Aussies Abroad: Ryan's penalty saves book AZ Alkmaar Europa Conference semi

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan lifted AZ Alkmaar into the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League with a goalkeeping masterclass against Anderlecht on Friday, while Harry Souttar's Leicester City face another tough test in their bid for Premier League survival. 

Check out our wrap of all the recent action and preview of what is to come! 

Subway Socceroos

Starting in the Netherlands, where Maty Ryan's AZ Alkmaar played out the second leg of their Europa Conference League Quarter-final against Anderlecht  on Friday. 

With penalties needed to split the two sides after the match ended 2-2 on aggregate after extra time following a 2-0 home win for AZ, Ryan produced two fine saves to break Anderlecht hearts. It was also the first time a Dutch outfit won a penalty shootout in a European club competition since PSV in the UEFA Cup in 2008.

Alkmaar will now meet West Ham, who completed a 5-2 aggregate win over Gent at the London Stadium on Friday.

AZ return to Eredivisie on Monday at 4am (AEST) when they face Fortuna Sittard. 

In the English Championship, Tom Rogic came off the bench in the 71st minute for West Brom in a 2-0 win over Blackpool on Wednesday. Kenny Dougall was an unused substitute.

Rogic could be in action again when West Brom face Sunderland on Sunday at 9pm (AEST) while Dougall's Blackpool face Birmingham on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In League One, Massimo Luongo played another full game on Wednesday as Ipswich Town beat Port Vale 2-1 to maintain second position and keep their promotion push on track. 

He is likely to feature for Ipswich when they face Peterborough on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In the Premier League, Harry Souttar is likely to start again when Leicester City host to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

Leicester are facing the threat of relegation as part of a painful plummet for the team who won the Premier League seven years ago and have twice finished fifth since then.

Not since the opening day of the 2022/23 season have the Foxes been higher than 11th, spending a combined 12 weeks so far in the bottom two.

In Premier League 2 Division 1, Alexander Robertson could feature for Manchester City U21 when they face Blackburn U21 on Sunday at 10pm (AEST). 

In the Scottish Premiership, Aaron Mooy is likely to feature again when Celtic face Motherwell on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

As back-to-back Scottish Premiership title moves closer, Celtic needs only seven points from their last six matches to retain their crown.

Cameron DevlinKye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson and Garang Kuol could also be in action when Heart of Midlothian face Ross County on Saturday at 9:30pm (AEST). 

Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain's St Mirren face Kilmarnock at on Sunday, while Aziz Behich's Dundee United will also be in action against Livingston on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

 James Jeggo's Hibernian also face Ryan McGowan's St Johnstone on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

In the Scottish Championship, Dylan McGowan is likely to feature when Hamilton Academical face Inverness CT on Sunday at 12am (AEST). McGowan also played a full game on Wednesday as Hamilton lost 2-1 to Inverness CT.

In Germany, both Connor Metcalfe and Jackson Irvine will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat in 11 games when St Pauli face Hamburger SV in the derby on Saturday at 2:30am (AEST) in the 2. Bundesliga. 


In France, Denis Genreau will be hoping to start for the third consecutive week when Toulouse FC face Lorient on Sunday at 11pm (AEST). 

In Czechia, Awer Mabil could be in action for AC Sparta Prague when they face 1. FC Slovácko on Sunday at 12am (AEST). 

In Serie B, Fran Karacic could feature when Brescia Calcio face Reggina on Saturday at 4:30am (AEST). 

In Belgium, Jason Davidson's KAS Eupen face Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League on Monday at 2:30am (AEST). 

In Norway, Nick D'Agostino is a chance to feature alongside Gianni Stensness when Viking FK look to make it two wins in a row in the Eliteserien when they face Tromso on Monday at 1am (AEST). 


Over to Asia, where Thomas Deng's Albirex Niigata could be in action when they return to J1 League action against Kashima Antlers on Sunday at 3pm (AEST). 

Mitch Langerak is likely to feature in the J1 League for Nagoya Grampus on Sunday at 4pm (AEST) when they host Shonan Bellmare. 

In the K1 League, Harrison Delbridge's Incheon United will be in action against Suwon FC on Saturday at 8pm (AEST). 

In the Israeli Premier League play-offs, Nikita Rukavytsya could appear for Maccabi Haifa when they face Ashdod FC on Monday at 3:30am (AEST). 

The MLS season also continues with Milos Degenek expected to feature again for Columbus Crew against Charlotte on Sunday at 9:30am (AEST). 

Elsewhere in the US, Brad Smith could also be in action when Houston Dynamo FC face Inter Miami on Sunday at 10:30am (AEST), while Alex Gersbach could feature for Colorado Rapids again when they face St. Louis Sunday at 11:30am (AEST).

Olyroos and Subway Young Socceroos

In the English Championship, goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic was an unused substitute in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Wednesday. He is likely to be on the bench when Huddersfield face Cardiff City on Sunday at 9pm (AEST). 

In Premier League 2 Division 1, Cameron Peupion is likely to feature when Brighton & Hove Albion U21 face Manchester United U21 on Saturday 4am (AEST). 

In League One, Caleb Watts could be in action for Morecambe against Charlton on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In League Two, Lachlan Brook could feature for Crewe Alexandra when they face Leyton Orient on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In the Professional Development League, Matt Dench could appear for Charlton Athletic U21 when they face Birmingham City U21 on Monday at 11pm (AEST). 

In the German 3. Liga, John Iredale could feature again in Germany's 3. Liga when SV Wehen Wiesbaden face MSV Duisburg on Saturday at 10pm (AEST).  

In the German Regionalliga West, Jacob Italiano is likely to feature for Borussia Mönchengladbach II against FC Köln II on Saturday at 10pm (AEST).

In Scotland, Lewis Miller could be in action again when Hibernian face St Johnstone on Sunday at 12am (AEST).

In Norway, Patrick Yazbek is likely to feature for Viking FK after scoring last week when they face Tromso on Monday at 1am (AEST). 


Dylan Ryan could also be in action in the Eerste Divisie when FC Den Bosch face Roda on Saturday at 4am (AEST). 

More Aussies in Action

  • In Italy's Serie A, Cristian Volpato could feature for AS Roma when they face Atalanta Tuesday at 4:45am (AEST). Volpato was an unused substitute in the Europa Conference League on Friday in a 4-1 win over Feyenoord. 
  • In League One, Cameron Burgess could play when Ipswich Town FC face Peterborough on Sunday at 12am (AEST).
  • Elsewhere in League One,  Ashley Maynard-Brewer's Charlton face Morecambe on Sunday  at 12am (AEST). He was in goal on Wednesday in a 1-0 win over MK Dons.
  • In League Two, Tete Yengi could feature again for Northampton Town when they face Harrogate Town on Sunday at 12am (AEST). Yengi came off the bench on Wednesday in a 2-1 win over Sutton United. 
  • In Scotland, Mark Birighitti is likely to be in goal for Dundee United when they face Livingston on Sunday at 12am (AEST).
  • In the J2 League, Stefan Mauk could appear when Fagiano Okayama face Renofa Yamaguchi on Saturday at 3pm (AEST).
  • In the K1 League, Alex Grant could be in action when Pohang Steelers face Ulsan on Saturday at 5:30pm (AEST).
  • Elsewhere in the K1 League, Lachlan Jackson could be in action for Suwon Samsung Bluewings against FC Seoul on Saturday at 3pm (AEST). 
  • Aaron Calver's Gangwon also face Gwangju on Saturday at 3pm (AEST) in the K1 League.
  • Elsewhere in the K2 League, Patrick Flottmann could feature for Seongnam FC when they face Busan Ipark FC on Saturday at 5pm (AEST).