Flying Kiwis – June 5
Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)
Jake Gleeson didn’t play, once again on the bench for the Timbers. Billy T, on the other hand, was back in that starting XI for the first time since the middle of April and the fifth time overall, having come off the bench last week. Up against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy (Zlatan was subbed on in the 72nd minute) Tui was picked to start at fullback with regular RB Alvas Powell out injured.
Gotta get in where you fit in. Haven’t seen Tui at fullback since his early days with the All Whites but it’s hardly a new position for the lad. And get him on that park and you can bring that set piece prowess into the mix. For a player who isn’t even that tall, Tuiloma’s been a beast with those attacking headers since arriving in America and in the sixth minute he almost added another goal to the tally with an effort off a corner kick that went wide.
Tuiloma had his share of defending to do but playing out wide he was able to get forward and help create a few things too. Some nice play with Diego Chara helped spark a great opportunity, with LAG keeper David Bingham able to save it while a deflected shot of his own from a Diego Valeri cut-back earned a corner, Billy not really getting the desired connection on the strike.
But while the Timbers might have started promisingly, they also conceded early. Chris Pontius had already hit the post for the visitors in the 11th minute and then he made it count with his next opportunity, nine mins later. Quick touch and shoot on the end of a quality long ball despite Tuiloma being in close attention. But that first touch was accidentally perfect, spinning himself around as Tui slid past him going for the block.
Portland did eventually get a deserved equaliser when Andres Flores was shoved over in the box and Valeri stepped up to level from the spot. Tuiloma continued to contribute going forwards, even if his positioning was pretty sketchy at the other end (understandably) and had two shots on target in the last dozen or so minutes, unable to direct either away from the keeper Bingham who had a bit of a blinder.
Those missed opportunities cost them in the end. Portland’s winning streak came to a halt at six games but a 1-1 draw still keeps them unbeaten since the start of April and they’re a couple games in hand away from getting right up near the top of the Western Conference. Tuiloma was subbed off in the last minute with a dose of cramp emerging.
The Oregonian: “Portland's backline of Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Julio Cascante and Bill Tuiloma was playing its very first game together and it showed. The communication on defense was a major issue in the first half as the Timbers consistently failed to close down space and gave LA way too much time in dangerous spots around goal. The Galaxy took advantage of those openings in the box as they became the first team to take a lead on the Timbers at Providence Park this season with a goal in the 20th minute.”
Great to see Tui able to contribute in a different area. His first four starts were all at centre-back but he was out on the right this time and, just quietly, he might even get a go in defensive midfield soon given that Diego Chara picked up a yellow card suspension in this game and David Guzman is away with Costa Rica for the World Cup. He’s an option, at least. And that’s what he needs to be able to offer in his current role as a bench utility - which is what he is with a full strength Timbers squad. Nothing wrong with that, he’ll get plenty of games that way.
Up Next: US Open Cup action at home to San Jose, Thursday at 2.30pm (NZT)
Ali Riley – FC Rosengård (Swedish Damallsvenskan)
Ali and the Rosies did what needed to be done away to Limhamn Bunkeflo on a Thursday night in Sweden. Despite only four days off from their previous game, they were up within five minutes after a sharp turn from Anja Mittag (following Riley’s cross into the area) earned a penalty and Iva Landeka sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0. Fiona Brown then continued her hot form to have Rosengård up by two in the 25th minute. Despite both teams hitting the post, 2-0 was the way it stayed and Rosengård hit the international break in second place, five point behind Piteå… who they play in their next game. Bound to be a ripper.
That’s another clean sheet for Ali Riley who is one of three players for Rosengård to have played every minute of their seven league games so far. No rest on the horizon though, time to skip on over to Aotearoa for a bit of Footy Ferns now.
Up Next: Piteå vs Rosengård, 8am on Sunday 17 June (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
That is one fine looking captain’s armband there, Mikey. The Loons played Sporting Kansas City this week and it was the first game without Francisco Calvo, who’s off to the World Cup with Costa Rica, which meant the first game that Boxy got to wear that armband. And the extra focus meant a few nice comments coming his way, especially from his coach.
Adrian Heath: “Would you like to play against him every week? The answer would be probably no. Sometimes you don’t like playing against people, who if they know they are getting off a chance, are going to leave something in on you. I think that Boxy still has a little bit of old-school mentality in him.”
Mate, the guy even went far enough as mentioning him for consideration for the MLS All Star Game!
Adrian Heath, again: “(Boxall) hasn’t caught the eye as some people do, and central defenders normally don’t, but I can’t really remember too many mistakes he’s made since he’s been here, and this season I think he’s been terrific.”
That isn’t actually gonna happen, since Boxall wasn’t listed on the ‘media-curated’ shortlist of eight Minnesota United players to be added to the league ballots for public voting. Maybe next year then.
If that was a setback, there was a much bigger one to come in his first game as captain. The Loons got smoked by SKC. This one went sour quickly. Daniel Salloi scored a blinder in the ninth minute and while Tyrone Mears did equalise within two minutes with arguably an even better long-range effort, a quick-fire double had SKC up 3-1 at the break. Wan Kuzian got the first, Boxall one of a few defenders unable to get a touch on the cut-back or the shot, and Cristian Lobato waltzed through a hole in the defence to squeeze the next one in.
Sporting were too good and a late Diego Rubio goal made sure of a 4-1 result. Minny switched things up tactically at the break with a sub and were better for it, but never got that second goal to get them back into it. Maximiniano’s red card with 27 minutes left ended this one as a contest. Boxall had his moments. It was more in the midfield and out wide that they got beaten. But a poor result all the same.
Mike Boxall: “It’s just nowhere near good enough. It’s a lesson for me where there’s some things I need to do more as a leader to get the team, when I know we’re not performing, to the level that we have to be at to make our traveling fans proud of us and we were nowhere near that tonight.”
Up Next: US Open Cup away to FC Cincinnati on Thursday at 11.30am (NZT)
Abby Erceg – North Carolina Courage (American National Women’s Soccer League)
It’s not often that the Courage drop points but they almost lost their first game of the season away against the Houston Dash, but for a late goal from Frannie Crouse that saved them. A giveaway in midfield nearly allowed Rachael Daly to give Houston an early lead and then Kealia Ohai went close attacking from the left. It was still 0-0 at the half but soon afterwards Ohai really did put one away, again running at and past the defence from her side and not even a scrambling Abby Ecreg was able to get a block on her shot after it had slipped past the keeper. Erceg ended up in the net herself. But with ten minutes remaining Krause snatched upon a loose ball in the penalty area and slammed it home for a 1-1 draw.
Up Next: NCC vs Utah, Sunday 17 June at 11am (NZT)
Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)
See that? That’s the Colorado Rapids losing for the seventh time in a row. No Kip Colvey but the other two played full games as Colorado fell 2-1 to a Big Stef-less Vancouver Whitecaps. More of the same for the Rapids, basically. Cristian Techera and Yordy Reyna scored for Vancouver and Edgar Castillo pulled one back but the Rapids, despite a fair few chances, weren’t able to level it up. Good result for the Caps after a run of draws but this is getting ugly for the Rapids.
Anthony Hudson: “When you’re on a run like this, it’s almost like I probably sound like a broken record. I’m sure it’s frustrating to some people and we’re frustrated. We’re disappointed. But at the same time, as disappointed as we are, I feel very calm in knowing that this will turn. We’ve seen enough evidence in these games. But we’re not happy about the situation, of course.”
Tommy Smith: “I don’t know. It’s hard to put your finger on it. That’s the hardest thing in the game to put the ball in the net, but as long as we’re creating the chances, it’s not too disheartening. We would be more worried if we weren’t creating any chances at all. We’ve just got to stick together and keep each other’s morale high. Obviously, it’s tough after losing seven games on the bounce, but we’ve got a few good characters in the group that will hopefully keep everyone in high spirits.”
Up Next: Away to Nashville in the US Open Cup on Thursday at 12.30pm which is a game they might actually win (NZT)
Beth Weller – Charlton Athletic (English Premier League Southern Division)
That right there is kiwi Beth Weller getting some deserved reward for a strong season with the Charlton development side and that’s even more relevant coming after the recent news that Charlton’s first team has been promoted to the English Super League, the top flight where Olivia Chance and Anna Green play, after winning their playoff with Blackburn. Certainly a player to keep a watch on.
Up Next: Quick rest before the new campaign
Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Excellent trade. Good business all around.
As for that next game, it’s not for a few weeks because the Royals had an away game against Rebekah Stott’s Sky Blue before the international break and will be back with an away game against Abby Erceg’s North Carolina Courage after that with Rosie White’s Chicago Red Stars to follow. Doing the complete kiwi tour all in a row, cheers to the scheduling crew.
Only problem is that Katie’s been stuck on the bench lately with a very strong midfield of Desiree Scott and Gunny Jónsdóttir doing their thing so she was an unused sub again as Utah beat Sky Blue 2-1 in the first of those games. But Stotty did play so we’ll pick this thing up where we leave off in a few secs…
Up Next: NCC vs Utah, Sunday 17 June at 11am (NZT)
Rebekah Stott – Sky Blue FC (American National Women’s Soccer League)
… and here we are.
This was a crazy game in which it was already 1-1 after ten minutes, with Diana Matheson putting Utah up in the third minute with a quality finish on the end of an even better cross from Jónsdóttir to the far past. But the usually luckless Sky Blue, still looking for their first win, tied it up swiftly when Shea Groom smashed one in from just inside the box. Utah were the better team with more possession and more chances to score yet some inspired defence from Stott and her lot meant that we were still locked up going deep into this one.
And then it fell apart. Trying to clear another Jónsdóttir cross to safety, Mandy Freeman could only get the end of her sprigs to it under pressure from Katie Stengel and it bounced down and back up and into the net for an own goal. Not sure where the keeper was going but then you don’t really expect that ball to end up where it did either. Stott was caught out of position too with the Royals counter attacking at a bit of pace.
Another clunker for Sky Blue and another week without a win. The one consolation is that Rebekah Stott is at least in pretty fine form ahead of the Ferns game next week. She did have an injury scare before the last goal was scored but that turned out to be nothing major.
Up Next: Saturday 9 June against Washington Spirit, although that clashes with national team duty so no Rebekah Stott there, sorry folks
C.J. Bott - USV Jena / Amber Hearn & Meikayla Moore – FC Köln (German Frauen-Bundesliga)
This one’s an anti-climax after both teams were confirmed for relegation last week, but for the record CJB played no part as Jena lost 1-0 away to Duisburg while Amber Hearn and Meikalya Moore each started in a 0-0 draw for FCK away to Wolfsburg, with Moore getting ninety while Hearn was subbed off with a minute remaining. So Köln finish with 11 points from 22 games, scoring 8 goals and conceding a ridiculous 78 times, while USV Jena were one point behind with 12 goals scored and 44 conceded.
There’s definitely going to be one kiwi in the Bundesliga next season with Emma Rolston signing for MSV Duisburg last week, though it’s too early to speak for this trio. CJ Bott started 12 times in her first season as a pro, as well as making three more appearances off the bench, for a total of 1022 minutes of football. She picked up two yellow cards. Over in Köln there were 622 minutes handed to Meikayla Moore from her eight starts after signing midseason while veteran Amber Hearn started every game with four goals scored (half of the team’s season total) in 1931 minutes. Hearn has now played 153 league games in the German top flight with 43 goals, an excellent strike rate for someone outside the top teams. Hopefully it ain’t the last we’ve seen of her there.
Up Next: Season’s over, rover
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
These are strange times for Winston Reid. He has usually performed to a pretty high level when he’s been available for West Ham – playing 166 times in the Premier League - but that injury he sustained in March has left him out of sight and out of mind at a bit of a turning point for the club. Following a frustrating season, David Moyes decided he wasn’t about that Hammer Life no more and buggered off, with former Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini signed out of the Chinese Super League to replace him. This whole situation may need deeper investigation after the World Cup but for now what matters is that West Ham are probably looking to rebuild a stale squad this summer and nobody is safe… not even James ‘Ginge’ Collins, who was released at the end of his contract and only told about it via email. Winnie left him a lovely message on insta.
Winston himself has been linked with a few transfers given that his age and injury history make him more expendable than he probably should be. Plus he’s a remnant of an older time, which never helps. Earlier this week there was a report linking him to the Turkish Super Lig… although he was probably only there on holiday, given the family’s been seeing a few sights lately. Again, peep the gram. But his wife is Russian if that’s at all relevant.
As for the club’s status, this bloke usually has a few connections with the inside word…
So potentially one to keep an eye on. At this stage it feels unlikely he’d leave given Ginge and Jose Fonte have both departed in the last six months although it may depend on who they pick up in the transfer window.
Up Next: Holidaze
Rosie White – Chicago Red Stars (American National Women’s Soccer League)
A week after making her comeback from injury off the bench against the Orlando Pride, Rosie White made her first start of 2018 away against Washington Spirit. And it was a joyous occasion all around. Sam Kerr gave Chicago the lead in the 25th minute following up on a spilled save off of Yuki Nagasato’s free kick and then Nagasato scored a nicely worked second goal soon after the second half had kicked off. A move that began with a perfect chipped ball into the penalty area from Rosie White. Rosie played the full game lining up out on the right wing of a 4-2-3-1 formation, just in time to feature for the Ferns next week. Hey did you know there’s a Football Ferns game next week?
Up Next: Home to Portland Thorns, Sunday 17 June at 7.30am (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
End of the European season means that Flying Kiwis gets littered with a little dirty gossip. Such is the life…
What that says is Gerard Nijkamp, PEC Zwolle’s Technical Director, dropped a line at a club function recently that there’s interest in Thommo from another club and it ain’t a Dutch club but one from further abroad in Europe. He was linked with Club Brugge in Belgium not so long ago, which may be the answer to that. We know he’s almost certainly leaving. Just a matter of where now, with Thommo having said he’d prefer a move to a bigger Dutch club at this stage of his career. Eyes wide open.
Up Next: Few calls to the agent, no doubt
Erin Nayler – Girondins Bordeaux (French Division 1 Féminine)
From speculation to confirmation, Erin had already hinted that she’d be in Bordeaux for a while to come but it’s always a good thing to see the club making a point of it. Two more years on the end of her best season as a pro, in terms of playing time and performance level.
Girondins.com: “The New Zealand international goalkeeper continues her adventure among the Girondins. Arrived in July 2017 from Grenoble (loaned by Lyon), the native of Auckland signs for two more years, under the jersey Marine and White!”
Up Next: Well, the Footy Ferns are on next week…
Benjamin van den Broek – Retired
Yup, pour one out for one-cap wonder Ben VDB, who came off the bench for the All Whites in a loss against South Korea in 2015. One of Anthony Hudson’s finds after scouring the world for kiwi-eligible players. VDB made his debut in the same game as Themi Tzimopoulos, Clayton Lewis, Ryan de Vries and Moses Dyer.
The 30 year old midfielder was born in Holland but a kiwi mother qualified him for Aotearoa. His club career took him from the Netherlands to England to Romania, with his best years spent at FC Den Bosch in Holland. He signed for Koninklijke HFC at the start of the year but has hung up the boots to focus on family and off-field career stuff instead. Best wishes to the bloke with all of it.
Up Next: If he ever wants to get back into it, the Colorado Rapids could probably use a midfielder right about now…
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