Aussies Abroad – Ruka strikes

Nikita Rukavytsya and Mile Jedinak both found the back of the net for their clubs on a busy weekend of action for Australian footballers plying their trade in Europe.

Nikita Rukavytsya and Mile Jedinak both found the back of the net for their clubs on a busy weekend of action for Australian footballers plying their trade in Europe.

Forgotten Qantas Socceroo Rukavytsya scored his opening goal of the Bundesliga season to lift Hertha Berlin out of the drop zone.

The former Perth Glory player struck in the 62nd minute of the 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in front of nearly 53,000 fans at the Olympic stadium in Berlin.

It was his first goal for the club since scoring in the German Cup in October and the result pushed his side one point above the relegation spots.

Rukavytsya was a key part of his club’s promotion from the second division last season but has been unable to nail down a regular starting spot in the top-flight.

But he made his rare starting appearance count with his left-footed shot finding the bottom left corner.

The 24-year-old West Australian nearly made it a double in the 74th minute but his shot struck the post.

Rukavytsya has battled for call-ups to the national squad since making two appearances off the bench at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Meanwhile in the nPower championship, Mile Jedinak produced his first goal for Crystal Palace in a 1-0 win over Peterborough at Selhurst Park.

The midfielder has slotted in well in his first season at the south London club, having been part of the side’s run to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Jedinak took advantage of a fumble from Peterborough goalkeeper Paul Jones to fire home 14 minutes from time.

In the Barclays Premier League, Tim Cahill continued to strike the woodwork instead of the back of the net with a sweetly-struck half-volley hitting the crossbar early in Everton’s 1-1 draw at lowly Queens Park Rangers.

Elsewhere, Chris Herd made his first start since December following an ankle injury as Aston Villa drew 1-1 at Blackburn.

Back in the English second division, Socceroos midfielder Neil Kilkenny was benched after less than half an hour of Bristol City’s 3-0 loss to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Compatriot Rhys Williams was sent off for a second booking during Middlesbrough’s 3-1 win at financially-stricken Portsmouth while Millwall became the first side to breach Australian No.2 goalkeeper Adam Federici’s defences in more than eight hours.

The Australian’s club Reading recovered for a 2-1 victory to maintain their quest for automatic promotion.

In the Netherlands, Brett Holman’s AZ Alkmaar moved to the top of the table with a 3-1 win over SC Heracles Almelo.