Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan enjoyed a winning start to life with new French club Lens, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 home win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Ryan completed the permanent move from AS Roma to Lens earlier this week, having struggled for playing opportunities in Italy. The deal is short term, running until June 2025.
The Aussie shot-stopper got an immediate debut for Lens, after first choice Brice Samba left for Rennes earlier this month.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Denis Genreau also got a start, playing 76 minutes for Toulouse in a 2-1 home loss to Montpellier.
Ryan’s Lens are sitting seventh, while Genreau’s Toulouse aren’t far behind in 10th.
𝑯-𝟏 avant #RCLSCO 🔴🟡
Voici 𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒛𝒆 choisi par le coach Will Still pour débuter cette rencontre face à @AngersSCO !
➡️ Première titularisation pour @MatyRyan.
🏥 Forfait, @KevinDanso98 (genou) cède sa place dans le groupe à Nampalys Mendy. #FiersDEtreLensois pic.twitter.com/BoXoOhJUhO— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) January 26, 2025
Jackson Irvine got an assist as St Pauli claimed an important 3-0 home victory over Union Berlin to boost their survival hopes in the German Bundesliga on Sunday.
Irvine came close to scoring the opener in the 29th minute, forcing a good save with a right-foot near-post strike.
Two minutes later, the Australian played a well-weighted pass in behind the Union defence for Morgan Guilavogui to race on to and fire home for 1-0.
Irvine played the full game while Connor Metcalfe remains sidelined with injury.
Aussie teenager Tom Waddingham scored on his Portsmouth debut in the English Championship but it wasn’t a happy outing as his side went down 5-1 to West Brom.
Waddingham made the move to England earlier this month from Brisbane Roar on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
And the 19-year-old striker got his opportunity, coming on as a 57th minute substitute for Pompey, scoring in stoppage time.
Waddingham found himself unmarked at the back post to clip home a chance at the second attempt for a late consolation.
Portsmouth News, who were scathing of the team, rated Waddingham 6/10 and best afield for Pompey.
Portsmouth News wrote: “Talk about a baptism of fire when thrown onto the pitch at 5-0, but chased hard and put himself about and got himself a debut goal in the dying seconds. Good enough for man of the match in these circumstances. Take a bow, lad.”
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said: “For him to come on and make an impact so quickly, I think he’ll be absolutely thrilled. To get a taste of the level as well is probably a really, really important thing. He probably could’ve had a couple and, yeah, he took his goal well.”
Elsewhere, Alex Robertson earned a 6/10 rating for a 67-minute shift in Cardiff City’s 2-1 win over Callum Elder’s Derby County.
Wales Online wrote about Robertson: “Got himself into some good positions, but this was perhaps one of his quieter outings. Subbed.” Elder started and played 77 minutes for the Rams.
Tom Glover was rated 5/10 as Middlesbrough went down 2-1 to Preston North End.
Teesside Live wrote: “Had no chance with the opener. Besides that, barely any saves to make. Commanded his area well from corners, including an important touch to deny Hughes at the back post.”
In the English Premier League, Massimo Luongo was an unused substitute in Ipswich Town’s 4-1 loss away to leaders Liverpool on Saturday. Cam Burgess was absent.
In the Swiss Super League, Nestory Irankunda started and played 76 minutes for Grasshoppers in a goalless draw with champions Young Boys.
Irankunda made an impact when he won his side a penalty early in the second half, after getting in behind the defence and going down after contact to his head and shoulders. But Adama Bojang’s low penalty was saved.
In the Dutch Eredivisie, Max Balard came up against champions PSV Eindhoven with NAC Breda and played a full game in a 3-2 loss.
In the Belgian Pro League, Jordan Bos backed up last week’s goal with an assist in Westerlo’s 2-1 home loss to Genk. Bos put in a full shift at full-back.
In the Scottish Premiership, Nectarios Triantis continued his good form with an assist in Hibernian’s 1-1 draw at Ross County. Triantis coolly brought down a nod-down from a corner, before back-heeling for Dylan Levitt to rifle home.
Triantis, along with Aussies Jack Iredale and Martin Boyle played full games, while Lewis Miller was an unused sub for Hibs. For County, Josh Nisbet started and played 63 minutes.
Edinburgh Evening News rated Triantis 7/10 and wrote: “Did his job well with a lot of the early build up play going through him.” Boyle was rated 7/10 for his “high energy” but was a “tad wasteful with his finishing” and Iredale earned a 6/10.
In the Saudi Arabian Pro League, Craig Goodwin provided both assists for Al Wehda in their 2-2 draw with Al Ettifaq.
Goodwin’s first assist came from a corner to his side ahead on the half hour. The Socceroo played his part in the 85th minute to put them 2-1 up, spreading play wide inside the box for his unmarked teammate to jink and score.
Others
Full games
Jason Davidson (Panserraikos), Ryan Strain (Dundee United), Cam Devlin (Hearts), Fran Karacic (Lokomotiva), Keanu Baccus (Mansfield), Gethin Jones (Bolton), Jacob Chapman (Huddersfield), Nicholas Bilokapic (Peterborough)
Minutes
Anthony Kalik – ST 72 (Hajduk Split), John Koutroumbis – SB 78 (Motherwell), Sam Silvera – SB 69 (Blackpool)
Unused subs
Ajdin Hrustic (Salernitana)
Absent
Aiden O’Neill (Standard Liege – knock), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Motherwell – calf)