Nestory Irankunda made his Grasshoppers debut in the Swiss Super League on Saturday but it was cut short prematurely after a teammate’s early red card.
Socceroos whizkid Irankunda made a six-month loan move from Bayern Munich to Grasshoppers earlier this month and he got his debut immediately upon the resumption of the Swiss Super League season after the winter break.
Away to Sion, Irankunda started for Grasshoppers, who are down the wrong end of the table.
But Grasshoppers defender Saulo Decarli was given a straight red card in the fourth minute for an elbow spotted on VAR.
As a result, Grasshoppers’ attacking intent was minimized in the first half, with Irankunda proving quiet, before being replaced at half-time.
Tomas Veron Lupi, who replaced Irankunda, scored the game’s only goal in the 64th minute as Grasshoppers edged Sion 1-0.
Jordan Bos scored as Westerlo went down 3-2 on the road to Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday.
Playing in an advanced left wing role, Bos struck in the 23rd minute to make it 1-1.
Bos scored when Bryan Reynolds’ cross into the box ended up with the Australian, who slammed it home. Bos put in a full shift.
⏱️ 23′ ⚽️ DOELPUNT ⚽️
Daar is de verdiende gelijkmaker! Reynolds zet de bal voor, via Sakamoto en Devine komt de bal terecht bij Bos. Die ramt de bal binnen. 1-1! #RAFCWES 1️⃣-1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/0w3hpsfAQB— KVC Westerlo (@KVCWesterlo) January 19, 2025
Max Balard played a full game in NAC Breda’s 2-1 victory over Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday. The result moves NAC up to ninth.
Cristian Volpato came off the bench in injury time to score a 92nd minute goal in Sassuolo’s 5-3 win over Sudtirol in the Italian Serie B on Sunday.
Jackson Irvine played an important role as St Pauli claimed a critical victory in their bid for survival, downing fellow struggling Heidenheim 2-0 on the road in the German Bundesliga.
Irvine played a full game in midfield, with the win moving St Pauli up to 13th, three points ahead of Heidenheim in 16th, which is the relegation play-off spot.
In the French Ligue 1, Denis Genreau continues to get good game-time lately, starting and playing 85 minutes in Toulouse’s 0-0 draw at Olympique Lyon.
In the Scottish Cup, Martin Boyle maintained his bright recent form with a double in Hibernian’s 3-0 triumph over Clydebank.
Boyle opened the scoring in the second minute, got the assist for the his side’s second goal straight after half-time and added the third on the hour.
Boyle, who started and played 63 minutes, has now scored six goals in his past three games, having fallen out of favour in November.
Jack Iredale and Lewis Miller both played full games for Hibs, while in-form Nectarios Triantis was given a break, remaining unused on the pine.
3⃣ games
1⃣ assist
6⃣ goalsMartin Boyle’s form… 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. pic.twitter.com/dlywzT4F3Q
— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) January 18, 2025
In the English Premier League, Joe Gauci was an unused sub as Aston Villa rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Arsenal.
In the English Championship, Riley McGree missed Middlesbrough’s 2-1 loss at Portsmouth with a “slight niggle” according to manager Michael Carrick.
Carrick said post-game: “Both Anf (Dijkstree) and Riley picked up what we hope will just be little niggles in training during the week. We’ll get back and assess them and see how they are over the next few days.”
Tom Glover put in a full shift in goals for Boro, earning a 6/10 rating from Evening Gazette, who wrote: “Unconvincing on a few occasions with his punching from crosses and particularly his kicking – one of which gifted Pompey a good first-half chance. Not much he could do with either goal, and made a big save at 1-1 that proved in vain.”
Sam Silvera made his debut for Blackpool following his January loan switch, coming on in the 75th minute in Blackpool’s 2-2 draw with Huddersfield in England’s League One.
Socceroos winger Silvera failed to impress on loan at Portsmouth in the first half of the season, making 11 appearances with no goals and four assists. Pompey fans turned on in his final appearance, chanting for him to return to his parent club Middlesbrough.
Silvera’s loan was cut one month short and Boro have now moved him to third tier outfit Blackpool.
In midweek, Silvera said: “I’m really looking forward to getting going and getting on the pitch as soon as I can. The interest was there from the start of the transfer window, but I didn’t want to rush anything. I wanted to make sure I got the decision right.
“I’m here to try and get back to my best, to score goals and assists to help the team and get back to feeling good when I’m out on the pitch. I haven’t played a lot of football recently, so hopefully I can get up to speed quickly and get that feeling back as soon as possible.”
Aussie goalkeeper Jacob Chapman put in a full shift for Huddersfield in the game.
🗣️ “Everyone speaks so highly of the Club.”
Hear everything from new signing Sammy Silvera’s first interview over on Tangerine TV.
🍊 #UTMP
— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) January 13, 2025
On the topic of Portsmouth, BBC is reporting that they have agreed to a deal to sign Olyroos and Brisbane Roar forward Thomas Waddingham.
In more transfer news, Kye Rowles has signed with MLS club DC United for an undisclosed fee, making the move from Scottish outfit Hearts.
Rowles has signed on a two-year deal, with the option of a third year in 2027 after more than 100 appearances for Hearts.
DC United general manager Ally Mackay said: “We are getting a highly experienced center back in Kye and we’re looking forward to integrating him with the team ahead of the start of preseason.”
Kye Rowles is Black-and-Red! 🇦🇺⚫️🔴 pic.twitter.com/b3fE7Qawsv
— D.C. United (@dcunited) January 15, 2025
“Kye is a leader on the field who has good defensive instincts and the ability to play out from the back. We believe he will fit in well to Troy’s system and we’re excited to welcome him to the District.”
Macarthur forward Ariath Piol is also set to move to the MLS having landed a move to Real Salt Lake according to NewsCorp’s Marco Monteverde.
Last week, Jason Geria sealed a move back to Japan to join J1 League club Albirex Niigata from Melbourne Victory.
Others
Full games
Ryan McGowan (Livingston), Nicholas Bilokapic (Peterborough), Caleb Watts (Exeter City), Ash Maynard-Brewer (Charlton)
Minutes
Josh Nisbet – ST 65 (Ross County), Gethin Jones – ST 75 (Bolton)
Unused subs
Johnny Koutroumbis (Motherwell)
Notable absentees
Ajdin Hrustic (Salernitana), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Motherwell – calf injury)
