Alou Kuol made his German Bundesliga debut on Friday as an 86th minute substitute in VfB Stuttgart’s 2-1 loss away to RB Leipzig.
Kuol, who is the older brother of Socceroos winger Garang, replaced Luca Pfeiffer with five minutes to go as Stuttgart chased a late equalizer in vain.
The 21-year-old joined Stuttgart from Central Coast in April 2021, scoring seven in 18 appearances for Stuttgart II in the 2021-22 season, before a loan spell with 2.Bundesliga outfit Sandhausen.
Kuol has played 12 times for Stuttgart II in Regionalliga Nord this term, but hasn’t actually scored this season, yet got his opportunity with forwards Silas Katompa Mvumpa (calf) and Tiago Tomas (hip) unavailable.
The ex-Mariners forward is well known for scoring a scorpion kick goal for the Australian Under-23’s side in a 1-1 draw with Iraq at last year’s AFC Under-23 Asian Cup.
Cristian Volpato was an 89th minute substitute as AS Roma lost 2-1 to leaders Napoli in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday. Ajdin Hrustic‘s Hellas Verona are due to play Udinese on Monday.
Mat Ryan played a full game in goal as AZ gave up five goals in a 5-5 home draw with FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday.
Ryan made a miscalculation and raced off his line to try block Vangelis Pavlidis who raced forward and headed past him under pressure from the defence for the 78th minute equalizer.
Australian goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis appeared at Old Trafford as a 75th minute substitute as Reading lost 3-1 to Manchester United in the English FA Cup on Saturday.
There was no apparent injury leading to the substitution and Berkshire Live rated Bouzanis 5/10, writing: “A strange sub but aside from one poor clearance, produced a solid cameo.”
Tom Rogic started and played 52 minutes as West Bromwich Albion were bundled out of the FA Cup losing 3-0 at Bristol City. Rogic was given a 5/10 by the Birmingham Mail who wrote: “Good pressure high up the pitch, played a fine through ball to Dike which could have resulted in Albion’s first goal.”
Massimo Luongo debuted for Ipswich Town, in his second stint with the club, as a 78th minute sub in their 0-0 home draw with Burnley in the FA Cup. Cam Burgess was an unused sub. Kenny Dougall was a 73rd minute sub for Blackpool in their 2-1 loss at Southampton.
On Sunday, Harry Souttar wasn’t in the Stoke City squad for their 3-1 win over Stevenage amid speculation of a move to Leicester City before the transfer window closes.
Awer Mabil made his debut for his new Czech club Sparta Prague, coming on as a 58th minute substitute in a 1-1 draw at Sigma Olomouc in the Czech 1.Liga on Saturday.
Mabil joined Sparta on loan from Spanish La Liga outfit Cadiz earlier in January, linking up with ex-Midtjylland mentor Brian Priske in Prague.
👍 Awer Mabil poprvé nastupuje za Spartu v soutěžním zápase. #acsparta pic.twitter.com/9vnxS6NdYi
— AC Sparta Praha (@ACSparta_CZ) January 28, 2023
Riley McGree started and played 94 minutes before being replaced late as Middlesbrough won 2-0 over Watford in the English Championship to move up to third on the table.
Teesside Live rated McGree 8/10 and wrote: “Fluid and bright throughout. He took up some excellent positions in the hole between midfield and attack and linked things so well. Particularly first-half, Boro’s attacking four dominated the game.”
Ryan Strain provided the assist for the winner as St Mirren edged Motherwell 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership.
Strain started and played 88 minutes, while Keanu Baccus was out suspended amid reports of interest from Championship clubs Norwich City and Middlesbrough, with £500k said to be St Mirren’s asking price.
Aaron Mooy starred with a goal and an assist as Celtic won 2-0 at Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Mooy got down the right flank and whipped in a deep cross which evaded Mark Birighitti and was headed in by Jota in the 51st minute. Celtic’s Socceroo stepped up to convert a 56th minute penalty, netting emphatically as Birighitti went to his right.
Mooy played 67 minutes, while Birighitti and Aziz Behich both played full games. Birighitti appeared to give away a first-half penalty after clattering into Kyogo Furuhashi but it was overturned after VAR review with the goalkeeper punching the ball.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou told Sky Sports: “He’s built up his match fitness back to a level I know he can get to. He’s a quality player and in any other universe he’d be playing in the English Premier League but we were lucky he fell on our doorstep and I was happy to open the door.”
Mooy earned an 8/10 from Glasgow Live who wrote: “Keeping Matt O’Riley out of the team after excellent run of form. Brings a real calmness on the ball. Stunning cross for Jota’s opener. Scored penalty. Subbed.”
Four Australians played for Hearts in their 0-0 draw at Livingston on Sunday, with Kye Rowles rated 9/10 and Garang Kuol getting an 7/10 rating by the Edinburgh Evening News, while Cammy Devlin went off with a tight hamstring and Nathaniel Atkinson returned to the starting XI.
Kuol was a half-time sub: “For Oda at half time. Right through one-on-one the 18-year-old should have scored two minutes after coming on. Looked very dangerous.”
Rowles put in a full shift: “Strong block to stop Anderson pulling the trigger from the penalty spot and then a vital goalline clearance. Won everything in the air. Very solid.”
Atkinson started and played 74 minutes: “First start since November 9 for the Aussie wing-back. Did OK considering. Booked late in the first half for a late challenge on Penrice.”
Devlin started but was replaced after 39: “Walked off after 38 minutes with a slight knock of some sort. Put himself about and enjoyed the combative nature of a scrappy midfield battle.”
Alex Gersbach was absent for Grenoble’s 1-0 home loss to Bastia in France’s Ligue 2, amid reports he is set to join MLS club Colorado Rapids.
Others
Full games
Jackson Irvine, Jason Davidson, Alessandro Circati, Fran Karacic, Nicholas Bilokapic, Callum Elder, Ash Maynard-Brewer, Jimmy Jeggo
Minutes
Connor Metcalfe – ST 59, Anthony Kalik – ST 75, Lewis Miller – SB 72, John Iredale – SB 91
