Kiwis abroad: Reid heads home on a high

Winston Reid flew out for the start of the next stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying on a high after his first Premier League goal helped West Ham to a valuable 3-0 London Derby win over Fulham.

Winston Reid www.photosport.co.nz

September 3, 2012

AUCKLAND – Winston Reid flew out for the start of the next stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying on a high after his first Premier League goal helped West Ham to a valuable 3-0 London Derby win over Fulham.

Europe
Reid headed in Matt Taylor’s 29 minute corner to double the lead for the Irons and was solid at the back as his side kept the West Londoners scoreless. After two wins in three games, West Ham have climbed to seventh sitting three points behind leaders Chelsea.

The Auckland born defender was soon boarding a plane to link up with his All Whites team mates in time for crucial qualifiers against New Caledonia in Noumea on Friday and then against Solomon Islands back at North Harbour Stadium on Tuesday. Buy tickets.

Before the long trip home, Reid (@WinstonReid2) tweeted his fans a picture of his ticket from the plane.

 

"Great win 2day off to Nz for games All Best in the uk !!!"

"Off to new Zealand ! Hav Fun uk"

There was more good news from the Premier League for Kiwi fans as Ryan Nelsen made his first league start for Queens Park Rangers playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss to reigning English champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

The other member of the All Whites 2010 World Cup back three, Tommy Smith also clocked 90 minutes as Ipswich Town drew 2-2 with Huddersfield at Portman Road.

Meanwhile, Chris Wood is looking forward to getting back on the pitch after missing another match day squad for West Bromwich Albion, who beat Everton to maintain their unbeaten start to the premier League. 

"Back to NZ later on this evening. Looking forward to meeting up with the lads and playing some football," he tweeted (@officialcwood). 

One All White who won’t be making the trip is Rory Fallon who missed Aberdeen’s 0-0 draw against st mirren is the SPL after he tore a stomach muscle midweek and had to withdraw from New Zealand’s games.

Kosta Barbarouses will arrive in New Caledonia with vital game time after making his second appearance for Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League. The Greens drew 1-1 at home to PAS Giannina with Barbarouses subbed early in the second half.

Back in Britain, Greg Draper has started this season where he left off the last with his second goal in three games in the Welsh Premier League.  Draper netted in the ninth minute as TNS prevailed 4-1 over Prestatyn Town to maintain their perfect start to the season.

In Sweden, Craig Henderson made his fourth appearance this season for the Mjällby, playing the final 20 minutes in a 1-1 home draw against Malmö in the Allsvenskan, while Ali Riley and LdB Malmö are still two points clear at the top of the Swedish Damallsvenskan after a 3-0 win over Kristianstad. Kirtsy Yallop’s Vittsjö stayed third with a 1-1 away draw with AIK.

Over in Finland Kris Bright’s FC Haka endured an embarrising 5-0 loss to JJK in the Veikkausliiga to remain one point off the bottom of the table.

The German Frauen Bundesliga kicked off with two matches one of which saw Ria Percival debut for USV Jena alongside international team mate Amber Hearn. Percival was unable to help Jena get one over her old club, FFC Frankfurt, falling 2-1 to last year’s Champions League runners up.

North America
Andy Boyens made a welcome return to playing action for the LA Galaxy playing a full match in a midweek Champions League 2-0 win over Puerto Rico Islanders but was not part of the match day squad for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Vancouver in the MLS.

In collegiate activity, Rosie White looks to have taken her U-20 World Cup form back to UCLA, netting the opening goal in 2-0 win over the University of Wisconsin. http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-soccer/ucla-w-soccer-body.html

Betsy Hassett also starred as UC Berkeley beat the University of San Francisco 3-0 with the Football Ferns midfielder setting up the first two goals in a productive 66 minute shift.

Olivia Chance made her University of South Florida debut off the bench, registering 58 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Dartmouth.

Asia/Oceania
Jeremy Brockie maintained his goal scoring form, lodging his eighth goal in three games on the Wellington Phoenix’s pre-season tour of India, despite losing 3-2 to Shillong Lajong. Brockie and his All Whites team mates now head to Noumea via Australia for New Zealand’s opening stage three qualifier on Friday night.
Other A-League pre-season action saw Michael McGlinchey play the first 58 minutes of a 4-0 win over Bankstown City as Central Coast lifted the Doug Turnbull Cup.

And finally, Chris Killen’s Chongqing  drew 0-0 away to Shanghai Tellace to hold on to ninth place in China League One.