with Wellington United in the NZ National League. According to her KTP unveiling, she’s also trained/trialled with both Wellington Phoenix and Western United in the past. Now, at 25yo, she’s going pro.
Jari-Pekka Gummerus, Head coach FC KTP: “Blair Currie is a very welcome addition to our team. She is a versatile goalkeeper with experience on international pitches. Even after only a few training sessions, I can say she fits well with our style of play. I think she has a good season ahead of her.”
KTP finished second in the Kansallinen Ykkönen in 2025 to qualify for the promotion playoffs... where they only won 2/10 games to fall way short of going up. The playoffs involve the bottom two teams from the top tier and the top four teams from the second tier. The first tier clubs pretty easily retained their status for 2026, but that’s something to aim for as Currie gets going in her professional career.
Up Next: Still two months before the league begins
Jago Godden - Drogheda United (League of Ireland Premier Division)
Okay, this one’s going to be a little tricky to explain... you’ve probably read about Jago Godden in recent Flying Kiwis yarns after the Christchurch United product moved to the UK late last year and joined English sixth tier club Bedford Town, scoring four goals in his first six matches. He was an instant hit for a club fighting against relegation. A fan favourite from the get-go.
Well, that kind of impact gets your name on transfer watchlists. Godden only played 11 games for Bedford Town before, suddenly, Walsall (League Two/fourth tier) came swooping with an offer that Bedford Town said: “[honoured] the terms of Jago’s contract”. Must have been either a buyout clause or some kind of forced acceptance which Walsall were only too happy to meet. Bedford also mentioned some “relatively modest immediate financial compensation”, so there was definitely a fee even though it won’t have been much – the use of the word “immediate” does hint at the possibility of future add-ons. First things first, let’s offer a bit of pakipaki for Bedford Town because they took a punt on an NZ National League footballer and have helped propel him towards greater things...
“Bedford Town saw something in Jago that others didn’t not long after his arrival in the UK from New Zealand back in November 2025 and under the guidance of our management team he thrived. The platform we provided for him to showcase his talents allowed him the opportunity to be seen by higher league club. After only several months, 11 games and spending the last month training full-time with another EFL club we are delighted Jago has got the move he deserves. As a club, we obviously did not want to lose Jago, and we have spent the last few days attempting to find solutions with both Jago and his agent. However, the opportunity to move higher and seize that chance at 22 years of age proved too great a hurdle for us to overcome.”
Godden has signed an 18-month contract with Walsall with a club option for a further season after that. Sounds like he was already training with them for several weeks prior to the move... but he won’t be joining the Walsall squad straight away. Instead he’s been loaned to Drogheda United in the League of Ireland top division for the duration of 2026. Walsall have the option to recall him and could choose to do that midway through the year when preseason starts, it’ll depend on a few factors (Godden’s form, Walsall’s midfield stocks, etc). Walsall and Drogs have shared ownership within the Trivela Group – who also own Trivela FC in Togo... and Silkeborg IF in Denmark, current home of Callum McCowatt. Random kiwi coincidence there.
Godden will be the fourth player to make use of the Walsall x Drogs connection. Walsall signed Evan Weir from Drogheda in late 2023, loaned him back for a stint, then brought him into the Walsall squad and he’s since played over 50 games for the club. Less successful was Elicha Ahui who was signed from Drogs on the same length contract as Godden has been given, then loaned back only to bust his ACL. Douglas James-Taylor was loaned from Walsall to Drogheda in 2024 but left at the conclusion of his contract to join Bohemians in the LOI. Bit of a mixed bag there.
Anyway, this means that for the duration of 2026 (barring a recall), Godden will be adding to the NZers in the League of Ireland – a division where quite a few kiwis have had success lately. One of those, Max Mata, has returned to play for St Patrick’s Athletic. Norman Garbett is also with Dundalk after they were promoted back up. Should be a great opportunity for JG to build up his reputation further. The level isn’t that much higher than where he was with Bedford Town but it’s much more accessible and with a decent recent history of being able to propel players into quality transfers. Godden’s already got his transfer to Walsall... he’s just gotta prove that he’s worthy of it. With Drogheda and Walsall sharing many scouting resources, they’ll be able to keep a very close eye on him.
This is almost like a trial. Speaking of which, when Godden first left Christchurch United late last year he did so without a set destination. He was intending to get on the trial circuit but the next we heard about him was when he signed with Bedford Town. Thanks to Walsall’s details we can now confirm that he spent time on trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Bolton Wanderers, The New Saints, and Everton U21s... and that’s only “to name a few”.
Drogheda Utd manager Kevin Doherty: “Jago is a player the group have been tracking for some time. We’ve watched him a lot and he is a player I’m really delighted to have. He’s a big, strong, powerful midfielder who is also technically very good. From our many meetings together I was very impressed with his desire to improve and we will do everything to help him achieve that.”
Godden will follow in the footsteps of Lee Jones and Che Bunce as kiwis to have played for Drogheda. If he cracks it at Walsall – who by the way are in the playoff spots of League Two so by the time he links up with them, it’s not impossible they could have been promoted – then he’ll have the legends Mark Paston and Danny Hay alongside him as Walsall alumni. Danny Hay was there for a couple years in between his Leeds United and NZ Knights stints. Two of his teammates during that time: current All Whites coach Darren Bazeley and current Auckland FC coach Steve Corica.
And wouldn’t you know it, the League of Ireland kicked off this past weekend so a few days after signing with the club, Jago Godden was coming off the bench to score a very late winner on debut...
Boom, just like that. Same as how he scored on debut for Bedford Town. Broke open an otherwise scoreless game right as it ticked into stoppages, giving Drogs a 1-0 win away against Galway United. Even the home team commentator was fired up about it (the colour comms man was not, however, you can hear that in the highlights). Perfect way to say kia ora to the new fans.
That was the only kiwi involvement in week one. Norman Garbett’s game for Dundalk got postponed due to a waterlogged pitch while Max Mata, heralded by many in the local media as one of the best signings of the offseason, missed St Patrick’s 0-0 draw away to Bohemians with an unspecified injury. That’s no fun. Here’s a video of him settling in a few weeks ago...
Up Next: Drogheda vs Waterford at Saturday at 8.45am (NZT)
Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)
The streak continues with a 3-0 win for Internazionale against Fiorentina. That’s now ten wins in a row in all competitions – from the moment they were knocked out of the Europa Cup they’ve regained their mojo. Second on the ladder, five points behind leaders Roma (who also won this week). Lina Magull (43’), Haley Bugeja (62’), and Elisa Polli (77’) scored the goals against Fiorentina while they also had one taken away by VAR early on and they missed a penalty near the end. Comprehensive. Full game for Bowen who was basically flawless on the way to another clean sheet. Sweet as.
Up Next: Parma vs Inter Milano at 12.30am on Monday (NZT)
Michaela Foster – Durham FC (English Super League 2)
After a desperately needed win against Portsmouth last week, their first WSL2 win since October, Durham have scraped out another decent result. They certainly weren’t flash against title-challenging Birmingham. (Mickey Foster got lucky that a stray pass of hers wasn’t punished in the first half) but they managed to stay within range throughout, only conceding once to a 58th min header from Wilma Leidhammar off a corner. Then, in the eight minute of added time, Lucy Watson curled in a free kick from out wide which floated into the top corner. Should have been Foster but so it goes. The back three/wing-back formation that they’ve adapted into lately seems to be getting it done... even if it has been frustrating for Hannah Blake who now no longer has her preferred right wing spot to compete for. She was an unused substitute in this match. A 1-1 draw against the second-placed team is quality work from Durham though.
In other news, Sunderland vs Sheffield United got postponed because of another one of those pesky waterlogged pitches so no Katie Kitching (who had been named to start). Ipswich Town had a much-needed win against Portsmouth (which also helps Durham out) but again there was no sign of Grace Neville – they made a bunch of January signings to try and avoid the drop, however we’re into February now so the Neviller’s probably just injured. She did have a few games off the bench before that though. Also missed out on the latest Ferns squad. It’s a question mark for now. Also Indi Riley’s Crystal Palace won 2-1 against Bristol City... but she wasn’t subbed on until the 89th minute. So it was a murky week for all of the WSL2 crew except for the Foz.
Up Next: Charlton vs Durham at 1am on Monday (NZT)
Abby Erceg - Deportivo Toluca (Mexican Liga MX)
Last week’s goal-scoring heroics got Abby Erceg named in the Liga MX Team of the Week, no surprises there. Then came a much more run-of-the-mill result as Toluca won 4-0 against San Luis. Erceg got an early yellow for a foul that prevented a striker running through (she argued she won the ball, hard to tell) and otherwise kept it steady. San Luis had a couple of nice moments and it was only 1-0 at HT but Toluca’s superior firepower came through eventually, even if the game itself was closer than the scoreline suggests with two of those goals were scored very late.
Erceg was subbed with about ten to go... in three appearances this season, she’s lasted 45 minutes, 62 minutes, and 79 minutes. They’ve managed to ease her in pretty quickly after injury. Toluca have six wins and a loss from their seven Clausura games, looking like they could finally be ready for a title challenge.
Up Next: Toluca vs Pachuca at 1pm on Tues (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)
The winter break was supposed to help Silkeborg refresh and reset. They managed to retain the sought-after Callum McCowatt and Tonni Adamsen in the January window and returned with intentions to climb up the ladder, maybe even give the top six a crack. Instead they lost 1-0 to Viborg in their first game back and it seems the same problems remain. McCowatt had one great chance to score, bursting between two defenders but dragging his shot. The Viborg keeper also made a tremendous double save in the dying moments to preserve the result. No sign of Dalton Wilkins now that he’s back at Sønderjyske either... he’s back from loan but there wasn’t room for him on the bench (only so many fullbacks you can carry, right?). Sonders and Silkeborg play each other next week.
Up Next: Sønderjyske vs SIF at 7am Tuedsay (NZT)
Moses Dyer - Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodian Premier League)
Moses Dyer has scored in 12 of 22 matches that he’s played for PPC (for 17 goals overall) so for him to have gone two in a row without finding the net prior to this week was something odd. The only other time he’s had consecutive league games without scoring for this club was in his first two matches. They still won those previous couple, bouncing back after that defeat to Svay Rieng a few weeks back, but they were having difficulty against Nagaworld trailing by a goal with just over twenty minutes to go... which was Dyer’s cue to equalise with that smartly diverted touch.
Fast-forward to the last thirty seconds of a nine-minute chunk of stoppage time and he was gassing it through the middle on the break as PPC had one last attempt at finding a winning goal with their opponents having been reduced to ten men late in the match. The ball never came Dyer’s way. It never needed to because Maksym Pryadun did the business instead. 2-1 to PPC who remain level with Svay Rieng for first place, behind only on goal difference. Myer Bevan’s Boueng Ket are third, although they only drew 0-0 with Visakha this round.
Up Next: Cambodian Tiger vs PPC at 0:00 on Sunday (NZT)
Dane Ingham - Sabah FC (Malaysian Super League)
Cross or shot? Looks like he should be lining up a cross from where he was but then there was also nobody in position in the middle for the first-time ball. Let’s leave it up to interpretation. This goal came in a 2-0 Challenge Cup win against PDRM – the Challenge Cup is like a bowl situation for the clubs that were knocked out of the main cup early. This was the quarter-final, although there’s still a second leg to navigate before they can start thinking of silverware. Good win for Sabah who haven’t been having such a happy season. They’re third-to-last in the Super League with only 3 wins from 14 matches. This was Ingham’s second goal for the club in 23 matches.
Up Next: PDRM vs Sabah at 2am on Monday (NZT)
Andre De Jong - Orlando Pirates (South African Premiership)
After a couple substitute appearances in the league, a Nedbank Cup tie against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila away made for an ideal spot to give Andre De Jong his starting debut. That they did... and they also gave him a penalty to convert for his first goal at the club. Got the lads up and running on the way to a 4-1 win.
Handy to get goal number one out of the way with in a hurry, especially since he’d only scored three goals in 22 matches for Stellenbosch prior to this transfer. And, man, check him out in the cellies with the lads. There’s more to that footage where they’re all running up individually and hugging him and patting him on the back. He’s only been there about five weeks but he already seems like everyone’s favourite teammate. Great to see that kind of camaraderie.
Up Next: Orlando vs Marumo Gallants at 2.30am on Sunday (NZT)
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