Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe made their Bundesliga debuts as newly-promoted St Pauli dominated the chances but lost 2-0 at home to Heidenheim on Sunday.
The Socceroos duo were integral to St Pauli’s promotion last term and earned their starts for Sunday’s clash. Irvine played a full game in midfield while Metcalfe got through 84 minutes in a more advanced midfield role.
Metcalfe came close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute with a low left-foot effort that clipped the post after Irvine’s good play to bring the ball inside the box.
Metcalfe again almost broke the deadlock on the half hour with a bouncing volley from Morgan Guilavogui’s cross.
In the 63rd minute, Irvine did brilliantly down the left flank to work a one-two, getting in behind the defence and swinging a ball across goal, only for Guilavogui to be unable to tap it home.
Harry Souttar made his league debut for Sheffield United, earning a 6.5/10 rating for a full shift in their 1-1 draw away to Norwich City in the English Championship on Saturday.
The Star wrote: “Making his full league debut for the Blades in the absence of Ahmedhodzic and almost marked it with an early goal as he flicked on Burrows’ corner but saw the ball ripple the top of the Norwich net rather than land in the back of it.
“Seemed to jump a little too early and leave space for Sargent to run in behind for Norwich’s opener, but apart from that looked very comfortable.”
Alex Robertson made his league debut for Cardiff City, starting and playing 59 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Welsh rivals Swansea City on Sunday.
Wales Online rated him 7/10 and wrote: “An impressive first Championship outing. Looked to pass the ball forward whenever he was afforded the chance and was careful with the ball. Nice set-piece delivery, too.”
Massimo Luongo started and played 72 minutes in Ipswich Town’s 4-1 loss away to Manchester City in the English Premier League on Saturday. Cam Burgess was an unused sub.
Josh Nisbet made his Scottish Premiership debut away to Rangers only days after signing with Ross County on a three-year deal.
Nisbet was a 70th minute substitute for County who were hammered 6-0 by Rangers.
🎙️ New addition Josh Nisbet speaks for the first time after joining the Staggies today. pic.twitter.com/JyI3UEVvuX
— Ross County FC (@RossCounty) August 22, 2024
Martin Boyle scored in Hibernian’s 2-2 draw with Dundee.
Boyle, who played a full game, made it 1-1 in the 45th minute with a fine free-kick. Lewis Miller started and played 64 minutes.
Gianni Stensness got on the scoresheet, netting Viking’s fifth goal in a 5-2 victory over Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday.
Stensness put in a full shift at centre-back and scored in the 82nd minute, poking home a rebound after a header from a corner was saved. Watch here.
Others
Full games
Aiden O’Neill (Standard Liege), Paul Izzo (Randers), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus), Lachlan Jackson (Suwon), Jonathon Aspropotamitis (Pohang Steelers), Connor Chapman (Gimpo Citizen)
Minutes
Awer Mabil – ST 79 (Grasshoppers), Kusini Yengi – SB 64 (Portsmouth), Nectar Triantis – SB 91 (Sunderland), Callum Elder – ST 65 (Derby County), Keanu Baccus – ST 76 (Mansfield), Mohamed Toure – SB 64 (Randers), John Iredale – ST 46 (AaB) Cameron Devlin – SB 55 (Hearts), Anthony Kalik – SB 70 (Hajduk Split), Mitch Duke – SB 75 (Machida Zelvia), Brad Smith – SB 79 (Houston Dynamo), Henry Hore – SB 46 (Gangwon)
Unused subs
Mat Ryan (AS Roma), Joe Gauci (Aston Villa), Denis Genreau (Toulouse), Dean Bouzanis (Stevenage), Ash Maynard-Brewer (Charlton), Nicholas Bilokapic (Peterborough), Lachie Wales (Gyeongnam)
