Welcome to A-Leagues Alumni: A weekly piece that keeps you up to date with the best stories from our products flying the flag abroad. The acronyms of the A-Leagues club(s) each player has represented are in brackets after their name.
Aussies at the centre of history in India
For the first time in their history, reigning Indian Super League champions Mohun Bagan clinched the ISL Shield and it was thanks to three Australians in dramatic circumstances.
The race for the Premiership went right down to the final game of the regular season and it had an A-Leagues flavour on both sides.
Ex-Melbourne City assistant Petr Kratky (MCY) – now in charge of Mumbai City – took the league leaders to Kolkata with a two-point lead over second-placed Mohun, who boast Jason Cummings (CCM), Dimitri Petratos (BRI, SYD, NEW, WSW) and Brendon Hamill (MCY, WSW, WUN).
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A win or draw would have delivered back-to-back ISL shields for the first time in Mumbai City’s history.
However, Mohun – winners of last season’s Championship – leapfrogged their rivals and finished one-point clear atop the standings thanks to a thrilling 2-1 win in front of more than 61,000 fans.
Cummings was the hero for the home side, with his 80th-minute strike proving the winner after Mumbai pulled a goal back nine minutes later, snapping the visiting team’s nine-game unbeaten streak.
The Socceroo, who scored 20 goals to lead Central Coast Mariners to their first Championship in a decade last season, made it 10 goals in 20 ISL appearances this term, and 14 across all competitions. Meanwhile, Petratos assisted both of Mohun’s goals.
It led to wild celebrations at Salt Lake Stadium, where Hamill was sent off in stoppage time.
“It was a massive crowd and they helped us on the pitch,” Cummings said post-game.
“We have the best fans in the league and to win the Shield in front of them was special. I’ll remember this moment forever.”
Mohun and Mumbai are both through to the semi-finals.
Odisha will play Kerala Blasters while Goa take on Chennaiyin for a spot in the final four.
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“This victory is for the fans, it’s because of them we created history today. It was incredible,” said man-of-the-match Petratos.
“There were times we couldn’t hear each other on the pitch. But it was perfect.”
As for Kratky, he told reporters: “The players fought until the end. They tried their best. That’s what I can ask. I know it hurts but we just have to move forward, analyse what happened and why and also give credit to Mohun Bagan SG.”
Kratky was appointed to replace Des Buckingham in December.
Kratky initially joined Melbourne City as a volunteer before moving into a coaching position with the Academy in 2018 and he worked his way into the senior coaching ranks in 2021, overseeing the development of Socceroos quartet Jordy Bos, Marco Tilio, Connor Metcalfe and Aiden O’Neill, who have since earned transfers abroad.
He was part of the side that won back-to-back Isuzu UTE A-League Premierships and stood in as interim head coach on three occasions, winning all three fixtures.
Kratky continued: “Look, we played Mohun Bagan SG away, the biggest game in a season for a title. You play away (against) 61,000 people which is fantastic for Indian football. Love to see.
“Unfortunately I would love to win but I’m happy for Indian football. This is what we want in every game, not just for the special occasions, how we can make people excited and thanks to the fans who came and they were great and helped Mohun Bagan today. That’s what I always say.
“The fans are very important for us and I’m sorry for our fans because we couldn’t bring the shield home. But we will try our best now to win the rest of the competition.”
Aussie striker gets himself sent off after being subbed
If you think you are safe after being withdrawn from a match, think again.
Tete Yengi (NEW) had already received a yellow card when he was withdrawn for Bruce Anderson early in the second half of Livingston’s 4-2 loss to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
Frustrated as he left the field after bottom side Livingston had led 2-0, the Australian forward kicked a water bottle in anger. The referee reacted by brandishing another yellow card, which saw him sensationally sent off.
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“The kid comes off the park frustrated, he’s kicked one of our bottles,” said Livingston coach David Martindale.
“He’s kicked it into our dugout, I just think there has to be a bit of common sense applied. There is no explanation, you are not allowed to do it.
“You are bottom of the league, fighting for survival, you are 2-0 up and losing 4-2, he gets substituted and I think common sense has to be applied.
“It’s not the way I want the game to go. I’m not saying what he’s done is right but I think you need to give him some leeway. We’re down to the bare bones as it is so he’s let us down as well.
“If that bottle had gone into the fans, book him all day long, if it had gone into the Hearts technical area, book him.”
Cam Devlin (SYD, WEL, NEW) scored in Hearts’ win over Livingston.
It was Devlin’s first league goal of the season as Kye Rowles (BRI, CCM) and Nathaniel Atkinson (MCY) also started for Hearts.
Keanu Baccus (WSW) played 83 minutes and Ryan Strain (ADL) came off the bench in St Mirren’s 3-0 loss to league leaders and defending champions Celtic.
Carpenter & Lyon preparing for something not seen in 20 years
Ellie Carpenter (WSW, CBR, MCY) and Lyon earned another top-placed finish in Division 1 Feminine with two rounds remaining after crushing Saint-Etienne 6-1 over the weekend.
Matildas star Carpenter was not in the squad as a precaution following the international break but the reigning champions had no problem dispatching Saint-Etienne.
The rout preserved Lyon’s unbeaten regular season, with 19 wins and one draw through 20 rounds. In that period they have scored 79 goals and conceded just 10.
But unlike previous seasons, they are preparing for play-offs to crown a champion.
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For the first time since 2004 – when Montpellier were crowned champions – the top four teams will contest the play-offs. Clare Hunt‘s (WSW) Paris Saint-Germain and Sarah Hunter‘s (NEW, SYD) Paris FC are set to join the European powerhouse in the play-offs.
“There are a lot of reasons for satisfaction, there are things that worked well tonight that we will have to build on in future matches,” said head coach Sonia Bompastor.
“In terms of confidence, it’s a match that perfectly meets our needs. Collectively and individually it went well, we had no injuries so we are preparing in the best conditions for the future.
“Vicki scores a hat-trick, continuing her good performances in recent weeks. We also have a lot of players who have stood out in a positive way, which bodes well for confidence.”
It comes as reports claim Lyon boss Bompastor has agreed a deal replace Emma Hayes at Women’s Super League giants Chelsea at the end of the season.
Hayes is leaving Chelsea to lead the United States Women’s National Team and a move to Stamford Bridge would see Bompastor work with another Matildas star – Sam Kerr (PER, SYD).
Hunt missed PSG’s 3-3 draw with Guingamp due to injury, while Hunter was not in the squad for Paris FC’s 2-2 draw against Reims.
In the Women’s FA Cup, Charli Grant (ADL) came off the bench in regulation time as Tottenham reached the final for the first time after outlasting Leicester City 2-1 in extra time.
A 118th-minute winner sealed the historic win for Spurs against Leicester, who had Remy Siemsen (WSW, SYD) on the bench.
Grant was at the heart of the post-game celebrations, with Tottenham to meet Manchester United in the Wembley decider.
In the Women’s Super League, Steph Catley (MVC, MCY) and Caitlin Foord (CCM, SYD, PER) both started for Arsenal in their 5-0 rout of Bristol City.
Monty defiant as Scotland international shows support amid Hibs pressure
What does the future hold for Nick Montgomery (CCM) in Scotland? Well, the former Central Coast Mariners boss expects to see out his contract with Hibernian.
The Isuzu UTE A-League Championship-winning coach fielding questions about his future – before and after Hibs missed out on a spot in the Scottish Premiership top six.
A 1-1 draw with Motherwell saw his charges finish a point adrift of Dundee FC.
After 33 rounds, there will now be two sections of six teams – the top six and bottom six, with the sides playing every other team in their section once.
Before the stalemate with Motherwell, Montgomery – who was appointed in September – was asked about his future in Edinburgh.
“Of course I still expect to be here,” he said. “I expect to be here for the duration of my contract. I looked at it as a big picture and looking at the future and what I wanted to implement at the club and how to rebuild it and I think there’s been a lot of that this season.
“There’s a lot of noise coming from the emotion of a game last weekend but I expect to be here next season.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions about recruitment for next season, knowing that there will be a good sized turnover in terms of players that are out of contract and targets that we’ve been looking at for the last couple of months.”
After the weekend, former Scotland international Pat Nevin leapt to the defence of Montgomery.
“Do you know what’s amazing in football? How much difference a couple of seconds make,” Nevin told BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.
“Had that 94th-minute equaliser not gone in, Hibs would have been in a real position where they could have been in the top six.
“It takes a little while to get players in and players out that you want and then to settle into the game as well.
“I am one of these people, I’m not quick to shout for manager’s heads. It’s just I know how tough a job it is. I know that the very, very best ones are generally the ones that are not there for nine months. They’re the ones that are there for two, three, four, five years and are given an opportunity to build something.
“So in my mind, he’s still okay, he’s done enough. I know every Hibernian fan won’t feel exactly the same about it and I would respect that, but you’ve got to give people opportunities and I certainly hope there’s no knee-jerk reactions over the next wee while just because they’re not in the top six.”
Elsewhere abroad…
Kevin Muscat (MVC) oversaw a wild comeback in the Chinese Super League. Defending champions Shanghai Port overturned a 3-1 deficit to beat Shandong Taishan 4-3 to remain undefeated.
Peter Cklamovski (PER, ADL, MVC) saw his FC Tokyo rally from two goals down with 10 men to earn a stoppage-time draw with rivals Tokyo Verdy in the J1 League. In the first top-flight derby between the sides since 2008, FC Tokyo salvaged a point in the 94th minute.
“Players showed a warrior-like mentality and played with pride,” he said afterwards. “The fans and supporters really gave us amazing support and are the best in Japan.”
Elsewhere in the J1 League, Harry Kewell‘s (MVC, MCY) Yokohama F.Marinos coughed up a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Shonan Bellmare.
Thomas Deng (MVC) played the full 90 minutes in Albirex Niigata’s 1-1 draw against Consadole Sapporo.
Clare Polkinghorne (BRI) and Amy Sayer (CBR, SYD) both started for Kristianstads in their 3-1 win over AIK in Sweden.
Jackson Irvine (MVC) scored another goal but St Pauli missed the chance to regain top spot in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga following a 4-3 defeat at home to SV Elversberg. Connor Metcalfe (MCY) also provided an assist in the club’s first home loss of the season.
Mat Ryan (CCM) and AZ Alkmaar snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch Eredivisie.
In Norway, Nick D’Agostino (PER, BRI, MVC) and Patrick Yazbek (SYD) both started for Viking FK in a 1-1 draw with Brann. Gianni Stensness (WEL, CCM) came off the bench.
Hayley Raso (CBR, BRI, MVC) was a 63rd-minute substitute in Real Madrid’s 5-0 humbling of Granada in Spain’s Liga F.
Serie B leaders Parma ended a run of two games without a win by beating Spezia 2-0 in a game that Alessandro Circati (PER) started in Italy.
In the EFL Championship, Sammy Silvera (NEW, CCM) started for Middlesbrough in their 1-1 draw with high-flying Ipswich Town.
