Last week it was Marko Stamenic, this week Victoria Esson partook in a massive Champions League game. It was Rangers against Benfica in the first leg of their final qualifying round tie – seeking a place in the top-16 group stage in the club’s first ever European excursion
All four games in round two saw federation teams up against Auckland club teams. Always tough to know what to expect at this stage of the season so this was a curious week for the hybrid format.
Well, that’s not how it was supposed to go down. The All Whites drew an impressive crowd of just a shade under 35k to Eden Park but weren’t able to turn that into a rare victory against the Socceroos
Danny Hay’s made it clear in recent weeks that he wants this All Whites team playing as often as possible and he isn’t at all chuffed about them likely skipping out on the next few windows. Chris Wood was emphatic in saying that Australia vs Aotearoa should be a footballing fixture at least every four years
A little over two years ago, Marko Stamenic was playing for Western Suburbs in what’s now the Central League. On Thursday morning NZT he lined up for FC København in a Champions League game against Sevilla
Aaaand we’re back, a new season of National League footy
Talk about timing. To be playing the Socceroos again after so many years and they happen to be the first games since the All Whites failed to make the World Cup thanks to that brutal and controversial 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica
With the Kate Sheppard and Chatham Cups in the bag, attention always turns immediately towards summer football. Those finals are the conclusion of the winter club season. Next comes the Premiership. Or the South-Central Series. Or the National League.
Through five Serie A games and a Coppa Italia match, Libby Cacace did not get a single second of action. Unused sub duties in the lot of them with Italy U21 left back Fabiano Parisi picking an annoying time to find the best form of his career so far
Kiwi Cup Final Day is a uniquely entertaining occasion. On the one hand we’re talking about the culmination of the winter club season with two prestigious trophies on the line and some of the best domestic players in going around
Would ya believe it... that’s exactly what the Football Ferns did. Not once but twice. A 1-0 win over Mexico and a 2-1 win against The Philippines. Were they stellar performances? No they were not. Were they at full strength? Not even close.
Brother Bill, folks. Up there again for his sixth goal of the MLS season (not to mention the one he scored in preseason or the several he’s scored for the All Whites in the last 12 months).
Alas, the Aussie Cup run has come to an end. A 2-0 loss to Macarthur means that the Wellington Phoenix exit the competition at the quarter-final stage and focus now shifts full time towards the start of the A-League in six weeks time
Chris Wood came into this season as a backup striker for Newcastle United with no illusions, just a determination to train hard, be a good teammate, and take his chances whenever they come around. Nothing screams ‘my turn’ for backup players in England more than a midweek early-round EFL Cup tie
Surprise: the Football Ferns are playing games in the September transfer window. They’ve had a match booked in for October against Japan going all the way back to June but these two upcoming games against Mexico and the Philippines…
It’s a Champions League kinda week for Flying Kiwis. Having gone deep on Europa Conference League qualifiers these past few editions, today the headliners are straight out of the UCL qualifiers – both men’s and especially women’s
The Wellington Phoenix had only ever won one game in the Australia Cup (formerly known as the FFA Cup) prior to last season. Then they went all the way to the semi-finals and now back to back wins have them one game away from matching that feat this season
This Under-20s squad went to their World Cup in Costa Rica with ambitious intentions. A group built largely around last season’s Wellington Phoenix squad, helmed again by Gemma Lewis, meant that those hopes were more than justified
Had to wait awhile for this moment but it’s finally arrived: Marco Rojas has made his debut for Chilean powerhouse club Colo-Colo. Or Marco Rojas Walen to be more accurate. He’s going with the double last name on his #10 jersey now that he’s in the fatherland
There was a pleasant surprise last week as Empoli announced their squad numbers for the new season and Libby Cacace was given a sneaky elevation. Having worn the number 21 for his first six months at the club, he’ll now be wearing the 3 jersey