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.
A-Leagues record-holder opens his Mohun Bagan account
Jamie Maclaren (BRI, PER, MCY) has lift-off in India.
In his first start for Indian Super League (ISL) giants Mohun Bagan, Maclaren scored his first goal since arriving from Melbourne City.
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The Isuzu UTE A-League’s all-time leading goalscorer had come off the bench in his two previous appearances in the ISL but over the weekend, the Australian star was in the line-up and found the back of the net with a powerful header in a 3-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting.
Dimitri Petratos (BRI, NEW) and Jason Cummings (CCM) were on the bench following a 3-0 defeat at Bengaluru, with Maclaren in the starting XI alongside former Brisbane Roar captain Tom Aldred (BRI).
“It was a great feeling (to score my first goal),” Maclaren said afterwards, having scored his first goal since April when City edged Western United in the A-Leagues.
“Last few weeks, I have been building up my fitness, so it was good to start a game.
“We have such a good contingent of attacking players. Everyone is contributing goals and assists and that’s the beauty of our squad.”
Your club-by-club guide to the Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 season
The match against Mohammedan was the first time this season neither Petratos nor Cummings were in the starting line-up.
Petratos was a second-half substitute while Cummings was unused on the bench.
Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina was asked if the XI against Mohammedan was his best starting line-up and replied: “I don’t know to be frank.
“I hope this isn’t my best XI. That’s because I don’t want only 11 players performing at their best. Yesterday, we trained with 25 players plus three goalkeepers and Sahal is injured. I want my entire squad to be ready to be great players for Mohun Bagan.
“I aim to ensure that regardless of whoever is playing the team is playing well. In some moments, a few players play well and that’s fine. Ashique Kuruniyan did well from the bench, Suhail Bhat, and Deepak Tangri helped us today, and Dimitri Petratos also.
“That is what you want. Maybe I make changes in the next match, or maybe I won’t. Hopefully, we don’t have a clear starting line-up, that is what I want.
“We could play Dimitri Petratos, Greg Stewart, Jamie Maclaren, Jason Cummings or Manvir Singh it doesn’t matter, we must play great as Mohun Bagan. That is most important.”
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE MEN 2024-25 FIXTURE DETAILS
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Elsewhere in Asia, Peter Cklamovski‘s (ADL, PER, MVC) FC Tokyo extended their unbeaten streak to four matches with a 1-1 draw at home to Sagan Tosu in the J1 League.
FC Tokyo are sixth in the standings after 33 rounds.
Mitch Duke (CCM, WSW) started as Machida Zelvia’s title hopes took another blow after a 4-1 rout at the hands of Kawasaki Frontale.
Machida Zelvia are now third in the table and six points adrift of Tolgay Arlsan (MCY) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Melbourne Victory-bound Nagoya Grampus legend Mitch Langerak (MVC) started his club’s 1-0 loss at Avispa Fukuoka, while Thomas Deng (MVC) came off the bench in Albirex Niigata’s 4-0 defeat at home to Kashima Antlers.
Interim Yokohama F.Marinos head coach John Hutchinson (CCM) oversaw a fourth consecutive J1 League loss after the 2023-24 AFC Champions League runners-up went down 1-0 to Kashiwa Reysol.
Marco Tulio (CCM) found the back of the net in stunning fashion in Kyoto Sanga’s 3-2 loss to second-placed defending champions Vissel Kobe.
Stama scores his first goal in Scotland
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (ADL, WUN, NEW) is up and running in the Scottish Premiership.
The 2023-24 A-Leagues All Star scored his first goal for Motherwell in their 2-1 win over Hibernian, who had Aussie Nectar Triantis (WSW, CCM) sent off.
It was a goal to remember for Subway Socceroos forward Stamatelopoulos, who broke Newcastle Jets’ single-season goalscoring record last season, after an injury-interrupted start to life in Scotland.
Motherwell head coach Stuart Kettlewell believes there is more to come from the Australian.
“Especially happy for Apostolos to get his first goal,” said Stuart Kettlewell.
“It’s been a frustrating period for him. It’s promising. If you look at seven league games now and the cup run, it’s been hard to find some partnerships, especially in that forward area with injuries and a few setbacks.
“There’s a club golf day next week and he was due to play in that, but the wife put the foot down as she is just over and he’s trying to spend some time with them!
“The call-up has probably thrown a spanner in the works but it’s always a great thing for a player to get called up for your national team. I am especially pleased that call has come with the lack of game time he’s had and that probably indicated what the Australian national team think of him.
“If we can get him on the pitch more, I think you’ll see more of what he gave us today, not just the goal but all-round game.”
The trip to Edinburgh saw Stamatelopoulos come up against fellow A-Leagues graduates Triantis and Lewis Miller (CCM).
Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership, Josh Nisbet (CCM) started Ross County’s 2-1 loss at home to high-flying Celtic.
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There is no stopping Aberdeen, who made it seven wins from seven matches to keep pace with Celtic atop the table, after edging 10-man Hearts.
A former A-Leagues star is in the Aberdeen squad – James McGarry (WEL, NEW CCM), who has made four appearances across all competitions this season.
Kye Rowles (BRI, CCM) started for winless bottom side Hearts, while Cam Devin (SYD, WEL, NEW) was an unused substitute.
Matildas stars among the goals as Aussie leads WSL side to new heights
Mary Fowler (ADL) scored a goal and a setup another as Manchester City defeated Katrina Gorry (MVC, ADL, BRI) and West Ham 2-0 in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
CommBank Matildas star Fowler scored her first WSL goal of the season to help City move top of the table through three rounds, albeit provisionally after Chelsea’s clash with Manchester United was postponed.
“I never score headers so it was really nice,” Fowler said via Optus Sport after the game.
“I was just trying to get my head to it. I knew I was going to get a bit of s*** from Bunny (Shaw) if I didn’t score so I’m happy it went in.”
Alanna Kennedy (SYD, NEW, WSW, PER, MCY) came off the bench for City.
Australia international Clare Hunt (WSW) scored a rare goal for Tottenham in their 3-2 loss at home to Liverpool.
Hunt scored her first goal for Tottenham and first finding the back of the net for Western Sydney Wanderers in a Ninja A-League victory over Brisbane Roar in March 2023.
Hayley Raso (CBR, BRI, MVC) also started for Spurs, while Charli Grant (ADL) was an unused substitute.
Dario Vidosic (BRI, ADL, WSW, WEL, MCY) oversaw another big win, this time guiding Brighton and Hove Albion to a 4-2 win over 10-player Aston Villa.
Brighton have collected six points from their opening three games – matching the six points they took from three games to start the 2021-22 WSL season. However this season stands alone in terms of the first three rounds, having scored eight goals compared to seven in 2021-22.
“A lot of emotions but we were pleased with the performance,” Vidosic said.
“We can’t expect it to be perfect, especially with the week that we’ve had. I was frustrated at times, because I know we’re better but when I thought back to the week we’ve had, I felt very tired as well.
“20-odd hours on a bus, arriving very, very late – around 2am in Birmingham – so when you take all of that into context, I think we should all be very proud of their efforts against a tough opponent.”
Steph Catley (MVC, MCY) made her first appearance of the season after overcoming injury as Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (WSW, MVC) started for Arsenal, while Caitlin Foord (CCM, SYD, PER) was a second-half substitute along with Catley.
Clare Wheeler (NEW, SYD) started for Everton, who took a point away from Arsenal for the first time in 14 WSL showdowns.
Elsewhere abroad…
Ellie Carpenter (WSW, CBR, MCY) celebrated her 100th appearance for Lyon with a 4-0 dismantling of Montpellier in France’s Division 1 Feminine.
Led by A-Leagues legend Joe Montemurro (MVC, MCY), defending champions Lyon have won their three games to start the season, scoring 16 goals while conceding just twice.
Sarah Hunter (WSW, SYD) came off the bench for Paris FC in their 1-0 loss to Saint-Etienne.
Anthony Kalik (CCM, SYD) scored his first goal of the season as Gennaro Gattuso’s Hajduk Split defeated Sibenik 4-0 in the Croatian First League. The Croatian giants have not won the league since 2004-05.
Cristian Volpato (SYD, WSW) scored his first goal for Sassuolo since February in their 6-1 rout of Cittadella in Italy’s Serie B.
Jackson Irvine (MVC) captained St Pauli to a 3-0 loss to Mainz in Germany’s Bundesliga, while Connor Metalfe (MCY) was absent through injury.
Cortnee Vine (BRI, NEW, WSW, SYD) made her return as North Carolina Courage qualified for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) play-offs.
North Carolina secured their play-off status with a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave, who had Emily van Egmond (NEW, CBR, WSW, MCY) in the XI while Kaitlyn Torpey (BRI, MCY) came off the bench.
Mackenzie Arnold (PER, CBR, WSW, BRI) was unavailable for Portland Thorns in their 2-1 loss to Utah Royals.
“At the end of training, she felt something yesterday, then we spoke to her, and she felt it was OK,” said Thorns head coach Rob Gale.
“It was one of those that we thought she’d be OK, but she woke up this morning and still felt some discomfort.”
Remy Siemsen (SYD, WSW) and Clare Polkinghorne (BRI) both started for Kristianstads in their 2-1 loss to Swedish Damallsvenskan champions Rosengard.
Jada Whyman (WSW, SYD) started for relegation-threatened AIK in their last-gasp 1-1 draw with Orebro DFF.
In the Danish Superligaen, Paul Izzo (ADL, CCM, MVC) started in Randers in their 1-1 draw against Lyngby, while Mohamed Toure (ADL) came off the bench.
In Belgium’s First Division A, Jordan Bos (MCY) completed a full 90 minutes as Westerlo drew 2-2 with Beerschot.
Aiden O’Neill (BRI, CCM and MCY) played the entire game for Standard Liege in their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Anderlecht.
In the Dutch Eredivisie, Max Balard (CCM) started NAC Breda’s 1-0 success at home to NEC.
Joe Gauci (ADL) was on the bench for Aston Villa in their 0-0 draw at home to struggling Premier League giants Manchester United, while Maty Ryan (CCM) also watched from the bench as Roma drew 1-1 at Monza in Italy’s Serie A.
Cam Peupion (SYD) scored a goal and set up four others for Brighton and Hove Albion in their 10-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace in Premier League 2.
In MLS, Patrick Yazbek (SYD) played 77 minutes for Nashville SC as they lost 3-1 to New York City FC while Lachlan Brook (ADL, WSW) came off the bench for Real Salt Lake in their 1-0 triumph against San Jose Earthquakes.
Louis D’Arrigo (ADL) was a late substitute in Lechia Gdansk’s 2-1 loss to Stal Mielec in the Polish I Liga.
In the EFL Championship, Riley McGree (ADL, NEW, MCY) came off the bench for Middlesbrough, who went down 2-1 at Watford as did Daniel Bennie (PER) in QPR’s 2-0 defeat to Derby County.
In League One, Ben Waine (WEL) and Keanu Baccus (WSW) both started Mansfield Town’s 2-0 victory over Blackpool.
Over in France’s Ligue 1, Ben Old (WEL) started Saint-Etienne’s 3-1 win against Auxerre.
