The Socceroo found the back of the net 19 times during the 2011 J-League campaign, however, needing a win and hoping Kashiwa Reysol either drew or lost, Nagoya received no favours as Kashiwa proved too strong for Matthew Spiranovic’s Urawa Red Diamonds. The 3-1 win for recently promoted Kashiwa secured the title while Kennedy and his teammates had to be content with another second placed finish despite a 1-0 win away to Niigata.

Spiranovic was an unused substitute for Urawa but despite their 3-1 defeat, the Saitama-based club narrowly avoided relegation and can look forward to another season in Japan’s premier competition.

Elsewhere, Eddy Bosnar and Alex Brosque put in full shifts for Shimizu S-Pulse in their 3-1 loss at home to Gamba Osaka. The result meant Gamba ended the season in third while Shimizu finished in 10th position.

In Japan’s second division, Jade North was absent from Tokyo’s final game of the season. Having secured promotion to the J-League, Tokyo had little to play for and as a result, suffered a 2-1 loss away to Consadole Sapporo while Mark Milligan was also absent from JEF United’s final game of the season. JEF United defeated Mito Hollyhock 2-1 to finish in 6th position.

Over in Germany’s Bundesliga, Nikita Rukavytsya completed a full 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin as they were held to their third consecutive draw, this time away to Kaiserslautern. Roman Hubnik’s 6th minute own goal gifted Kaiserslautern the lead before Brazilian Raffael levelled proceedings eight minutes later. The scores remained the same and ended the home sides run of two losses on the trot.

Elsewhere in Germany, the battle of the Borussia’s saw Matthew Leckie return to first team football in Monchengladbach’s 1-1 draw against Dortmund at Borussia-Park. After many weeks out of the senior team, Leckie made a six-minute cameo appearance.

Former Melbourne Victory keeper, Mitchell Langerak continued on the bench for the defending champions. A point apiece means Bayern return to the Bundesliga summit following their comfortable 4-1 victory at home to Werder Bremen.

In the English Premier League, Chris Herd played fifty-nine minutes before being replaced by Stiliyan Petrov in Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at Villa Park. The Aussie had a header saved at close range by Anders Lindegaard but like Herd, his teammates could not find the back of the net.

Patrick Kisnorbo got the better of fellow Aussie, Shane Lowry in Leeds United’s 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road. With emotions running high following the death of club legend, Gary Speed, Leeds rose to the occasion and secured all three points thanks to a quick fire double from Robert Snodgrass. Lowry was replaced with five minutes remaining while Kisnorbo put in a full shift.

Leeds move within six points of an automatic promotion place while Millwall hover just two points above the relegation zone.

Adam Federici could not prevent Reading from tasting their first defeat in two games as they suffered a 1-0 loss against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Callum McManaman’s 55th minute goal, his first goal of the season, separated the two sides.

The Aussie trio of Rhys Williams and Scott McDonald earned bragging rights over fellow countrymen Neil Kilkenny as Middlesbrough left it late to take all three points away to Bristol City. A 90th minute goal from substitute Malaury Martin ended Bristol City’s six game unbeaten run.

On Friday night, Mile Jedinak returned to the Crystal Palace starting eleven following the sides Carling Cup triumph midweek at Old Trafford. Palace, playing in front of 14,338 fans at Selhurt Park, was held to a 1-1 draw by Derby County.

In the Scottish Premier League, Ryan McGowan maintained his place in the Hearts starting eleven that suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of St.Johnstone. The loss was Hearts fourth in six games. In more negative news for the club, Hearts players salaries are overdue for the second successive month as owner Vladimir Romanov looks to sell the debt ridden club.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Premier league, Young Aussie Aaron Mooy returned to the St.Mirren squad but as an unused substitute in the side's 2-1 loss at home to Inverness while Matt McKay was absent from the Rangers side that returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Dunfermline at Ibrox.

In the United Arab Emirates, a brace from former AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira helped Al Jazira to a 4-1 win over Emirates. Socceroo Captain Lucas Neil’s defence was breached after only two minutes as Akarandut Orok found the back of the net for the away side. It was all Al Jazira from that point with goals coming in the 8th, 9th, 25th and 93rd to register their fifth win of the campaign.

Former Socceroo Scott Chipperfield played the last six minutes in Basel’s 1-0 victory at home to second placed Luzern. A 70th minute goal from Swiss international striker Marco Streller was enough to separate the two sides and move Basel six points clear of Luzern. Chipperfield can now look forward to a midweek clash with Manchester United.

David Carney was an unused substitute in Alcorcon’s 2-0 triumph away to 10-man Real Murcia at the Estadio Nueva Condomina. Their last two outings have resulted in two wins, leaving the Madrid-based club in 8th position on the Segunda Division table.

Socceroo midfielder Carl Valeri was absent from Sassuolo’s trip to Crotone. Sassuolo were held to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Crotone and missed another opportunity to close the cap on their promotion rivals in Italy’s Serie B.

In FA Cup action, James Wesolowski’s 39th minute goal was cancelled out by Ryan Hall’s effort in the 67th minute as Oldham and Southend had to be content with a 1-1 draw. Three Aussies were in the Oldham squad that drew with Southend, Alex Cisak continued in goal, Wesolowski played the full 90 minutes while new signing Dean Bouzanis took his place on the bench.

Meanwhile, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff’s Shrewsbury Town defeated Rotherham United 2-1 to progress to the third round.