Aussies Abroad: Luongo recovers to play 90 minutes, Milligan returns to action

Massimo Luongo played through 90 minutes as Sheffield Wednesday were denied three Championship points by a late Cardiff City goal in a 1-1 draw.

Luongo was handed by second start by Wednesday boss Garry Monk having been rested by Caltex Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold for the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying wins against Nepal and Chinese Taipei.

The 27-year-old has been managing a minor knee issue, and was replaced by Dimitri Petratos in Arnold’s squad for the October international window after feeling soreness following Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Wigan two weeks ago.

German defender Julian Borner reacted quickly to put the Owls into a 19th-minute lead as the visitors dominated the first half.

Luongo saw his 48th-minute attempt blocked, before the 43-cap Caltex Socceroos midfielder set up Barry Bannan, whose 69th-minute effort was saved by keeper Neil Etheridge.

The Owls appeared set for a fourth victory in six league games until Lee Tomlin’s 87th-minute free-kick wiped out their lead and maintained Cardiff’s unbeaten home record.

Luongo has been named in Monk’s starting line-up in back-to-back games as Wednesday climb to sixth in the Championship table.

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Milligan returns to action in League One

A late penalty prevented Mark Milligan’s Southend United from claimed their second League One win of the season.

Home side Tranmere Rovers fell behind as Tom Hopper fired the Shrimpers ahead after nine minutes. 

With Milligan, who captained the Caltex Socceroos in the 5-0 win against Nepal, starting at centre-back, the visitors looked set to hang on to their second victory on their travels.

But an 85th-minute penalty from Paul Mullin cancelled out the lead as Milligan played the full 90 minutes for the 22nd-placed club.

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Degenek rested as Red Star extend winning run

Milos Degenek was named as a substitute as Serbian SuperLiga leaders Red Star Belgrade made it 10 league wins from 11 games.

Perhaps with an eye on the midweek UEFA Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur in London, head coach Vladan Milojevic let the 27-cap Caltex Socceroos defender sit out the match against Rad at Red Star Stadium.

Crvena Zvedza rallied to win 3-1 against the division’s second-bottom side with goals from Milan Pavkov on six minutes and a penalty from Germany international Marko Marin on 39 minutes putting them 2-0 ahead at the interval.

Milan Perendija hit back for the Builders on 66 minutes but a Marko Gobeljic strike in the 75th-minutes clinched a fourth straight league win for Red Star.

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