From the J1 League and Scottish Premiership, to the English Championship and beyond. KEEPUP has you covered on all the Aussie-related news outside the A-Leagues.
Muscat to deliver another title to Marinos?
Yokohama F.Marinos had gone 15 years without a J1 League title before Ange Postecoglou ended that drought in 2019.
Now, Marinos stand on the cusp of another league crown with another Australian at the helm – Postecoglou’s former assistant Kevin Muscat.
A-Leagues legend Muscat, who replaced Postecoglou following his big move to Celtic in July last year and is surrounded by fellow Aussies Shaun Ontong, Ross Aloisi and Greg King, has Marinos eight points clear atop the table with four rounds remaining.
High-flying Marinos routed Mitch Langerak’s Nagoya Grampus 4-0 to extend their lead and it was the first time they’ve kept clean sheet there since 2015.
It was also first time Marinos (as a league leader) kept a clean sheet on the road since 2013.
Debutant Rogic back in action with the Baggies
Tom Rogic. Remember him?
The A-Leagues graduate had not played since Celtic closed out their triumphant Scottish Premiership season in May, but Rogic is back playing football and it should excite Socceroos fans ahead of November’s FIFA Men’s World Cup.
West Brom recruit Rogic debuted for the Baggies over the weekend, starting the 3-2 loss to Swansea City in the English Championship.
“The only way we’re going to get him up to speed is playing in games,” said West Brom head coach Steve Bruce. “We knew it was a big call but he’s played in training for the best part of two or three weeks.
“In hindsight, maybe to come on as a sub might have been the way, but we thought can we get a good hour out of him that will stand him in good stead.
“We have to get him up to speed quickly if we can. There will not be a problem with Tom, you don’t play at the level he’s played at for 10 years, he’s a very, very good player.
“We need to get him up to speed match fitness-wise, but that’s always the difficult part when there hasn’t been any pre-season or games. I’ve seen enough in training otherwise he wouldn’t have been in the team-sheet. It’s a bit different in training but he can only benefit from the 60 minutes.”
Postecoglou’s Celtic stay top
Rangers are breathing down their neck, but defending champions Celtic remain the team to beat in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic, with a Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig looming on Thursday (AEST), overcame Motherwell 2-1 as captain Callum McGregor was sent off.
The Bhoys are two points clear at the summit.
“It was an important three points, particularly after the last result. It’s a funny old game – we created enough chances to win it comfortably, but a couple of self-inflicted wounds kept them in the game,” said Postecoglou.
‘But it was great character shown by the boys to see the game out and it was an important three points.”
Baccus caps a huge week with a goal!
Former Western Sydney Wanderers star Keanu Baccus made his Socceroos bow against New Zealand on September 25. It was a massive moment for the Australian midfielder.
It was reward for his stellar form for St Mirren and he was not done there, opening the scoring for the Scottish club in their 2-1 win against Livingston.
He has scored two goals since arriving from the A-League Men.
Elsewhere in Scotland, Australia international Martin Boyle found the back of the net for Hibernian, who defeated Ross County 2-0.
It was a rough weekend for Cam Devlin after his Socceroos debut – the Australian midfielder sent off as Hearts were crushed by Rangers 4-0.
Can anyone stop Galabadaarachchi?
Postecoglou isn’t the only one continuing to do good things at Celtic.
A-League Women graduate Jacynta Galabadaarachchi claimed the inaugural Women’s Young Player of the Year award and Celtic’s Player of the Season award last season.
And she has not slowed down in 2022-23, scoring goals at will.
Galabadaarachchi was on target as Celtic accounted for Partick Thistle 2-0 in the League Cup.
She has nine goals in seven matches so far.
In Italy, Joe Montemurro’s reigning champions and treble winners – Juventus – stayed within two points of top spot in Serie A Women courtesy of their 3-0 success against Pomigliano.
Matildas trio score in Sweden
Clare Polkinghorne, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Remy Siemsen were all among the goalscorers over the weekend.
Matildas defender Polkinghorne scored as seventh-placed Vittsjo – with Katrina Gorry and Charli Grant also starting – crushed Emma Checker’s Umea IK 5-0 in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
Cooney-Cross was on target via a long-range strike for fifth-placed Hammarby, who drew 1-1 against Pitea IF with Elise Kellond-Knight and Courtney Nevin were also involved.
Like Checker and called into the Matildas squad, Siemsen scored but AIK still lost 4-2 to Djurgardens.
Teagan Micah’s Rosengard increased their lead to five points thanks to a 4-2 victory over KIF Orebro.
In England, Mackenzie Arnold converted a spot-kick and saved a penalty as West Ham outlasted London City in a shoot-out in the Conti Cup group stage.
Emily Gielnik’s Aston Villa defeated Manchester United in the Conti Cup group stage.
Former A-Leagues pair fuel win in Belgium
Jason Davidson and Jimmy Jeggo. Both played in the A-Leagues and both played for Melbourne Victory.
Now team-mates at KAS Eupen in Belgium, they were in the thick of the action as the club took down Sint-Truidense VV 1-0 in the Belgian Pro League.
Club Brugge, where Paul Okon is assistant coach, saw off Mechelen 3-0 to be within five points of leaders Antwerp.
Aurelio Vidmar’s Bangkok United – fourth in the Thai Premier League – drew 1-1 at Port FC.
