Aussies Abroad: Amini nets stoppage-time stunner, Rogic on target for Celtic

Mustafa Amini struck a dramatic, last-gasp winner for AGF in Denmark, while Tom Rogic netted his first league goal of the season early on Monday morning AEDT.

With AGF desperately chasing three points to climb to third in the Danish SuperLiga, Amini hit a stunning 25-yard strike to snatch a 2-1 away win against Esbjerg.

Sierra Leone international striker Mustapha Bundu had set the visitors off to a dream start by grabbing the opener in the ninth minute at the Blue Water Arena.

With the victory seemingly heading the Whites’ way, Patrick Egelund pounced for the home side on 84 minutes to secure what seemed like a share of the points. 

As the clock ticked past 93 minutes, a long throw was half-cleared to the awaiting Amini outside of the Esbjerg penalty area. 

The eight-cap Caltex Socceroo stepped up and crashed a low drive past despairing goalkeeper Jeppe Højbjerg and into the corner of the hosts’ net, to the delight of his teammates.

Featured image courtesy of AGF Football on Twitter

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The victory takes AGF third in the ladder with two games left before the winter break. David Nielsen’s side are 12 points behind Awer Mabil’s FC Midttjlland, who they play on Monday, 16 December AEDT.

Rogic off the mark in the Scottish Premiership 

Tom Rogic scored his first league goal of the 2019/20 season as Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic thumped Ross County, 4-1.

The Caltex Socceroos playmaker was making his sixth start of the campaign after returning from a knee injury which had kept the 26-year-old sidelined until September.

Ryan Christie scored a double, either side of Ross Stewart’s strike for the Staggies, to put the 2-1 up at the interval at the Global Energy Stadium.

Rogic slotted a sweet left-footed strike beyond goalkeeper Nathan Baxter in the 67th minute to open up a commanding lead for Neil Lennon’s team.

Michael Johnson finished the job for the Hoops six minutes later to clinch a 10th win in a row for the eight-times straight champions, who ahead of city rival Rangers on goal difference.

Behich earns first start since September

Aziz Behich returned to the Istanbul Başakşehir starting line-up for the first time in three months and celebrated a 2-0 victory against Antalyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Behich was operating in a less familiar right-back role for head coach Okan Buruk’s side at Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

The man who had been keeping the 38-cap Caltex Socceroo out of the team, ex-Arsenal and Manchester City full-back Gael Clichy, opened the scoring on the hour mark.

Three minutes later, Danijel Aleksic doubled the advantage and Behich and company locked down the clean sheet to keep the 2018/19 runners-up in second place, two points behind leaders Sivasspor.

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Sainsbury’s side keep up pace on Israeli leaders

Trent Sainsbury helped Maccabi Haifa shut out Hapoel Hadera in a 3-0 triumph in the Israeli Premier League.

The second-placed visitors secured their fourth straight league win to keep the pressure on Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who are three points clear at the top of the table.

Dutch forward Tjaronn Cherry opened the scoring on 13 minutes, 18-cap Caltex Socceroo Nikita Rukavytsya made it two on 27 minutes and Yarden Shua wrapped up the win late on at Netanya Stadium.

It was Sainsbury’s sixth appearance, and third clean sheet, for the club since signing in August. 

Souttar marches into FA Cup Third Round

Harry Souttar and Fleetwood Town are in the hat with the Premier League big boys after beating Crawley Town 2-1 in the FA Cup Second Round.

Goals from Josh Morris and Paddy Madden, either side of Ollie Palmer’s effort for the Red Devils, earned the League One side the victory at Broadfield Stadium.

Souttar and the Cod Army advance into the next round, where top flight and Championship clubs enter the competition.

Sky Blues on top as Caltex Socceroos collide at home

Andrew Redmayne and Ryhan Grant’s Sydney FC were the victors against Josh Risdon’s Western United in the Hyundai A-League on Saturday.

A pair of goals from English striker Adam Le Fondre gave the Sky Blues a 2-0 win at GMHBA Stadium to send Steve Corica’s side top of the table with six wins from seven matches.

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STATEMENT: Vale Pim Verbeek