Catch up on all the exploits of the overseas-based New Zealand professionals with the latest edition of Kiwis Abroad.

Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory, AUS): Scored the winning goal as the Victory defeated Newcastle Jets 1-0 to be crowned A-League champions for a record fourth time in front of nearly 30,000 spectators. A deep free kick was headed back across goal for Barbarouses to drive home with his left foot via a deflection. At nine minutes, it was the quickest-ever goal in an A-League final.

Myer Bevan/Joel Stevens (Husqvarna FF, SWE): Both started in a 4-2 win over Ljungskile SK, Bevan scoring towards the end of the first half to get his side back into the contest at 2-1 down. The pair later combined well to set up Husqvarna’s other goal for Ryan Binns. “We were a bit all over the place,” admitted Stevens. “The team needs to keep up with the game plan better.”

CJ Bott (USV Jena, GER): Played the full match as Jena picked up just their second win of the Frauen Bundesliga season, 3-2 at 1899 Hoffenheim. The three points lifted Jena off the bottom of the table and, with relegation rivals Werder Bremen losing, they now have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. The only downside for Bott was the picking up of a booking in the second half.

Michael Boxall (Minnesota United, USA): Put in a stand-out showing as Minnesota, who played most of the second half with 10 men, earned a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps. “This clean sheet perhaps validates the performances from the past weeks where we may have deserved a clean sheet but haven’t quite got one,” he said. “We gave them too many chances at goal and that’s something we still need to work on.”

Tyler Boyd (CD Tondela, POR): Not in action over the weekend due to Tondela playing his parent club, Vitoria SC. Took full part a week earlier though as Tondela confirmed their safety in the Premeira Liga with two games to spare after defeating the famous Benfica 3-2, a result that all but handed the league title to Porto.

Katie Bowen (Utah Royals, USA): At the sixth time of asking, freshly-formed Utah finally earned their first win in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with a 2-0 triumph over Washington Spirit. Bowen had to be content with a place on the bench and came on for the last five minutes.

Jeremy Brockie (Mamelodi Sundowns, RSA): Has struggled for game time since joining Mamelodi but was able to celebrate the first league title of his career after the Sundowns wrapped up the Absa Premiership. The double is off the agenda though after a 3-1 loss to Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, Brockie coming on for the last couple of minutes.

Olivia Chance (Everton, ENG): A torn ACL has brought a breakthrough season for Chance to an abrupt end. She suffered the injury in a 3-0 loss to Reading and, prior to that, had played in 10 FA Women’s Super League matches, as well as scoring three goals as the Toffees made the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup. Chance took full part in that match as Everton were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal.

Elliot Collier (Chicago Fire, USA): Started his sixth game of the season to keep up a proud record of featuring in all eight of Chicago’s matches so far. But he couldn’t help halt the charge of Eastern Conference table-toppers Atlanta United, who won 2-1 after Collier was withdrawn as part of a double substitution in the second half.

Kip Colvey/Tommy Smith/Deklan Wynne (Colorado Rapids, USA): Smith and Wynne both kept up a proud record of playing every minute so far while Colvey also earned a start, slotting in after an injury to regular right wing-back Bismark Adjei-Boateng. Colvey was replaced late on as the Kiwi trio couldn’t prevent a 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.

Max Crocombe (Salford City, ENG): The campaign finished on a high for Crocombe with a clean sheet in a 4-0 win over Leamington that iced the championship-winning cake for Salford, who will play in the fifth-tier National League next season after their third promotion in four years. They will do so under new management though after joint coaches Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley parted company with the club.

Greg Draper (The New Saints, WAL): Signed off on the Welsh Premier League season in fine style by finishing as the Saints top scorer with 22 goals and being honoured as the Supporters’ Player of the Season. It was also a successful year for the team, who again won the title and qualified for the early stages of the UEFA Champions League in the process.

Abby Erceg (North Carolina Courage, USA): Captained the Courage to a 1-1 draw against Chicago Red Stars and had a big hand in the equaliser, knocking a deep corner back across goal for McCall Zerboni to turn home. The Courage are still yet to lose this season and remain top of the NWSL table.

Jake Gleeson/Bill Tuiloma (Portland Timbers, USA): Neither took the field for a 1-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes as Gleeson was an unused substitute while Tuiloma is working his way back into first-team contention after injury. Tuiloma got 90 minutes for the club’s second string in the United Soccer League (USL) though, nearly scoring from a corner in a nil-all draw with Saint Louis FC.

Amber Hearn/Meikayla Moore (FC Koln, GER): Hearn played the full match in a 2-0 loss to MSV Duisburg while Moore did not take part. The defeat means Koln drop below Bott’s Jena to last on the Frauen Bundesliga ladder but there are only two points separating the bottom four teams (two are relegated) so there is hope of avoiding the drop in the remaining three games.

Clayton Lewis (Scunthorpe United, ENG): After weeks on the fringes of the match day squad, Lewis finally earned some game time for the promotion-chasing Iron, coming on for around 20 minutes of a 1-1 draw against Bradford City in League One. He will hope to have done enough to force his way into the reckoning for the two-legged playoff semi-finals against Rotherham United.  

Steven Old (Morecambe, ENG): Helped keep a clean sheet in a scoreless stalemate against Coventry City that secured Morecambe’s status in League Two. The former All White has taken part in all but five of the Shrimps’ league fixtures this season and has survived an initial cull of the squad – eight players have already been released and more could follow.

Stefan Marinovic (Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN): Now the lone Kiwi on Vancouver’s books, Marinovic played the full match between the sticks against Michael Boxall’s Minnesota United but couldn’t prevent a 1-0 loss. He made a great save initially for the goal but the rebound went straight into the path of Miguel Ibarra to force home.

Adam Mitchell (Bolton Wanderers, ENG): Signed off on the season with some silverware as Bolton claimed the U-23 Professional Development League title. After topping the north division of the competition, Wanderers defeated Charlton Athletic 3-1 in the playoff semi-finals before edging out Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final. Mitchell made his return in those games after a month out through injury.

Glen Moss (Newcastle Jets, AUS): After playing second fiddle to Jack Duncan all season, Moss pulled on a starting jersey for the A-League final after the incumbent goalkeeper was ruled out through injury. But it was to be no fairy tale as he was beaten early on by fellow All White Kosta Barbarouses for what proved to be the match-winning goal for Melbourne Victory.

Matt Ridenton (Newcastle Jets, AUS): Has linked up with former coach Ernie Merrick, leaving the Wellington Phoenix to follow the Scot across the Tasman and join Newcastle Jets. “I’ve worked with Ernie previously and the club seemed like a really good fit for me,” he said. “They’ve come off the back of a really strong season and things are going really well, both on and off the pitch.”

Ali Riley (FC Rosengard, SWE): Took full part in a hard-earned 2-1 win over Djurgardens in the Damallsvenskan. The victory continued a bright start to the season for Rosengard as they look to claim a title they have not held since 2015. They are top of the table after taking 10 points from their opening four games.

Marco Rojas (SC Heerenveen, NED): Has enjoyed a run of games in the Dutch Eredivisie and was again in the starting line-up as Heerenveen booked their place in the playoffs for the Europa League, despite losing 3-2 to Feyenoord. Rojas played for over an hour and now has a two-legged semi-final to look forward to against FC Utrecht.

Katie Rood (Juventus, ITA): On the verge of finishing her first season as a professional by lifting a trophy with Juventus just one win away from claiming the Serie A title. Rood has struggled for game time in the past couple of months but came off the bench for the closing stages of a 2-0 triumph over Fimauto Valpolicella for her sixth league appearance.

Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, NED): His team finished on a low note as Zwolle were humbled 6-0 by AZ Alkmaar – he did not take part due to a hamstring injury – but there was a personal accolade for Thomas to celebrate after being named the Supporters’ Player of the Year. He also strongly suggested his future lies elsewhere, saying “It is now the ideal time for me to look around. I am ready, I want a new challenge”.

Nik Tzanev (AFC Wimbledon, ENG): Has not featured for the first team in League One this season but will be given the opportunity to continue pressing his claims after being handed a new contract by manager Neal Ardley. The Dons finished the season strongly to avoid relegation and Tzanev will look to force his way into Ardley’s plans next season.

Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina, GRE): It was an eventful end to the season for Tzimopoulos, who signed a new two-year contract and was in the thick of the action in the final game. He scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Olympiakos Piraeus before picking up a yellow card and being substituted late on. In a season interrupted by injury, Tzimopoulos played 26 matches and scored three times as Giannina finished mid-table.

Hannah Wilkinson (Vittsjo GIK, SWE): Her side have begun the Damallsvenskan season sluggishly and now have only four points from their opening four matches after suffering another loss. Vittsjo fell 1-0 to Limhamn Bunkeflo with Wilkinson playing for 68 minutes.

Chris Wood (Burnley, ENG): Suffered a nasty cut to his foot a fortnight ago and was hence left out of a 5-0 loss at Arsenal. Despite the defeat, Burnley have qualified for the Europa League. Wood is currently tied as Burnley’s top scorer with Ashley Barnes on nine goals each and the pair will fight it out for the golden boot against Bournemouth this weekend.