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.
Another game, another goal
Mary Fowler (ADL) done something she has never done before in the UK over the weekend – the Matildas star scored in back-to-back matches.
Fowler not only provided an assist but was on the scoresheet for Manchester City, who dismantled Brighton and Hove Albion 4-1 to move level on points with Women’s Super League (WSL) leaders and champions Chelsea.
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It was her first league start since November and her performance helped City to their 10th successive WSL victory, while Alanna Kennedy (SYD, NEW, WSW, PER, MCY) came off the bench in the final seven minutes.
Last time out, Fowler started and scored in the Women’s FA Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Tottenham – her first goal for City since scoring in the same competition back in January.
But the A-Leagues product found the back of the net in consecutive City matches for the first time since making the switch from French outfit Montpellier in 2022.
She doubled City’s lead in the 40th minute before turning provider to make it 4-0 after Laura Coombs found the back of the net.
The last time she scored in back-to-back matches at club level was for Montpellier in May 2022, and both were in the 90th minute.
“She deserved it. The more we see of Mary, the more we feel she will improve,” City head coach Gareth Taylor told City TV, with the club eyeing their first WSL trophy since winning the league for the first time in 2016.
“She started the season really well, played a lot of the games. Come out of the team and now come back in at the right time. She’s contributing really well.”
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Elsewhere, Matildas trio Steph Catley (MVC, MCY) , Caitlin Foord (CCM, SYD, PER) and Kyra Cooney-Cross (MVC, WSW) all featured but Arsenal were swept aside 3-1 by Chelsea.
Catley and Foord both started, while Cooney-Cross was a second-half substitute.
Katrina Gorry (MVC, ADL, BRI) and Mackenzie Arnold (PER, CBR, WSW, BRI) were both in West Ham’s starting XI but the Hammers lost 3-1 to Liverpool, who had Matildas teammate Teagan Micah (BRI, WSW, MVC, MCY) on the bench.
Charli Grant (ADL) watched from the bench as Tottenham edged Leicester City 1-0. Courtney Nevin (WSW, MVC) was introduced in the second half by the Foxes, though Remy Siemsen (SYD, WSW) was an unused substitute.
Clare Wheeler (NEW, SYD) put in a full shift as Everton lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.
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What a week it was for Kusini Yengi (ADL, WSW), but it wasn’t without its unique challenges.
Yengi was the hero for Portsmouth in their 2-1 win at home to Burton Albion, scoring twice to preserve the club’s lead atop League One.
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But four days later, the A-Leagues graduate and Socceroos forward was on the bench for Portsmouth in their trip to Peterborough United.
Yengi, however, came off the bench in the 32nd minute to give Pompey a 1-0 victory on the road as he made it three goals in two games.
“I really feel for him,” said Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho. “It wasn’t an easy decision to leave him out.
“He scored twice on Tuesday night and his overall performance was really good.
“He has been excellent whenever he has played and his goalscoring record is superb.
“It could have been a difficult one to take, but he was really professional about it when told yesterday. He trained really well in the afternoon, stayed positive around the place and thoroughly deserved his goal.”
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Yengi, who has scored 11 goals across all competitions this season, added: “It was an amazing rush of adrenaline, with my team-mates leaping on my back and all the fans jumping around. I loved it.
“I want to start every game, but the gaffer chose to put me on the bench and I’m part of a team, so I wait for my opportunity.
“When called upon, I was ready to come on and help us win. That’s important and there are a number of players looking to contribute. You have to play your role.
“I love those scenes at the end of the game and they’re becoming regular. There was relief because we had to hold out at the end and everyone was exhausted.
“It shows massive resilience, togetherness in the squad and heart because we’ve had a few setbacks, but those came in played their role.
“I was scrolling on Twitter and saw some pictures of the people travelling up. It was awesome and we really feel the support of the fans. We’re happy with the three points and the performance – and looking forward to maybe a few days off to relax and reset.”
San Diego’s bullish coach as Aussie pair get hands on silverware
Kaitlyn Torpey (BRI, MCY) and Emily van Egmond (NEW, CBR, WSW, MCY) have started the season with a title after San Diego Wave topped Gotham FC 1-0 in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Challenge Cup.
Alex Morgan settled the curtain-raising contest between the NWSL Shield winners and the NWSL champions, which saw Van Egmond start while new signing Torpey came off the bench.
Following the showdown, San Diego head coach Casey Stoney refused to name Gotham FC as league winners after the Wave finished top in 2023 before the finals.
“We won the league,” said Stoney. To which the reporter stated that Gotham FC won the championship, with Stoney adding: “Yeah, but the league is played over the season. We won the league.
“I don’t think it’s about us versus them and the satisfaction piece. They finished sixth and we finished first, so we won the league. Tonight was about how we want to start this season off. Last season just enabled us to be in this position to play for this cup. Really pleased that we won. It gives the players confidence and belief.”
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Elsewhere, Ellie Carpenter (WSW, CBR, MCY) and defending champions Lyon bounced back from their historic Coupe de France defeat with a 4-0 rout of Fleury in Division 1 Feminine.
It was the team that sent the European juggernaut backing from the cup competition.
Clare Hunt (WSW) was a 60th-minute substitute in Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 win against Saint-Etienne.
Aussie oversees drought-ending result
Peter Cklamovski (PER, ADL, MVC) and his FC Tokyo made history in the J1 League over the weekend.
Tokyo conquered Avispa Fukuoka 3-1 away from home for their first win of the season.
It was the first time Tokyo have won at Best Denki Stadium in 90 minutes as they improved to five points after four rounds – five points adrift of league-leading Machida Zelvia.
“It is a reward for us to be able to achieve such results, because we performed well, the players fought while believing in each other, and the players fought with faith in our football,” Ange Postecoglou’s former assistant Cklamovski said.
“I think it was good to break such negative records. We were able to do that because of the passionate support of the fans and supporters. It was good to be able to send them back to Tokyo with a smile.”
Promoted Machida Zelvia are top of the table in their first season in the top flight after edging Consadole Sapporo 2-1, with Mitch Duke (CCM, WSW) introduced in the second half.
Mitch Langerak (MVC) and Nagoya ended their winless start to the season by defeating Kashiwa Reysol 2-0, while Harry Kewell (MVC, MCY) and his defending champions Yokohama F.Marinos held on to beat Kyoto Sanga 3-2.
Thomas Deng (MVC) helped Albirex Niigata play out a 2-2 draw against Tokyo Verdy.
Elsewhere abroad…
Mat Ryan (CCM) kept another clean sheet for AZ Alkmaar in their 4-0 win over Garang Kuol‘s FC Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie. Kuol (CCM) was an unused substitute.
In Germany, 2.Bundesliga leaders St Pauli were too good for Nurnberg 2-0 in a game that saw Jackson Irvine (MVC) and Connor Metcalfe (MCY) both complete 90 minutes.
Hayley Raso (CBR, BRI, MVC) was a 58th-minute substitute as Real Madrid overcame Eibar 1-0 in Liga F.
Amy Sayer (CBR, SYD) scored and Clare Polkinghorne (BRI) started in Kristianstads DFF’s 3-1 loss to Vaxjo in Sweden’s Svenska Cupen. Meanwhile, Aivi Luik (BRI, PER, MCY) started Hacken’s 7-1 demolition of Lidkoping.
Adam Le Fondre (SYD) made it two goals in two games as he helped Nick Montgomery’s Hibernian take down Livingston 3-0 in the Scottish Premiership. Nectar Triantis (WSW, CCM) started in midfield again, while Tete Yengi (NEW) led the line for Livingston.
Hearts were upstaged 2-1 by Ross County as Kye Rowles (BRI, CCM) and Nathaniel Atkinson (MCY) started but Cam Devlin (SYD, WEL, NEW) was on the bench.
Middlesbrough extended their unbeaten run to four matches in the EFL Championship following a 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers. Riley McGree (ADL, NEW, MCY) was in the XI, Sammy Silvera (CCM, NEW) came off the bench and Tom Glover (CCM, MCY) was an unused substitute.
Jason Cummings (CCM), scored the game-winning goal in the 97th minute as defending champions Mohun Bagan outlasted Kerala Blasters 4-3 in the Indian Super League.
Mumbai City – led by former Melbourne City assistant Petr Kratky, are top however after routing NorthEast United 4-1. Mumbai have played one more game than Mohun.
In the Belgian Pro League, Jordy Bos (MCY) played 85 minutes in Westerlo’s 1-1 draw with Genk.
Jason Davidson (PER, MVC) produced a 90-minute performance for KAS Eupen in a 4-0 loss to Standard Liege.
Alessandro Circati (PER), meanwhile, played a full game as Serie B leaders Parma extended their advantage atop of Italy’s second tier with a 2-1 win over Feralpisalo.
Alexandar Popovic (ADL) and Gwangju lost 1-0 to Pohang Steelers in K League 1.
