Flying Kiwis – May 17
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
Seasons are ending the Flying Kiwis roster is slimming for the European summer but not before Winston Reid could perform his encore to the stunning winner against Manchester United last week. Against Stoke City, he couldn’t quite repeat the dose but he still got up to assist the Hammers’ opening goal. Slightly scrappy stuff but a quality bit of thinking all the same, setting up Michail Antonio for the lead:
That was 23 minutes in and it had West Ham in a fantastic position to close out their season. Unfortunately Giannelli Imbula went and blasted on in ten minutes after HT and then that bugger Charlie Adam whipped in a lovely corner that Mame Biram Diouf sent into the net for a 2-1 win. West Ham came literally about an inch from going back in front after the equaliser but Glenn Whelan managed to hack Cheikhou Kouyate’s shot off the line and the cameras proved it never crossed it. Diafra Sakho missed a great chance too and when Diouf’s goal went in after 88 minutes, the Hammers could only really blame themselves for wasted chances.
Problem is they now finish seventh and that in itself may not be enough for European footy. They now need to hope that their old rivals from last week Manchester United win the FA Cup or else it’ll be domestic terminals only for the Hammers after being in the Champions League race a few weeks ago.
Winston played the full 90 minutes in what was a fairly quiet one defensively for him. Still, he popped up at the other end with a few crucial knockdowns and flick ons. Reid finishes his season having played 30 times in total, 24 of those coming in the Premier League. He scored one goal, had one assist (both coming in the final two games) and picked up five yellows. A few too many games missed with injury for his liking but when he was there he was usually massive. According to All Whites coach Anthony Hudson, Reid is off now to see a specialist about some of those injuries. The Hammers are next in action in pre-season, which takes them to America for an 11 day tour in July before they christen the new Olympic Stadium with a friendly vs Juventus in early August.
And, ah, here he is speaking enthusiastically as usual, this time about Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers. Hey, why not?
Hey and here’s that Boleyn Ground goal once more, just for the hell of it:
Jeremy Brockie & Michael Boxall – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)
Yes, son! All the way to the Nedbank Cup Final, what an effort!
SuperSport United got it done the other day as they beat Baroka 2-0 to advance to the trophy match in South Africa’s top club knockout competition. Both Boxall and Brockie started the game and would play all 90 minutes. After a scoreless half which was slightly shaded by SSU, Bradley Grobler put them up straight after the resumption. Thuso Phala then took advantage of a mistake at the back to double the lead and eight minute after the break it was 2-0. That was the way it stayed though SSU had chances to add to that. Brockie missed one from close range late on but that didn’t tarnish a fantastic game for the former Phoenix striker. This was the first round of the cup that he didn’t score in. He’ll settle for his man of the match instead:
A green jacket by the looks too, very classy. No goals but he set one up and came close several times, curling one past the post. We won’t mention the sitter he missed again either. Mike Boxall celebrated his All Whites call up with the win and a yellow card.
Jeremy Brockie: “We knew they were gonna be tough coming into it, they spoke very confidently before the game, and after their quarter-final win, that was enough motivation to go out there and beat them and put ourselves in the final. The conditions didn’t help, it was swirling around and the ball was skidding on, but the coach calmed us down at half-time and told us to play our natural game and the result will take care of itself, and that’s what we did.”
They’ll meet Orlando Pirates in the final after they overcame Free State Stars 4-2 thanks to a double from Luvuyo Memela. That game’ll be in two weeks time.
That all came after SuperSport could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Mpumalanga Black Aces, the team that SSU beat in the quarters of the Nedbank Cup. Unfortunately the best efforts of both kiwis in their 90 minutes were not enough to sneak a win and now SSU will probably need to beat Orlando in their final league game to finish in the top eight, which would mean qualification for the MTN 8 Cup again next season. Two tough games against Orlando coming up with plenty on the line in each. What say you, Jeremy?
“Excited, I’m happy to draw Orlando Pirates in the final. It will be a great crowd, big atmosphere, and that’s what finals are all about. Then obviously the last game in the league, it’s a cup final as well because we’ve got to beat them to get into the top eight so we’re looking forward to it.”
Up Next: Away to Orlando Pirates in the league, 1.00am Sunday (NZT)
Jake Gleeson – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
The dream starting gig took a reality check last week as Gleeson made an error for one goal and a howler for another in their 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Such is professional football, he had two games this week to make up for that.
First off was a trip to Texas to play FC Dallas. It looked a strong team for Portland and they sure made use of that with a third minute goal giving them a wonderful start. Shocking defending from Dallas, first the skewed clearance and then the keeper not dealing with the remains and allowing Diego Valeri to finish from Lucas Melano’s ball back across. 1-0 bright and early, that’s the way, right?
A shame it didn’t last. Well, actually it did until half time and then two goals in two second half minutes (between mins 56-58) cost them and they lost 2-1. Having been well and truly dominated in their last game Portland came into this one with an idea to hold the ball better and that worked while it worked. And then it stopped and they had big problems. The goals themselves came from a rebound effort off of a deflected shot and a free header to an unguarded post off a corner but Dallas wasted a few other chances to make it more comfortable. Once again, while he couldn’t hold that lead all by himself, their big kiwi keeper was a big reason for Portland’s staying in contention.
Oregon Live: “Dallas could have easily scored again if it were not for Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, who denied FCD on multiple 1v1 situations, finishing the match with four saves. Dallas outshot Portland 17-8 in the game.“
Coach Caleb Porter: "Jake did an outstanding job of keeping us in it."
Told ya so.
Having said that, he did take a knock while making one of those saves, a strong collision with Maxi Urruti with the FCD player through on goal. Luckily he was alright and played again on the weekend but this was cause for worry for a while there:
MLS Soccer.com: “Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson again put in a performance that will be debated -- he made three strong saves to keep the Timbers in the match, but still conceded two goals for the loss. But more notable was Gleeson's collision with former teammate Maxi Urruti midway through the first half. Gleeson eventually played on after being examined by trainers, but he visibly grimaced in pain every time he kicked the ball. With Adam Kwarasey out with a torn ligament in his hand, the Timbers may not want to face a Gleeson absence if he can't bounce back before Sunday.”
And then the Timbers had themselves a glamour duel against New York City FC, you know, the side that drinks from the same waterhole as Manchester City (and Melbourne City to a lesser degree). Jake Gleeson’s All Whites star power is one thing (although he wasn’t in the recent squad, probably because he’s busy building a career here) but NYCFC started a couple of dudes by the names of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo.
And with two losses on the trot, plus a mounting injury list meaning for a change in shape, the Timbers responded really well. They had more ball, they passed it better and they worked more shots off the back of all that. Except that they went into half time 1-0 down after 12 minutes when R.J. Allen’s handball went unnoticed and the dude went and whipped in an incredible low pass from half way in behind the defensive line and right into the path of David Villa. Who scored, one on one. Nothing Jakey Boy could do about that, though his defence… yeah.
The Timbers kept on battling though and finally they got their reward after 55 mins. Fanendo Adi it was, who had earlier caused a few laughs as he ripped the shirt clean off a defender, and he equalised with a slightly scuffed shot but no more than Portland deserved… although he went off injured with a hamstring soon after. Guts.
After Adi went off the Timbers lost a bit of steam. Having seemed to finally get into an assertive position they then slipped off and ten minutes later Pirlo flicked a ball square to Tommy McNamara who went and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Bloody hell. Gleeson’s best save came a couple minutes before the goal as he denied David Villa with a sharp dive and a strong hand.
But Portland lost 2-1. A third loss in a row and one that leaves them one point off bottom of their Western Conference. Hardly ideal for the defending champs.
Could be better, though at least these two were in no way Jakey’s fault. Gleeson is playing pretty well and making good stops but this was the MLS’ best defence last season and he is being tested far too often. Some Timbers fans are pretty keen for JG to take the gloves full time, others not so, but regardless he’s gonna have potentially another month in goal with usual starting GK Adam Kwarasey’s injury deemed worse than first thought.
Oregon Live: “Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey is still recovering from a torn ligament in his finger and won't be back for another four to five weeks.”
Up Next: Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps, 8.30pm Monday (NZT)
Marco Rojas – FC Thun (Swiss Super League)
Rojas was an unused sub this week, watching from the bench as Thun drew 1-1 with Sion at home. Geoffrey Bia gave Sion the lead after capitalising on a defensive blunder after 11 minutes, while Roman Buess missed the chance to level from the penalty spot. But before half time they got on the board through Fulvio Sulmoni and that was the way it stayed despite a fairly lively second half. 1-1 and Thun, with two games to play, cannot finish any higher than their current sixth place. They also cannot be relegated, so that’s cool.
More than you can say about Rojas’ parent club. We have no idea what Thun’s plans are to extend the loan into a third season or maybe make it permanent so right now we have to assume he’s heading back to Stuttgart after this season ends. Once he’s done with international duty, of course. His loan ends after the Swiss season and he has one more year on his deal with Stuttgart. ‘Til now there’s been little indication that there was an avenue for him there but here’s the thing… Stuttgart were relegated this season. Their first relegation in 39 years and they’ve just demoted their manager back to his reserve team duties after he’d briefly done well as a caretaker midseason. But they collapsed after the winter break. The club’s president also resigned.
Up Next: Grasshopper vs Thun, 2.00am Monday (NZT)