Craig Goodwin extended his goal scoring form in Saudi Arabia’s star-studded Pro League with a double for Al Wehda against Steven Gerrard’s Al Ittifaq in a 3-2 loss on Saturday.
Goodwin’s double took his season tally to five league goals in six games since joining Al Wehda in September from Adelaide United.
Coming up against stars like England international Jordan Henderson, ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and former Everton and Bayer Leverkusen attacker Demarai Gray, the Socceroos winger rifled in a 37th minute equalizer with a left-foot shot from just outside the box.
Goodwin put his side 2-1 up in the 51st minute with a right-foot volley on the bounce from Abdulaziz Noor’s lofted cross.
Cristian Volpato was a 72nd minute substitute for Sassuolo in a 1-1 home draw with Bologna in Italy’s Serie A on Saturday. Ajdin Hrustic was absent as Hellas Verona lost 1-0 at Juventus.
Mohamed Toure came off the bench to provide the assist for the equalizer as Paris FC managed a 2-2 draw with Patrick Kisnorbo’s Troyes in France’s Ligue 2 on Saturday. Toure was a 73rd minute substitute, providing the pass for Ilan Kebbal’s 86th minute goal.
Denis Genreau was absent for Toulouse’s 3-0 loss at Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Sunday due to a minor injury problem.
Connor Metcalfe provided an assist as St Pauli came from behind to remain top of the German 2.Bundesliga table after a 2-1 victory over Karlsruhe SC.
Metcalfe, who started and played 83 minutes, whipped in the right-flank cross for Johannes Eggestein to score. Jackson Irvine played a full game and almost scored in the 33rd minute, but just couldn’t get the connection on a close-range chance.
Mat Ryan was in goal as AZ’s match with NEC in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday was suspended after Bas Dost collapsed on the pitch with a few minutes remaining. AZ were trailing 2-1.
❌ 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗸𝘁
De wedstrijd AZ – NEC gaat niet verder.#AZ #aznec #Eredivisie pic.twitter.com/ZMRpC0xM0Q
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) October 29, 2023
Garang Kuol started but was replaced at half-time as struggling FC Volendam won 3-1 over Excelsior, rallying back from a 1-0 half-time deficit.
Jordan Bos returned to the Westerlo starting XI and put in a full shift in a 3-1 home loss to leaders Union SG in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday. Aiden O’Neill was a 63rd minute substitute for Standard Liege in their 3-1 loss at Gent on Sunday.
In the Scottish Championship, Martin Boyle spurned a golden opportunity for a winner as Hibernian ground out a commendable 0-0 draw with Celtic.
Early in the second half Boyle was presented with a delightful left-wing cross from Jordan Obita into the box, but the Socceroo’s sliding volley went high.
Boyle, along with Lewis Miller, put in full shifts, while Jimmy Jeggo started and played 81 minutes. On Jeggo, Yahoo Sport wrote: “Tireless, dogged, energetic – and used the ball very well.”
Elsewhere, Keanu Baccus was among the scorers as St Miren routed St Johnstone 4-0. Ryan Strain was absent due to suspension.
Baccus made it 1-0 in the 36th minute, with a pinpoint side-footed shot from just outside the box. Baccus started and played 77 minutes, while Ryan McGowan was unused for St Johnstone.
Kye Rowles, Cameron Devlin and Calum Nieuwenhof were all involved as Hearts conceded twice at the death to lose 2-1 to Rangers on Sunday.
Rowles put in a full shift and earned a 7/10 rating from Edinburgh Evening News who wrote: “Assured display. Important first-half challenge on Todd Cantwell as he slid in hoping to score.”
Nieuwenhof started and played 78 minutes, earning a 7/10 rating: “Far more alive and combative than last week. Big improvement.” Devlin was a 61st minute sub and was rated 6/10: “Added some much-needed energy to midfield and finished at right wing-back.”
In the English Championship, Sam Silvera was a 71st minute substitute as Middlesbrough lost 2-0 at home to Stoke City only days after he netted his maiden Boro goal in a 2-1 win at Norwich City.
Tom Glover was an unused sub against Stoke while Riley McGree remains out with a foot injury.
Elsewhere, Massimo Luongo started and played 65 minutes, earning an 8/10 rating from the East Anglian Daily Times, as Ipswich Town maintained their grip on second spot with a 3-2 win over Plymouth Argyle. Cameron Burgess, who has been impressive this term, was absent.
Harry Souttar’s ladder-leading Leicester City stayed five points clear with a 2-1 win at QPR, although the Socceroos defender was an unused sub.
In England’s League One, five-time Socceroo Kenny Dougall netted but it wasn’t enough to lift Blackpool as they were downed 4-2 by Nicholas Bilokapic’s Peterborough United.
Bilokapic put in a full shift but was beaten by Dougall on the hour to make it 3-1, nodding with close range from a free kick.
Man City loanee Alex Robertson was hailed as a “class act” as Portsmouth fought back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Reading.
Portsmouth News gave an 8/10 rating to Robertson, who started and played 91 minutes. They wrote: “Such a class act. Wonderful on the ball and never hurried. Magnificent cross-field pass started the move which led to the third goal and keeps possession superbly. Great loan signing.” Kusini Yengi was an unused sub for Pompey.
Others
Full games
Alessandro Circati (Parma), Ash Maynard-Brewer (Charlton), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Alex Grant (Pohang Steelers)
Minutes
James Holland – SB 57 (Austria Vienna), John Iredale – ST 65 (Wehen Wiesbaden), Patrick Yazbek – ST 46 (Viking), Awer Mabil – ST 63 (Grasshoppers), Jason Davidson – SB 83 (KAS Eupen), Ryan Edwards – SB 71 (Amorebieta), Mitch Duke – SB 74 (Machida Zelvia), Peter Makrillos – ST 67 (Chungbuk Cheongju)
Unused subs
Milos Degenek (Red Star Belgrade), Jack Iredale (Bolton)
