Liberato Cacace – Empoli FC (Italian Serie A)

It’s been a long time since Liberato Cacace last scored a goal at club level. He did score an important one for the All Whites in 2022 when he bagged the winner in the Oceania World Cup qualifying tournament semi-final against Tahiti... but as for his club stuff, you’ve gotta go all the way back to March 2020 when he was still with the Wellington Phoenix. Since then he’s rattled woodwork, he’s had three separate goals disallowed, he’s missed chances and drawn saves and generally just been bloody unlucky. But all that tallied luck finally went the other way in a 4-1 win against Verona on Monday morning.

First though, there was a midweek Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina. Very tricky tie in the round of sixteen, away from home, with most expectations being that this would be the end of the line for the Azzurri. It was also a chance for Cacace to grab another start, even if this was in the context of a rotated squad. Left wing-back with Giuseppe Pezzella only on the bench... and, funny story, not only was Pezzella outside the eleven having kept Cacace on the sideline for so much of this year (and for large parts of last season when fit), but amongst the Fiorentina subs was a certain Fabiano Parisi who used to keep Cacace on the bench two seasons ago before transferring away. Again, we’re talking rotated cup elevens so it doesn’t mean much. But it was a pleasant coincidence.

Empoli took a fourth minute lead when Emmanuel Ekong ran onto a turnover by Liam Henderson and slipped home a smart finish. Cacace was the first to celebrate with him as he did. Remember that fact for later. Fiorentina then woke up and took over the match, with Moise Kean missing an open header, but Empoli hung around until half-time despite plenty of pressure. That resistance was broken on 59’ when Kean tapped in on the rebound from a keeper save. Cacace was replaced shortly afterwards and Fiorentina scored again through Riccardo Sottil on 70’... but five minutes later Sebastiano Esposito buried a clinical goal running onto another Henderson feed and Empoli ended up taking it to penalties. The shootout got going and Empoli were the first to miss. But Fiorentina were the worst to miss, shanking a pair of spotties before Esposito converted the decisive kick to send Empoli into the quarters. 2-2 after regulation time. 4-3 to Empoli in the shootout. That’s the good stuff.

But even that hardly compares to the wonders that followed in the win against Verona. Despite Empoli’s proud start to the campaign, in which they went undefeated through their first six games (after not even scoring a goal in their first six games last term), far too many of their positive results have been draws. In fact, with only one win from their past nine Serie A games that initial goodwill had begun to erode away. That frustration is a thing of the past now though. Empoli blew away an embattled Verona side with a stunning first half performance over the weekend. Two goals for Sebastiano Esposito (16’ & 19’), a goal for Lorenzo Colombo (42’)... and in between a first ever Serie A goal for the Napolitano brother Liberato Cacace (32’)...

Big deflection but who cares. He’s had more than enough bad luck with his goal-quests to warrant a chunky deflected goal in his 64th Serie A appearance. As soon as he buried that thing, he was off running towards the bench where he met his pal Emmanuel Ekong to celebrate. Must have been some deeper yarn going on there. When you go four and a half years without a goal there’s plenty of time to build up a whole mythology about it.

Anyway, Verona did grab a goal back straight after Cacace’s one but no worries because then Colombo got his and it was 4-1. It then remained 4-1 the whole rest of the way. Three very useful points for Empoli who rise back up into the top half of the table. Oh and you know what else? If you’re wondering why Cacace was so far up the pitch when he scored that goal, it was because this was another of those games where he was played as an attacker. Then, same as was the case against Udinese a few weeks ago, when the time came to make changes it was Pezzella who was subbed and Cacace simply slid back to LWB for the last half hour or so. Roberto D’Aversa is starting to look for ways to wrangle Cacace into his starting elevens, people. Joyful days are upon us.

Cacace has started five of Empoli’s last six games and was brought on at half-time of the other one. He’s had to work for it but the opportunities are coming thick and fast now. He’s also got a goal and two assists in his past four Serie A games, coinciding with being used more often in attack. Lovely things are happening in Empoli... although this run of form does highlight the sneaky matter of Cacace’s expiring contract. They might wanna do something about that soon because he’s free to talk to foreign clubs as of January 1.

Libby also had a chinwag with the FIFA website recently about his FIFA Best Eleven nomination. Turns out he was as baffled as the rest of us... with the FIFA crew confirming that his recognition was because of his Player of the Tournament honours at the OFC Nations Cup. That explains it. Irrespective of the reasoning, it’s a very cool thing to happen. Especially because CJ Bott also got equivalent status for the women’s longlist.

Libby Cacace: “I went to bed early that night, and when I woke up the following morning I saw that I’d been tagged in various posts on Instagram. I was convinced it must’ve been photoshopped or it was some kind of joke. I clicked on the post more out of curiosity than anything else, and quickly realised it was real. I had to ask my friends and my agent for confirmation. I said to myself: 'How is this possible?'”

Up Next: Empoli vs Torino on Saturday at 8.45am (NZT)

Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

While all the focus back in Aotearoa this past week was on a brand new derby, Chris Wood just had a piecemeal taste of the Manchester Derby by getting to face both Manchester City and Manchester United in the space of a few days. First up was a Man City team that had hit the skids too. In their past seven games, they’d lost six and drawn the other (the draw being a 3-3 against Feyenoord in which blew a three-goal lead leaving fans feeling worse about that than did for most of those losses). If ever they were going to be vulnerable to a bit of Woodsman expertise, this was the time.

Problem is, a team like Manchester City only ever struggles for so long. Pep’s boys turned up with a point to prove and quickly took the lead when Bernardo Silva tapped home from a Kevin De Bruyne header after 8 mins. That was only the beginning. City were looking dangerous and a second goal felt inevitable. However, Forest did have their moments and the best of them fell to Chris Wood, who had one huge chance to level things up when he ran onto a loose pass across the backline and found himself with only the keeper to beat... only to drag his shot slightly wide to the left.

City promptly went up the other end and Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-0 with a sharp finish after being given too much room in the penalty area. That was after 31 mins. Jeremy Doku would make it 3-0 on 57’ to remove any lingering doubt. It was comprehensive enough that Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Ola Aina were all substituted early (63 mins) in a metaphorical waving of the white flag. This one was gone, let’s prioritise the next. At least Erling Haaland didn’t score so Woodsy lost no ground in the Golden Boot race.

Ah but then came the Manchester United game and would you look at this magnificent specimen at work...

This was a crazy game. Away at Old Trafford, Nottingham Forest stunned the home crowd by scoring in the second minute through Nikola Milenkovic’s thumping header off a corner kick. United then fought their way back level through Rasmus Hojlund (18’)... but then two minutes into the second half Forest stunned the crowd again. This time it was Morgan Gibbs-White with a swerving strike from outside the area that went down the middle but it caught Andre Onana wrong-footed for a freaky goal.

Seven minutes later it was The Woodsman’s turn. Looked like he was trying to head it back across goal, or at least into a tricky area (being a striker you know he at least considered the possibility of that ball creeping in, putting just enough of an angle on it to see what might happen). Faced with that awkward liminal state between shot and pass, the Man Utd defence glitched out and that was all it took. Number ten for Chris Wood in 2024-25. Bruno Fernandes swiftly pulled one back for United but Forest held on for the 3-2 win. This was their first win at Old Trafford for thirty years.

With that goal, Chris Wood becomes the outright leading Premier League goalscorer for Nottingham Forest with 25 big ones. This takes him ahead of Bryan Roy whom he only drew level with last week. Doesn’t take this bloke long, does it? He’s already the outright leading Premier League goalscorer for Burnley (with 49 goals) and do you know how many other players there are who are the leading Prem scorers at multiple clubs? Only one. His name is Alan Shearer (Newcastle and Blackburn).

Hold up, it gets even better. Not only does this take Woodsy to double digits this season, with 10 goals from 15 games, and not only is this now the sixth time that he’s scored 10+ times in a Prem campaign... but it was also his birthday! Yes, Chris Wood scored at Old Trafford in a famous Nottingham Forest victory to reach double-digits for the season and become the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition on the very day of his 33rd birthday. The only present he didn’t get was that contract extension which is reportedly still in negotiations. The demands are surely rising every week.

Nuno Espirito Santo: “And it’s his birthday! 33 years old. Very happy to have Chris with us, I think it’s an example for the young lads to follow because it’s never to late to achieve good things in football. A good example to everybody. We’re very happy to have him.”

A tremendous kiwi bloke... where can we buy those Robin Hood mugs though?

Up Next: Nottm Forest vs Aston Villa on Sunday at 6.30am (NZT)

Indiah-Paige Riley - Crystal Palace (English Super League)

Look who’s been at it again...

Didn’t catch it completely cleanly but she placed that shot perfectly into the bottom corner, keeper’s view obstructed, and that goal made it 2-0 to Crystal Palace after only 12 minutes of their match away to West Ham United. Mille Gejl had already given them the lead with a similar finish from the other side. Both goals stemmed from the hustling pressure that Palace were applying up top, with Riley very much part of the action. This was her second goal in the WSL... meaning she’s already halfway to equalling Rosie White’s NZ record haul of four goals in this competition. Ria Percival scored three and along with Riley they’re the only kiwis with more than one goal in the division.

But that’s where the positivity ends. From 2-0 up in what could prove to be an important game between two sides who entered this week tied for last place on five points (along with CJ Bott’s Leicester City)... Palace took this 2-0 headstart and turned it into a 5-2 defeat. Viviane Asseyi (17’), Seraina Piubel (36’), Mauela Pavi (44’), Anouk Denton (82’), and Katrina Gorry (90+2’) scored the Hammers goals. Palace were in the game most of the way but it never felt like they wouldn’t concede again. Not a great platform from which to launch a comeback. Riley, who played as a right wing-back, picked up a booking ten mins into the second half for a heavy blocking challenge (in which she hurt herself as much as she hurt the opponent) and was substituted shortly after the hour.

And that result reflected an otherwise dumb week of WSL footy. Fantastic for Indi Riley to score a goal... not so fantastic for her team to blow a 2-0 lead and lose 5-2. Also not fantastic for CJ Bott’s Leicester City to lose 4-0 against Manchester City. Bott played a full game but this one was trouble from the start, with Khadija Shaw scoring in only the second minute. She then scored again on 29’, both goals being headers from crosses, before Jess Park (49’) and Mary Fowler (58’) kept it going. Fowler’s was a wonderful volleyed finish. Man City were way too good. CJB did make a few trademark tackles but she wasn’t as efficient as she usually is due to MCY’s regular overlaps. CJB did get a shot on target near the end with a snapshot from outside the area but it went straight at the keeper. Also curious to see that she switched over from right-back to left-back for the last twenty-odd mins after Courtney Nevin was substituted. First time we’ve really seen that this season.

As for Anna Leat... still no sign of her. The Aston Villa boss confirmed she was back in training at the start of November but that he wanted to see her get a few weeks if that in before considering her for games. It’s now been six weeks since then. Surely can’t be much longer. Villa lost 4-0 against Arsenal – a funky game because these two clubs swapped goalies over the summer with Sabrina D’Angelo joining ACFC and Daphne van Domselaar joining Arsenal. Anna Leat was supposed to push D’Angelo for those starts but she’s had to miss more than three months due to a head injury... and it’s never been explained any deeper than that. Fingers crossed she’s being saved for the Conti Cup game against Charlton midweek. By the way, it sounds like Robert de Pauw is about to be sacked so make of that what you will.

Up Next: Crystal Palace vs Tottenham in the Conti Cup on Thursday at 8am; then Crystal Palace vs Man United in the WSL on Monday at 3am (NZT)

Elijah Just - SKN St. Pölten (Austrian Erste Liga)

No slowing this bloke down. In a back and forth game between St. Pölten and FAC Wien, it was EJ who scored the crucial goal in a 3-2 victory. SKN had been trailing inside of ten minutes and they’d been 2-1 down early in the second half until Ramiz Harakate levelled back up. Elijah Just then smacked in the winner with his right foot, bingo at the near post, and what do ya know SKN St. Pölten have won four games in a row.

Winfried Amoah had scored SKN’s first equaliser after 34 mins. Just was half-appealing for a penalty as that goal was scored, having tripped over in the box right before the ball fell to Amoah who slammed it home. Just was also the fella beaten to the header at the back post off a corner kick that put Wien back in front... though that lead barely lasted 80 seconds before Harakate’s goal that tied things up after 55 mins. That had the game up for grabs. One of those could-go-either-way situations. And there was a moment in the 69th minute when the ball seemed to break for Just to go running at the defence... only for the whistle to haul things back for an earlier foul. No advantage. Nor should there have been given that Christian Bubalovic was about to be red carded for FAC Wien.

Two minutes later, another opportunity emerged for Just to carry the ball into the penalty area and this time there was no stopping him. Just fed the ball to Claudy M'Buyi Kabamba who was able to flip it back to him before losing his balance. Just went boom. Have some of that. He also had another chance curling a shot on target from the edge of the area which the keeper tipped over the top. No dramas. Still pocketed the winner as SKN’s impressive record with EJ on board continues to expand. They’re up to eighth with 25 points from 16 games. Four wins in a row. Elijah Just has a goal contribution in nine of his last 12 games for club and country... and that stat will linger for a long time because with this we reach the winter break in Austria.

Up Next: Gotta wait until Austria Lustenau vs SKN on 23 February (NZT)

Hannah Blake & Michaela Foster – Durham FC (English Championship)

It was FA Cup weekend for the English clubs outside the top flight and that made for an array of different challenges for the various NZers involved. Durham had one of the hardest ties going away to division rivals Birmingham... but they picked a strong team with both Michaela Foster and Hannah Blake in the starting line-up and it was Blake who sent a cross low for striker Carly Johns in the area, Johns then laying that ball back for Grace Ayre who struck well running into the area. This was in the 42nd minute and it proved to be the only goal of a competitive game. Durham had to do plenty of defending, especially in the second half. They had to do it and they did it. 1-0 final score as Durham march into the fourth round where they’ve been drawn against top flight club Brighton & Hove. Foster got a full game and Blake played 70 mins.

What else did the third round of the FA Cup deliver? Well, London City Lionesses had a much simpler tie at home against Gwalia United (formerly known as Cardiff Ladies). This was second division against third division. They cruised towards that victory... though Grace Neville was left on the bench so we’re not interested in the details. LCL got a good draw for the fourth round with Fulham on the cards, another lower-ranked opponent.

Sunderland also had a very winnable game against Huddersfield Town... and they won it. No dramas there. Katie Kitching was amongst the starters and although she didn’t carry on her recent trends by scoring a goal, she was hugely influential within a 4-0 victory. Running in behind, dropping into pockets, linking passes to forwards, whipping crosses into the area. She was involved in the creation of the first goal and also had one of her own disallowed in the second half when she was flagged offside running onto a return ball which she slammed in off the underside of the crossbar with a side-foot volley. Probably the right call. Kitch was then subbed off for a well-earned rest for the last quarter of an hour or so. Sunderland will face Exeter City away in the fourth round. Another very winnable game.

We also had Sheffield United turning up a composed performance to win 2-0 away against Liverpool Feds. Like all these games, the weather conditions were difficult and the Blades haven’t exactly been racking up the wins this season so even against a lower-tiered team there was potential for a slip-up. But they took care of business. Maria Farrugia scored a goal in each half. Jacqui Hand played 82 minutes without a goal or assist but she went very close with a second half chance that was saved low by the Feds keeper. Olivia Page was also subbed on near the end, helping Sheffield United get through to their first clean sheet of the season across any competition. They probably won’t keep one in the next round because they’ve been given a tie with WSL club Crystal Palace. Indi Riley vs Jacqui Hand should be fun.

Up Next: Back to Conti Cup stuff midweek with Sunderland vs Durham on Thursday at 8.30am being the pick of the bunch, while Durham are also away to Bristol City at 1am on Monday in the Champo (NZT)

James McGarry - Aberdeen (Scottish Premiership)

Dons boss Jimmy Thelin: “[Jack Mackenzie]’s ok and he trained on Friday but we think it's too early for him to come back. We don't want to rush things and risk getting a set back before another busy spell of games. There's a two week gap between matches after St Johnstone and we can recover really well for those.”

No Jack Mackenzie until after the St Johnstone game... you know what that meant: James McGarry’s sudden appearance last week was not going to be a one-off. He’d get at least two more games to show what he can do after sitting on the bench for months. There was the St Johnstone game, and before that there was also a midweeker against, hmm let’s see, ah yes Celtic Football Club.

Despite a few key injuries and despite a slight wobble in form, Aberdeen were extremely impressive defensively as they blunted and frustrated Celtic deep into this football match. Duk Lopes even gave them a few cheeky outlets up front. As far as McGarry goes, most of his job was about staying within the structure but he did make some smart passes infield to find his midfield. Plenty of heart from the Dons, plenty of spirit.

Alas, Reo Hatate snuck in behind the defensive line to score a winner for Celtic in the 78th minute. McGarry was in close attendance but didn’t track him. Probably should have been the CB’s man but he stepped off as well. Either way, Hatate would have been offside if the right-back hadn’t been mindlessly lagging on the other side. Gutted. McGarry was subbed soon after the goal as Aberdeen chased an equaliser... which Ester Sokler probably should have given them except he fired over the top from nine yards. 1-0 to Celtic was the final score.

St Johnstone were next... but this one kinda sucked. McGarry made his third start in a row (and possibly the last of this run) yet he only lasted until half-time when he was substituted with his side trailing 1-0. And they were trailing 1-0 because McGarry scuffed an attempted clearance by kicking the ball into his own head, allowing Makenzie Kirk to convert. Avert your eyes if you don’t want to see this...

Aberdeen did rally back to draw 1-1 thanks to Leighton Clarkson’s 56th min tap-in. McGarry was one of three players subbed at the break so it wasn’t all on his shoulders... but the nature of that goal doesn’t help his cause much when he’s only had limited moments to impress. Aberdeen played five games in the space of a fortnight and failed to win any of them.

Up Next: Dons vs Hibernian at 4am on Sunday (NZT)

Maggie Jenkins - Gaziantep ALG Spor (Turkish Süper Ligi)

ALG Spor continues to pile up the victories. Their latest was a 4-0 victory against Bornova Hitab Spor in which Patricia Seteco scored an eight minute hat-trick. No lies, they were 3-0 up after eight mins and Seteco scored the lot of them. She also scored a penalty right at the end to finish the scoring. Maggie Jenkins started on the right wing and set up the opening goal in the second minute with a first-time nudge into the area to let Seteco do her thing. Seteco has 15 goals from 10 appearances so she’s absolutely amazing. But Jenkins has sneakily added two goals and three assists in her first ten professional games. Beautiful stuff.

ALG Spor have won four games in a row. After drawing their first two matches, they’ve won 8/9 ever since. The form has been so good that they’re chilling clear in second place in the Süper Ligi. Fenerbahce are four points ahead in first and these two clubs meet in two weeks for what’ll be the last game before a month-long midseason break. Prior to that, ALG Spot face defending champs Galatasaray who are currently sixth.

Keep it going until Christmas and ALG Spor will be in a fantastic spot at the halfway stage. Only pesky thing is that you have to win the comp in order to quality for any Champions League stuff because the Turkish league is undervalued in the coefficients. But, hey, they’re only four points back. You never know. And they have been talking about getting a secondary UEFA tournament going for the women, beginning next season, so there’ll surely be places there up for grabs.

Up Next: ALG Spor vs Galatasaray at 0:00 on Sunday (NZT)

Emma Pijnenburg – Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)

We love a big win in these parts and while this wasn’t the biggest win we’ll mention this week... an 8-1 win against Telstar was comprehensive enough to deliver nearly half an hour of Emma Pijnenburg minutes. It was actually Telstar that scored first to take a 25th minute lead but then Feyenoord scored six times between minutes 33-61. It was in the wake of the sixth goal that Pijnenburg got out there - it looked like she was either at right-back or on the right side of midfield. Made a good pass up the line in the move for the eighth goal. EP’s having to earn her spots this season with Feyenoord going very well, currently sitting fourth after nine games, hence her two appearances have been substitute cameos in the team’s two biggest wins.

Up Next: Excelsior vs Feyenoord at 4.45am on Monday (NZT)

Sarpreet Singh - União de Leiria (Portuguese Liga 2)

Fresh from his very late winning goal last week, his hero-making moment, Sarpreet Singh was promoted to the starting eleven for the first time at his new club... and within 22 minutes of kickoff his team were leading 3-0 against Benfica B. It always helps to catch the reserve teams early in the week before their first teams take the pitch (and leftover players are thus free to partake in reserve footy). It also helps to have Sarpreet Singh in your team.

It was Singh’s shot in the second minute that pinged off the post, with Ryan Guilherme’s follow up effort saved before Daniel dos Anjos slammed in at the third UDL attempt. Dos Anjos then carried on from there, scoring a penalty on 16’ and then completing a hatty on 22’. That’s how it remained for most of the game, with Benfica B trying hard to muster a comeback in the second half... until Alisson came on for UDL and scored himself a brace (73’ & 89’) to really take it into orbit. 5-0 to UD Leiria. Singh lasted 80 minutes, his longest appearance since the Olympic Games in July. UD Leiria have now won three of their last four league games to rise up to ninth in the standings – and the one league game they didn’t win in that span was the one that Singh didn’t play in. The evidence is indisputable.

Up Next: Midnight on the Saturday/Sunday crossover at home against Pacos Ferreira (NZT)

Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)

Here we had the first ever Inter vs AC Milan derby to be held at the San Siro (a stadium that the men’s teams of both clubs share). Nice bit of history for Katie Bowen to be part of. Inter were the form team having won three Serie A games in a row without conceding a goal... yet it was AC Milan who spent almost the entirety of the first half on the attack. That included a long shot off the woodwork in the fifth minute after Bowen had won a defensive header and it also included several good saves from Inter’s 21yo Icelandic goalkeeper Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir. Thanks to all those saves, the game was still scoreless when Elisa Bartoli popped up at the back post right at the end of the first half to give Inter the lead.

AC Milan struck back within six minutes of the second spell getting underway. Nadia Nadim with the goal, a strong low finish off a cut-back to the penalty spot. Maybe could have marked her closer but it was a good goal (and it stemmed from a move down Inter’s left edge where Katie Bowen didn’t have any influence). That was a pity... fortunately a few more great stops from Rúnarsdóttir ensued. As did a brilliant save up the other end to deny Marie Detruyer a potential winner for Inter. The derby ended 1-1. Full game for KB – who was rocking the black gloves for this one so you know it’s starting to get chilly in Europe. Inter drop back to third place with this result, one point behind Fiorentina and level with Roma.

That’s because Fiorentina won 3-1 against Sampdoria... a harsh result because Victoria Della’s 28th minute goal had the last-placed team leading that match up until the 64th minute and it was only on 84’ and 90+6’ that Fiorentina finally broke away from them. Kiara Bercelli started her third game in a row for Sampdoria and lasted 85 minutes. Most of her best stuff in these games seems to stem from her pressing and there was an instance shortly before her team scored where Bercelli stole back the ball roughly 25 metres out and launched a quickfire shot from distance which only just dipped over the top. She was also involved early in the sweet move that led to Della’s goal.

Sampdoria were excellent in that first half, full of hustle and energy... but it faded as the game dragged on and Fiorentina wrestled back control. Tough defeat to take but an encouraging one all the same. Ever since they sacked their coach and started picking Bercelli, the seem to be playing much better. Still awaiting that first win of the campaign though.

Up Next: Inter vs Sassuolo at 12.30am on Monday (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

Yikes. That’s a big win. Gotta say though, the fact that her team scored 24 goals but Vic Esson still conceded that cheeky one does take a little bit of the shine off. Granted, the goal came from a midfield giveaway and the finish was excellent so it’s not like Esson had to deal with any of the portioned blame. Despite that goal briefly making it 2-1 early on, a sneaky consolation goal has never meant so little in the context of a result. This was a Scottish Cup game and obviously Westdyke were nowhere near the level of Rangers. They may have scored one but they weren’t going to score another 23.

This was a handy ninety minutes for Esson at a time when she’s gone back to sitting on the bench in most games. She hasn’t started a league match for two months, her only other game in that time frame being the previous round of the Scottish Cup where they won 8-1 against Motherwell. All the expected teams made it through to the round of sixteen where Rangers will face... Montrose.

Up Next: Motherwell vs Rangers at 9am on Thurs; Glasgow City vs Rangers at 1.10am on Mon (NZT)

Jana Niedermayr - Union Kleinmünchen (Austrian Bundesliga)

It’s ironic when the televised games are less accessible than the streamed ones but, yeah, FC Blau Weiß Linz/Union Kleinmünchen got the SKY Austria treatment this week for their match against SPG FC Lustenau/FC Dornbirn Ladies (lots of combined clubs in this league, it seems). Therefore the highlights are buried behind the broadcaster’s paywall and that’s a shame because it was a magnificent match, as embattled Kleinmünchen rallied from 2-0 down early in the second half to take the three points. Theresa D'Angelo (58’), Almedina Sisic (64’), and then D’Angelo again (85’) with the goals. Jana Niedermayr was at the back as always, logging another ninety minutes. Fourth win of the season for UK with three of those having come in the past four matches. They’re now six points clear of the relegation spot occupied by LASK as the league takes its winter break. Niedermayr has played every minute of her club’s 15 games this season across league and cup action.

Up Next: It’s a long winter break in Austria so nothing until February

Tyler Bindon - Reading (English League One)

Another outstanding game from Tyler Bindon? Yeah sure we’re used to that... but there may not be many more of them left in Reading FC colours. Bindon was influential as Reading drew 1-1 with League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers – the highlight being a retreating clearance to prevent a goal after Daniel Udoh had already rounded the goalie. But of course this performance comes after he was linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers last week in what’ll likely be the first of many transfer links over the next month or so.

Another domino has fallen in the past week too, a far more consequential one than some online rumours: RFC manager Ruben Selles has left the club to take up the vacant job at Hull City in the Championship. It’s hard to understate what a remarkable job Selles has done with Reading, keeping them in the division last season and even having them pushing for playoffs so far this term... despite the club being absolutely flat broke with no money to buy players and sanctions hanging over them (they had a points deduction last term, remember). He’s had to rely on free transfers and academy grads. He’s had to work with almost no structural support befitting a club of this status. And he’s inspired Reading to play at a level far beyond what they had any right to.

Hopefully Reading have enough points on the board that they don’t fall back into the relegation huddle because they’re going to need to sell one or two players, as they do every window, in order to keep the lights on. That was true whether Selles stuck around or not and Tyler Bindon was always a likely candidate. Now there might even be the possibility of rejoining Selles at Hull City, don’t be surprised if that link swings around. But it was reassuring to see them put in a solid and consistent display in that Wycombe draw in the first match under the charge of former player Noel Hunt.

Up Next: Reading vs Blackpool in League One at 4am on Sunday (NZT)

Max Crocombe - Burton Albion (English League One)

Check it out, Burton Albion played against Wrexham this week which meant that we get a 10+ minute extended highlights package instead of the usual two minutes. Thanks Disney!

This was the first time these two clubs have ever met in Football League competition (they have played non-league back in the day)... though Crocs himself went up against Wrexham quite a few times while he was with Grimsby Town, most famously when they beat Wrexham 5-4 (after extra time) in an iconic National League promotion playoff semi-final back in 2022. Didn’t quite have the same significance as he lined up against them here but at least he got a few personal exploits into those highlights, making several strong saves in a 1-0 defeat.

In happier news, Burton Albion did defeat a slumping Peterborough side 1-0 during the last midweek. Less for Crocs to do on that occasion and that’s just the way he’d have wanted it. Clean sheet victory. Only their second win of the entire season... and it gets them out of last place at Shrewsbury Town’s expense.

Up Next: Away to Leyton Orient on Sunday at 1.30am in League One (NZT)

Matt Dibley-Dias & Nik Tzanev – Northampton Town (English League One)

You’re not going to believe this but Matt Dibley-Dias got some game-time for Northampton Town yesterday morning. After not having even been included in a matchday squad since the end of August, with his manager saying things about trying to bulk him up for the level and blah blah, Dibs was finally recalled amidst a pretty hectic injury crisis at the club and even found himself getting five minutes off the bench in a 2-1 win against the same Peterborough team that Max Crocombe’s Burton Albion had beaten days earlier. Cameron McGeehan with the 84th minute winner.

But wait there’s more because Nik Tzanev also played this game. Regular keeper Lee Burge started all of the first 17 League One games, leaving Tanz with only a twenty-min cameo off the bench in a loss to Wycombe back in September and five scattered cup appearances. But Burge got injured recently which is why Tzanev played the Stevenage loss last week and it’s why he played the Peterborough win this week. Sounds like Burge could be due for an extended spell on the sidelines.

NTFC manager Jon Brady: “Lee [Burge] will be out for a period of time and that’s also hugely frustrating, but I thought Nik came in and played really well. I really don't know about the other boys who came off. We're suffering because of things that are happening. Discipline and injuries. They are not excuses. You see Ange Postecoglou moaning about losing two centre-halves and Pep moans about having four players out. They want to try having 12 or 13 players out constantly.”

Look, all we’re saying is that Northampton Town had gone six games in a row without a win and then they finally picked both kiwis in the matchday squad and suddenly they won one. Go ahead and try poke holes in that logic. 1+1=2 no matter how you cut it.

Up Next: Rotherham vs Northampton at 4am on Sunday (NZT)

Andre De Jong – Stellenbosch (South African Premier Soccer League)

Obviously ADJ shoulda shoved Chumani Butsaka out of the way and scored that goal himself but fair enough, he’s a nice guy. This was Stellenbosch’s first ever goal in continental footy... but it was only a consolation in a 3-1 defeat against RSB Berkhane of Morocco in their second CAF Confederation Cup group stage game. De Jong started and was subbed right at the end. Their coach said afterwards that they’re suffering from inexperience on this African stage because their domestic form remains very good. Hopefully two defeats was enough experience because they’re gonna have to get winning very soon if they’re going to have a chance of making the Confed Cup knockouts from here.

Up Next: Monday at 2am, Confederation Cup, it’s a trip to Angola to face Lunda Sul (NZT)

Abby Erceg & Milly Clegg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)

It’s roster decision day in the NWSL and the big news is that Abby Erceg will not be returning to Racing Louisville. After two seasons in which she played every possible minute of league footy for the club - but missed out on the playoffs both times - Erceg is leaving as a free agent.

The wording of that Racing Lou communication makes it sound like this was Erceg’s decision, though the club would also have reason to want to move on from a 35yo centre-back even if she was one of the team leaders, even if she was one of their best players, given that they may need to change tack in order to push for playoff qualification in the future. Erceg is super fit and very competitive so there’s no reason to consider retirement. She probably just wants to play for a contending team again like she had with North Carolina Courage for all those years.

Racing had better do something smart in replacing her because Milly Clegg remains on the team having signed a multi-year contract when she joined. After making her debut off the bench in the final game of the season, it seems fair to assume we’ll see a bit more of her in 2025. Also worth noting that Ali Riley has one more year on her deal with Angel City, though whether she’s healthy enough to play is another question. And Macey Fraser may have gone missing for the back-half of last season but her contract runs through until 2026 with Utah Royals and she’s on their retained list, no shenanigans afoot there.

Up Next: Wait and find out...

Kyle Adams - Louisville City (American USL Championship)

Danny Cruz, Lou City head coach: “We are happy to be able to extend Kyle’s time here at Louisville City. He is a strong defender that played an important role this past year. I know that he will return in 2025 with high expectations of himself as well as the group. We need him to strive to be at his best from day one so that it pushes himself and his teammates toward accomplishing our collective goals.”

There ya go, new “multi-year” contract for Kyle Adams. He was a key player throughout the past season as Louisville City forged the best regular season record in the USL Championship... but then flamed out in the playoffs. But that’s all inspiration for the future. The 28yo defender never quite got the luck he deserved for an MLS opportunity but he’s in a good place with Lou City and seems genuinely stoked to have re-upped for the foreseeable future.

Up Next: Back at it in 2025

Moses Dyer - Vancouver FC (Canadian Premier League)

Northern Tribune: “With his Vancouver FC contract set to expire in less than a month, Moses Dyer is set to bid his second farewell to the Canadian Premier League. The New Zealand striker will instead embark on a new opportunity with a top flight league in Europe.”

Sounds like several CPL clubs were keen on Dyer, who has scored 28 goals with 11 assists in 78 appearances in the competition split between Valour FC, Vancouver FC, and Pacific FC. He did previously leave the CPL to spend a year with Tulsa in the American USL but returned in 2024 for a weird yet successful term in which he was traded midseason. Now he’s apparently about to spread his wings in Europe.

Prior to his North American stuff, Dyer did spend some time in Norway with Florø SK... though he’s probably not popping up in the top flight over there all of a sudden (he played second and third tier there with FSK). Nah, at a guess this feels a lot like a restocking of the kiwi shelves in the League of Ireland but we shall see. Exciting times. Also, keep an eye out for Jay Herdman news because he’s coming off contract with Vancouver Whitecaps and spent the last few months of 2024 winning the CPL on loan at Cavalry FC. He’s at a crossroads too.

Up Next: That’s for the agent to determine

Michael Fitzgerald – Albirex Niigata (Japanese J-League)

Those there are highlights from Urawa Reds 0-0 Albirex Niigata. Not the most entertaining game of footy ever played, not gonna lie, but it was a tidy clean sheet to end the season for Michael Fitzgerald and the lads. They did end the season on a nine-game winless streak but that’s okay because they avoided relegation with a couple games to spare. Fitzgerald started 32 of the team’s 38 J-league games with one goal and four assists from central defence. He had the fourth-most minutes amongst the squad. Formed a great partnership with Aussie defender Thomas Deng for much of the campaign. On and off the pitch, it seems...

Deng is now leaving the club after three years after having not been re-signed by Niigata. So it goes. Meanwhile, three-cap All White Fitzgerald just quietly put together what was probably the best J1 season of his career at age 36 and the question now is whether he has another one in him, given that his current contract expires in January.

Up Next: We shall see

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