AUSSIES ABROAD: Former Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon made his debut for Chunnam Dragons as the side played out a 0-0 draw at home to Gangwon in the opening weekend of K-League action.
Both Simon and Robert Cornthwaite put in full shifts for the hosts but neither side could break the deadlock. Next weekend see’s Chunnam make the trip to Seoul.
Adrian Madaschi made his debut for Jeju United and played the entire match in a 3-1 win at home to Incheon United.
Elsewhere, Socceroo Sasa Ognenovski played a full game for Seongnam but could not prevent an opening-day defeat at Jeonbuk Motors. The 2006 K-League champions trailed Jeonbuk 2-0 in the opening 20 minutes before a double from Everton Santos levelled proceedings. However, Eninho’s 82nd minute goal earned the home side all three points.
Luke De Vere and his Gyeongnam teammates enjoyed a winning start to the season, comfortably disposing of Daejeon Citizen 3-0.
Former Shimizu S-Pulse defender Eddy Bosnar completed a full 90 minutes in Suwon Bluewings 1-0 victory over Busan I’Park.
In the English Premier League, Mark Schwarzer kept a clean sheet as Fulham put Wolves to the sword, beating the relegation-threatened club 5-0 at Craven Cottage. A hat-trick from Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak inspired the London club to a comprehensive win. He now has five goals in three games.
Below in the NPower Championship, Neil Kilkenny played 26 minutes before being substituted in Bristol City’s 3-0 loss at Ipswich. The Socceroo was the unfortunate player to make way as part of a tactical reshuffle. City hover just above the drop zone, clear by only three points.
Shane Lowry’s Millwall were beaten 2-1 by Adam Federici’s Reading at The Den. That’s six wins on the trot for the Royals and they remain third behind West Ham on sixty points. At the other end of the table, Millwall are six points above the relegation zone.
In the Scottish Premier League, Aaron Mooy was introduced on 69 minutes as St Mirren and Hibernian were involved in a stalemate at Easter Road. Four of the Saints last five games have been goalless and they are without an SPL win in nine matches.
Meanwhile, Ryan McGowan played the final six minutes for Hearts in their 2-1 triumph over Rangers at Ibrox.
Mitchell Langerak watched on from the bench as Borussia Dortmund edged Mainz 2-1 in the Bundesliga while Matthew Leckie was absent from Borussia Monchengladbach’s 1-0 loss at Nurnberg.
In 2.Bundesliga, without Robbie Kruse Fortuna Dusseldorf thumped struggling Karlsruher SC 5-0. Fortuna sits fourth, two points off top spot.
Socceroo Brett Holman played 57 minutes as AZ Alkmaar claimed all three points with a 3-1 win over Heracles. Before being substituted, Holman set up Jozy Altidore for AZ’s second on 43 minutes.
Tommy Oar returned to the pitch, playing 18 minutes in Utrecht’s goalless draw with NEC Breda.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, Austria Wien bounced back from last week’s defeat with a 1-0 victory at Wacker Innsbruck. James Holland made way at half time.
Carl Valeri put in a full shift for 10-man Sassuolo in the 3-2 loss at Pescara. The side is now winless in their last three outings.
In Turkey, Kerem Bulut did not feature in Eskisehirspor’s comprehensive 5-2 win over Ankaragucu despite trailing 2-1 with just 30 minute remaining.
In Greece, Apostolis Giannou was an unused substitute in PAOK’s 2-0 triumph at second placed Panathinaikos.
Shefki Kuqi’s injury time penalty gave Oldham a trilling 3-2 victory at nine-man Sheffield United. Alex Cisak continued in goal as Dean Bouzanis watched from the bench.
Shane Cansdell-Sherriff did not make it off the bench in Shrewsbury Town's 1-1 draw away at Crewe.
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