Young excellence, promotion battles, and a happy farewell: The Australian team of the week from players around the globe
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Socceroos forward Mathew Leckie has hit form just in time for next month’s international friendlies, scoring his first goal for German club Ingolstadt 04 in a standout performance.
Making his first start since returning from an abdominal injury, Leckie scored the first goal then set up his side’s second as Ingolstadt 04 posted a 2-0 victory over local rivals Greuther Furth.
Displaying the pace and power that made him one of the Socceroos’ most dangerous players at the World Cup in Brazil, the 23-year-old produced a superb solo run before converting to give his side the lead in the 62nd minute.
Leckie, who joined Ingolstadt this season, then set up teammate Pascal Grob on the edge of the box and the midfielder’s rasping low drive sealed the result in the dying minutes.
The result lifts Ingolstadt to fifth in Germany’s second tier, above Furth who drop to seventh.
Leckie was among several Australians in action in Europe overnight who were last week named in the Socceroos’ 20-man squad to take on Belgium in Liege on September 4 before facing Saudi Arabia in London four days later.
Fellow Socceroos winger Tommy Oar had a strong performance for Dutch club Utrecht who posted a shock 2-1 win over Feyenoord, who were fielding Australian defender Luke Wilkshire.
After going down 1-0 in the first half, Oar set up both goals for his side to ensure the upset win.
A precision Oar cross found Nacer Barazite who netted the equaliser, before the Australian then went on a defence-busting run to set up Rodney Antwi for the winner.
Elsewhere, Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury came on in the 80th minute as his club PEC Zwolle scored late to beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-1.
Mat Ryan’s Club Brugge had a disappointing night, toppled 3-1 by KV Mechelen while midfielder James Holland played a full match for Austria Vienna in their 2-2 derby draw against Rapid Vienna.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
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