Flying Kiwis – March 21
Chris Wood – Leeds United (English Championship)
Here we are, a couple months from the end of the season and Leeds are well established in those playoff spots. Might even have an outside shot at the automatic spots if they can really reel off some wins from here on out. First step there was getting by a very tough Brighton team at Elland Road. Brighton are up there with Newcastle looking like booking Premier League football with a few weeks to spare and they beat them 2-0 last time they played (making them a team Woody’s yet to score past this season). All set for a tense game then.
Which is exactly what we got. Very slow early on, each side looking to get themselves set without taking too many risks. Lots of passes around the back, quite a few long ones down the line. Wood got up competing for a few but didn’t see much ball at his feet to begin with. It’d be 25 minutes before he had anything to do near goal but it was a golden chance that fell to him. Circling around into space he got his foot to a cross right down the middle of the goal, on the full, but it got to him a bit too quick and shot off his shin.
In the 32nd minute, Leeds almost fell behind as Liam Cooper’s clearance flipped back and into Rob Green who was well-positioned to save an embarrassing goal from happening. Good ol’ Greenie, he’d sign a contract extension later in the week to keep him around for next season. Wherever they’ll be. Roughly a minute later Woody got a shove in the side in the box and he wanted a spottie for it. No dice from the ref, woulda been a soft one. Still drew boos from the crowd though.
The first half ended with Wood required at the back with a couple defensive headers. Brighton couldn’t get a decent shot out of any of it but they applied plenty of pressure from set pieces in those closing mins, though in a rare late foray forward a stray shot nearly fell to Wood in space. 0-0 at the break.
Then things slowed down. Half-time took the spice outta things and it’d take a few moments to get the pace back up again. Once it got there though, the game really started to get stretched, good fun. Wood got loose at the far post when two defenders got mixed up and let a cross sneak between them. His shot, opportunistically, went straight at the keeper.
But it was only a brief reprieve for Brighton as only a few ticks later Charlie Taylor looped in a cross from the left and up jumped Wood for the beating of Lewis Dunk with a header back across goal into the opposite top corner. Great header, crucial goal.
BBC Sport: “The first shot on target in the match came after 55 minutes, but soon after Leeds had the lead thanks to a textbook goal from the New Zealand international, who has now scored against 18 teams in the second tier this season.”
You wanna play it smart after taking the lead like that against a strong team but Leeds made a couple silly mix-ups at the back which they were damn lucky Glenn Murray didn’t punish them for. The first he was through on goal effectively but dragged it and the second he was on about the penalty spot when it fell for him, in a crowd, and his first touch was poor enough that he could only drive it at the goalie. Rob Green made a couple huge interventions around this time. Earning that contract for sure (it was a triggered extension but still).
Then Leeds killed it off. Souleymane Doukara cut inside towards the box and Fikayo Tomori (making his starting debut at right back) made a super sloppy challenge which led to the referee's whistle sounding loudly. Chris Wood smashed it down the middle from the penalty spot for his second goal and 2-0 was the way it ended. Magnifico, that’s probably the best win of the season for the Whites.
Mirror: “Leeds’s position in the top six is owed much to the goals of striker Chris Wood. The New Zealander has now scored 24 of United’s 52 goals in the league and he has scored in 20 Championship matches this season. If Leeds are to make a long-awaited return to the Premier League, he is the one player Leeds cannot do without.
Fellow striker Doukara with just five goals is the club’s second leading scorer in the league, but it’s not just his goals that make Wood so vital to this team. Almost every attack will involve the striker and his hold up play and presence offers the perfect out ball for the defence. Immediately, Brighton had three players around him the first time the ball went up to him and he still kept hold of the ball.
He took it in turns moving between centre backs Dunk and Hunemeier and both were unable to cope with his strength. His two goals again secured a hard-earned victory and should anything happen to the striker between now and May, one would fear for Leeds.”
YEP Player Ratings: “Chris Wood - Allowed a couple of chances to slip through his fingers but his header was deadly and you knew he’d stick the penalty away. Three goals short of from 30 now. 8/10”
Yorkshire Post: “Wood’s movement was too smart for one of the division’s best defenders in Lewis Dunk and his majestic looping header was too much for one of the Championship’s top goalkeepers in David Stockdale. It was a goal fit to win any game. In a contest of several subplots, Wood also had the measure of another divisional big-hitter in Glenn Murray and while Brighton’s main forward spurned chances at major moments, his Leeds rival took two of his.”
Liam Cooper, LUFC: “We have always got a chance with Chris. We know that and if Chris gets a chance, he is usually going to take it and for a team to have that confidence in him is unbelievable.”
Noel Whelan to BBC Sport: ““Chris Wood has done exceptionally well this evening, holding the ball up and winning headers. For Chris Wood's first, it was about the accuracy of the header - and his confidence. He just looks the complete centre forward right now - his movement, his chasing, his positioning. He's on track for 30 goals in a season, which is phenomenal. He must think he's the best striker in the world, in his head - and I wouldn't argue with him! He oozes confidence - Brighton's centre halves will know they've been in a game today.”
Ooh look Football365 had him fifth on their Top Ten Players in the Championship list:
"Robert Earnshaw. Jordan Rhodes. Ross McCormack. Danny Graham. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Nathan Ellington. Cameron Jerome. David Nugent. This is the unfortunate band of brothers – the strikers who are good enough to thrive in the second tier but not talented enough to even survive in the top flight.
Until this season, Chris Wood would have justified inclusion in that list. Yet his goalscoring record at Leeds has been so impressive that a Premier League club may well be tempted into testing the theory this summer, should Leeds not gain promotion. He is the current top scorer in the division.
Wood is also somehow only 25, despite playing his first Premier League game in April 2009. He has had loan spells at six different Football League clubs, but finally found a happy home at Leeds. 35 goals in 70 league games have followed. Is this the start of a new norm, or a brief purple patch?”
Okay now after all that are you ready for this? Are you sure? All comfy and prepared, got a drink in your hand, all good to go? Alright, alright, alright... here we go...
OH YES, TEAM OF THE SEASON! GET IN, SON!!!
Up Next: Reading vs Leeds, 4.30am Sunday April 2 (NZT)
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
The news ain’t good as you’ve probably already heard. Winston Reid went off early in West Ham’s match against that resurgent Leicester City side and little time was wasted in removing him from the upcoming All Whites squad. Pretty stink but by the looks of him limping off you can’t hardly complain, you’d imagine that one extra centre back won’t be the definitive difference between New Zealand and Fiji… although you never really know.
Winston wasn’t the only bloke removed injured either. Monty Patterson has also been struggling a little and it’s been determined a flight around half the planet isn’t the best for a sore hamstring so he’s been removed. Unlike Reid, who wasn’t replaced in the squad since they picked like 20 defenders in the first place, Patterson has been subbed out… for Alex Rufer. It’s late notice so maybe that affected which internationally based dudes were available (the team is already in camp, btw) but selecting a guy who’s only sporadically playing for the Phoenix reserves lately is slightly odd, what with the Nix alone offering a couple more regular alternatives. Chris Wood will captain the side.
Back to the West Ham game, it’d be reassuring to say that West Ham were going alright up until Winnie limped outta there but that’d be a lie. In fact despite only lasting
First off Riyad Mahrez scored with a wicked cross from out wide on the right which whipped up over Winston as he leapt to clear it and snuck inside the far post. Not even five minutes in, Winnie was furious too, throwing his arms about and stomping around. Gotta put that one down on the goalkeeper who shoulda done better. Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Marc Albrighton stabbed a ball in to Robert Huth after some slick set piece movement and Cheikh Kouyate’s marking was about as sloppy as West Ham’s stadium change. Huth nodded it down for 2-0 and Winston probably couldn’t hardly wait to get out of there.
Manny Lanzini kept things exciting though. He slammed in a lovely free kick, shades of Dimitri Payet darewesay. That made it 2-1 but by the time the half rolled to a close it was 3-1 again, Jamie Vardy scoring from a scramble off a Leicester corner. Don’t clear the ball and that’s what happens. Andre Ayew pulled another one back after the hour with a powerful header and then the Hammers really went for it. Yet despite a few golden chances, in particular a couple to Andy Carroll, somewhere near the intersection of poor finishing and stunning goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel was where West Ham ended up, going down 3-2 in a real slugger.
Slaven Bilic: “It is very frustrating for us to lose the game. We didn't start well and what is really disappointing is the way we conceded three goals. In this league you can't afford to be 3-1 down and try to turn the game around. But they showed character. Last 20 minutes the ball just didn't want to go in. You can call it poor finishing but we have to give huge credit to Kasper Schmeichel, especially for the save to the last chance from Andy Carroll.”
BBC Sport: “It was their defence's appalling lack of concentration in the first 15 minutes that essentially decided the outcome of the game, given that the hosts were the better side after the break as Michail Antonio, Ayew and Carroll menaced the Leicester back four. In that trio, together with the excellent free-kick abilities of Lanzini, the Hammers have the attacking talent to test most teams and soften the blow of losing Dimitri Payet to Marseille. Yet January signing Jose Fonte has added no stability to a defence that has now conceded 27 league goals at home this season - only Swansea have leaked more with 30 - while fellow centre-back Winston Reid limped off with a leg injury after just 18 minutes.”
ESPN FC Player Ratings: “Winston Reid, 4 -- Had to go off after only 18 minutes so had no time to redeem himself for the catastrophic opening seven minutes.”
So much for this, aye?
And this week in Winston’s Movie Corner, it’s the new West Ham film ‘Iron Men’, all about their last season at Upton Park. Winston scored in the last game there, remember? Late winner against Man United? Yeah, them were the days…
Up Next: Away to Hull City on Sunday April 2, 2.00am (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
The good news is that Town’s ridiculous six game streak of draws is finally over but the bad news is that they lost and now a much longer streak might be in doubt – the 60 straight years that Ipswich have been in the top two flights of English football. They lost 3-1 to Cardiff and that leaves them only five points clear of the relegation zone. They’ve won 14 of a possible 42 point since the start of 2017. Yikes.
Smithy started again as Town lined up in a back three of himself along with Christophe Berra and Luke Chambers. And it was Chambers who gave them the lead away to Cardiff in Wales with a decent header, 23 minutes in. Playing with wing-backs in there, Ipswich left a bit too much space in behind them for Kadeem Harris to run into and he was causing issues all game. Chambers had to be on his toes to block Kenneth Zohore but the Dane got revenge in the 36th min. Quick free kick, nodded back across goal from Sean Morrison and Zohore’s volley was magnificent.
Then Smith got subbed off at the break. Being the new guy in this formation, he was the expendable one with McCarthy choosing to return to four at the back to shut up the holes out wide. On came Brett Pitman while Smithy had an extra 45 minutes to pack his luggage for the trip to NZ.
Mick McCarthy on why he made the HT change: “Because it wasn’t working what we were doing [with wing-backs]. I think our back three defenders were being occupied by one striker, but it didn’t work the other way around either. I don’t think it was down to the system change though. To think we can’t play a back four is ridiculous.”
Problem was it didn’t work. Cardiff still bossed their way down the flanks and Zohore was too hot to handle. Kenny Z made it 2-1 only five minutes after the restart and then Harris set up Joe Bennett for 3-1 in the 63rd. It’s getting a little ugly there.
EADT: “Tommy Smith returned to the team, for his second start post back surgery, and looked remarkably composed on the left side of a back three in the first half – a role he has played a lot for New Zealand. The 26-year-old’s desire to pass the ball out the back was at the heart of Town’s best spell of the game midway through the first half. He may still be building his fitness, but it seemed harsh that he was the one sacrificed when Mick McCarthy switched to a 4-4-2 system at the break.”
Up Next: Ipswich vs Birmingham at 2.00am on Sunday April 2 (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
With that international break striking now as it does, a win before the two weeks off (not for Thommo, to be fair) sounds like a good idea. So full credit to the boys they did just that. 3-1 over Go Ahead Eagles on the road, not at all bad. The Eagles are bottom of the table so it was always winnable but the season that Zwolle’s had doesn’t necessarily translate to winning the winnable.
No goals for Thomas from the three. The PECers actually went behind early on when Pedro Chirivella popped up at the back post in the third minute (assist to the beautifully named Elvis Manu) yet that lead didn’t even last two minutes before Queensy Menig made the most of some flat-footed defence to equalise. The 1-1 score-line would last for most of the game with both teams pushing for thee points. Ryan Thomas had four shots and all four of them were off target. Eventually though, one guy was able to break the shackles and it was Zwolle’s Django Warmerdam in the 83rd minute. Five mins later a penalty converted by Bram van Polen sealed the points for Zwolle as time ticked down. Penalty won by some bloke called Thomas.
Thomas played the entire match, once again in the hole behind the striker and looking fairly sharp (aside from his shooting). Actually, his passing was a little off as well but he got involved, winning four fouls and doing a lot of good work off the ball. Plus he won a penalty. Gotta imagine he’s looking at a starting role with the All Whites this weekend.
Up Next: Saturday April 2, 4.30am at home to Excelsior (NZT)
Jeremy Brockie & Michael Boxall – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)
It was a cup week in South Africa. Brox & Box not only had a Nedbank Cup game to play but also the second leg of their Confederation Cup leg. Both of them went pretty well to take the side into the international break on a high.
SSU won the Nedbank Cup last season. They could still win it again this season because they’re through to the top 16 after narrowly getting by Royal Eagles with a 2-1 win midweek. They got ahead nice and early, the 11th minute, when Jeremy Brockie slipped Thabo Mnyamane through to score. Clever stuff but before half an hour had been played the Eagles were level again thanks to a sumptuous team goal topped off by Mzwandile Dlamini. But a dominant second half eventually got them that winner they wanted. Guess who scored it?
Kickoff.com: “SuperSport's pressure eventually paid off when Onismor Bhasera placed an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Brockie, unmarked in the area, and the striker had an easy finish to put his side 2-1 up.”
Mike Boxall played the full game as well, if you were wondering. Also they’re away to KwaDukuza United in the R16 of the Cup.
As for the continental stuff, a 3-2 loss in the first leg had set them back but with a much stronger side expected to be played in the home game and with two away goals in their back pocket there were reasons for optimism. Turns out there was no reason to worry at all against Al-Ahly Shendy. Tefu Mashamaite scored first and an own goal later meant a 2-0 lead at HT and a 4-3 lead on aggregate. Very handy there, SSU might have dodged an early scare in front of goal but over the 90 minutes they were easily the better team. Kingston Nkhatha added another goal immediately after the break and substitute Aubrey Modiba made it 4-0 on the night. Jeremy Brockie setting up that fourth banger. Through to the next round.
Up Next: SSU vs Baroka @ 1.00am on April 17 (NZT)
Jake Gleeson – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
If you’ve ever wondered what an actual field sobriety test looks like in America, one that isn’t from some telly show or movie, today’s your lucky day. Apologies to Mr Gleeson for including this but it’s kinda interesting… and a little funny as well.
Wait ‘til he says start, bro!
Speaking of starting though, Jakey Boy’s footy couldn’t have hardly started better with that big 1-0 win, including one clean sheet, over Los Angeles Galaxy last week – a win and clean sheet held firm by that late save Gleeson made. It sure was a stunner and the fans agreed too as it was easily voted the MLS Save of the Week for Week 2!
MLS.com: “Many talking points came out of the Portland Timbers' 1-0 road win over the LA Galaxy on Sunday, and Jake Gleeson's performance may have gone under the radar. But the goalkeeper had a massive role to play in preserving the shutout, and win, with a late stoppage-time save on Jose Villarreal. That block has also garnered him personal recognition, as it was voted MLS Save of the Week for Week 2 of the 2017 MLS season.
Gleeson was the overwhelming choice this week, garnering 62 percent of the vote. Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando garnered 14 percent, the Colorado Rapids' Tim Howard notched 11 percent, Philadelphia Union GK Andre Blake had nine percent, and Vancouver Whitecaps substitute Paolo Tornaghi grabbed three percent of the vote.”
And the perfect start has continued with a 4-2 win at home over the Houston Dynamo. The game itself wasn’t exactly perfect, but three wins outta three sure is. Missing a couple key defenders, Gleeson was short some cover though they got a break down the other end when DaMarcus Beasley was whistled up for a handball… which was a little dubious – he flippin’ smashed it at him. Still, penalty kick awarded and Diego Valeri slotted it.
But come half-time they were down 2-1. First it was Diego Chara with a handball/spottie of his own that allowed Erick Torres to beat Gleeson, even though he dove the right way, for 1-1 and into stoppage time Romell Quito polished off a sharp counter attack to give Houston, also entering this game unbeaten, the lead at the break. Nothing Gleeson could do there when nobody marks the far post. Made a couple nice saves earlier though.
But the Timbers have been scoring goals for fun to start this season. They’ve got ten in three games now and they got to that number thanks to Diego Valeri’s perfect little header and David Guzman added another for the lead soon after. Just to milk a great second half performance they added a fourth in the 88th minute through Fanendo Adi. It’s all in the highlight package.
Aaaand here he is chatting in front of some telly cameras.
Up Next: Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers, 12.30am Sunday (NZT)