A-League Alumni: Weekly Updates from Abroad featuring Exciting Player Stories
Melbourne City alumnus Sebastian Esposito had a noteworthy weekend playing for Lecce in Serie A, though he did not see any action against Inter. The Australian defender left City to join Lecce, where he is highly regarded and touted as a first-team option by the club’s director of football. Local publication Pianeta Lecce described Esposito as “the future of the Giallorossi defensive line.”
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, former Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin provided an assist for Odion Ighalo in a 2-1 defeat with Al Ittihad. Goodwin also scored six goals of his own this season, making significant contributions to Al Wehda’s campaign.
Harry Kewell made a dramatic start to his tenure at Yokohama F.Marinos, securing a late win in his J1 League opener. The former Socceroos star had praise for the league and the atmosphere surrounding matches, reflecting on valuable advice from Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat.
Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port suffered a setback in the Chinese Super Cup, losing 1-0 to Shanghai Shenhua. Muscat highlighted the differences between test matches and competitive fixtures, emphasizing the importance of match atmosphere.
In Thailand, Arthur Papas oversaw Buriram United’s 6-2 victory over Police Tero, with Australian midfielder Kenny Dougall finding the back of the net. Papas commended his team’s performance and the support from fans in the stadium.
Down in Germany, St Pauli continued their push for promotion with a crucial win over Holstein Kiel, with Connor Metcalfe and Jackson Irvine playing key roles in the victory. Irvine praised the team’s effort in securing three vital points in the race for promotion.
Across various leagues, Australian players such as Maty Ryan, Tom Glover, and Riley McGree were active, with standout performances and noteworthy results in their respective matches. The Australian presence in global football continues to grow, with players making significant contributions to their teams on the international stage.
- Paulinho, Former Guangzhou Evergrande Star, Announces Retirement - September 9, 2024
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Finish in Bottom Half of K League for First Time in History - September 5, 2024
- Neymar’s Return Forces Al-Hilal to Drop Renan Lodi - September 3, 2024
