John Iredale scored a freak goal in Wehen Wiesbaden’s German 2.Bundesliga relegation/promotion playoff as they claimed a 2-2 away draw at Jahn Regensburg.
Iredale came on in the 70th minute with scores 1-1 and made an instant impact with a goal within 60 seconds of his arrival on the pitch.
Ivan Prtajin’s drive was blocked by the opposition keeper with Iredale ready for the rebound, only to scuff his initial volley before somehow backheeling the ball into the back of the net amid a scramble.
The Aussie appeared to be appealing for a handball before his speculative backheel which may or may not have been deliberate but Iredale’s celebration suggested it wasn’t.
Regensburg would rescue a draw, squaring up the tie ahead of the second leg in Wiesbaden on Tuesday.
Former Socceroos midfielder James Holland scored the opening goal in Austria Vienna’s 2-1 victory over Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Friday.
Holland’s 51st minute goal put the Violets up 1-0. They are currently competing in the relegation phase of the league season but are well and truly safe.
The Aussie midfielder rifled in a fine volley from just inside the box after a corner was half-cleared.
In the Italian Serie A on Sunday, Cristian Volpato started and played 75 minutes as relegated Sassuolo drew 1-1 at Lazio.
In the Swiss Super League relegation/promotion playoff, Awer Mabil started and played 75 minutes as Grasshoppers rescued a last-gasp 1-1 home draw against FC Thun.
Joshua Laws was an unused sub. The second leg will be played in Thun on Friday.
In the Belgian Pro League European playoffs, Jordan Bos put in a full shift as Westerlo claimed an impressive 2-1 win at Leuven.
Aiden O’Neill was absent as Standard Liege lost 3-2 at Mechelen.
Gianni Stensness played a full game in central defence while Nick D’Agostino started and played 73 minutes in Viking’s 3-0 home win over HamKam in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday.
Others
Full games
Tomi Mrcela (Rudes), Tyrese Francois (Vejle), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Harrison Delbridge (Incheon United), Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus)
Minutes
Mitch Duke – SB 59 (Machida Zelvia), Peter Makrillos – ST 46 (Suwon), Lachlan Jackson – SB 73 (Suwon City), Brad Smith – SB 46 (Houston Dynamo)
Unused subs
Alexandar Popovic (Gwangju)
Notable absentees
Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split)
