One of the worst kept secrets in kiwi footy was finally brought into the natural light on Friday night as Liberato Cacace’s transfer from the Wellington Phoenix to Belgian top flight side Sint-Truiden was confirmed by both clubs.
It didn’t end the way we’d envisaged it. Out in the first game of the finals after such a fantastic season. But we’ve still got a record third placing to fall back upon, still got a new coach in it for the long haul, still got a young and consistent squad that’ll be fired up for redemption next time around.
We begin this week with a real doozy as arguably the first choice All Whites centreback partnership went head to head on opposite sides in Major League Soccer.
This team was so much better than these last few weeks. But we can’t say the writing wasn’t on the wall with the finishing in front of goal and in the end that one critical weakness caught them short. So it goes.
Wellington Phoenix versus Perth Glory, 7pm on Saturday in the first A-League Elimination Final. That’s the proposition after Melbourne City beat Western United 3-1 in the final game of the regular season to ensure that the Phoenix finished third.
Welcome to the MLS Is Back Tournament grand final, it’s Portland Timbers versus Orlando City and Bill Tuiloma, as has been the case through all the knockouts, is amongst the substitutes on the bench.
Right. Okay then. There have been some odd Wellington Phoenix games this season but that was the oddest, not sure it’s even close.
Yooo.... don’t panic. It’s only a loan deal, Singh popping up at FC Nürnberg in the second division in Germany for the upcoming season, just one more step up the ladder of success.
You know how politicians do that concession speech thing when the final results of an election aren’t in yet but it’s become obvious that they’ve lost so they say a few words to keep it all respectful? This isn’t quite that but a 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar means that second place is probably Melbourne City’s now.
14 Premier League goals is amazing, that’s the same amount as Gabriel Jesus and tied for 13th in the division. More goals than Richarlison, Kevin De Bruyne, Son Heung-Min, Alexandre Lacazette or Roberto Firmino.
On paper it should have been close but barely four minutes in Michael Boxall was already charging out of the defensive line. He nearly threaded a brilliant ball through the defence but it was blocked, he then got on the loose ball again and charged into the box where his attempted shot was closed down by the rushing keeper.
Fair play to a Western Sydney team who played very well in frustrating the Nix but usually the Phoenix can play their way around trouble and here they just... didn’t.
It was a ding dong battle, as the rugby-folk say, when Portland and LAFC met in the final round of the MLS Is Back Tournament group stages. Portland were already through but needed to avoid defeat to get the top seeding in the group and as such avoid playing local rivals Seattle Sounders in the knockouts.
These post-pando restart projects are pretty ruthless for the players involved. Let’s not kid ourselves, the competitive nature of pro sportsfolk is one thing but it’s the financial incentives/threats which are demanding these leagues find a television-friendly conclusion.
The game against Sydney FC was basically a freebie. The two best teams facing off but without any decent stakes to the contest. For Welly Nix Title Quest purposes the proper resumption was this Perth game.
Down by a goal, into stoppage time. Burnley pressing to salvage something from the match to keep their hopes of European football alive. In those desperate last moments you turn towards your most trusted players and in this case, needing a goal, that means your top scoring striker.
For about seventy-five minutes that was an incredible, enthralling, enjoyable, and encouraging performance from the Nixies... and then it got very weird very quickly. From a 1-0 lead against the top side looking every bit worth the advantage to losing 3-1 and not entirely understanding how it happened.
Put simply we’ll never get a better chance to do well at a World Cup. Hence the pressure begins immediately to ensure we’ve got the best possible team out there to make it happen.
It looks like a relatively routine one, right? The Woodsman playing off the bench again in his second game back, coming on a bit earlier this time in the 58th minute as Burnley did what needed doing in beating West Ham 1-0.
The point’s been made plenty over the last week or two but the next few years are going to be incredible for women’s sport in Aotearoa. The Cricket World Cup and the Rugby World Cup are both coming here in 2021... then the Football World Cup co-hosted with Australia in 2023.