Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper Maty Ryan continued his outstanding form for Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday morning (AEDT), keeping his third successive English Premier League clean sheet as the Seagulls beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.
But there was more frustration for Aaron Mooy in England’s top-flight, while Mathew Leckie missed out on a trip to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
And a potential clash of three Caltex Socceroos in the Netherlands did not eventuate, with Trent Sainsbury, Aziz Behich and Ajdin Hrustic all not involved as PSV battled Groningen in the Eredivisie.
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Ryan the hero as Brighton win again
The Caltex Socceroos star was mobbed by his teammates after Brighton’s latest win following a string of important second-half saves.
After turning Matt Doherty’s long-distance effort wide, Ryan had to be on hand to deny Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota as Wolves piled on the pressure in search of a late equaliser.
But the Caltex Socceroos star saved his best for last, producing a stunning reflex one-handed stop to keep out Ryan Bennett’s close-range strike in the 93rd minute.
Ryan’s heroics helped Brighton to three top-flight wins in a row for the first time since 1981, while his three clean sheets on the bounce equalled a club record in England’s top division.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton hailed Ryan and his defenders after the final whistle.
"To get three wins on the bounce, three clean sheets, it’s very, very difficult for a club like us at this level,” he said.
“We’re certainly on the back of two games … where our back four have been tested and our goalkeeper that has done everything right when we’ve needed him to and made the saves that we’ve needed him to.”
Brighton now sit 11th in the table, nine spots above Mooy’s rock-bottom Huddersfield Town, who were convincingly beaten 3-0 at Watford.
Like it did against Liverpool last week, the woodwork denied Huddersfield, but they were second best and did not deserve anything from the Vicarage Road encounter.
Huddersfield have not won one of their 10 Premier League matches this season and have scored just four goals in the process.
Joy for Luongo, Irvine
Massimo Luongo and Jackson Irvine - midfield partners in the Caltex Socceroos’ 4-0 win over Kuwait last week - both helped their clubs to Championship victories.
Luongo was booked in the second half of QPR’s 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday morning (AEDT), with Mile Jedinak an unused substitute for the losers.
Irvine’s Hull may sit second from bottom in the Championship but are now just two points adrift of safety after winning 1-0 at Bolton on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Irvine played 90 minutes in the heart of midfield as Hull won just their third league match this season.
Genreau features in the Netherlands
Denis Genreau was a second-half substitute for PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie and was on the pitch as his side scored in a 1-1 draw against Heracles.
But Sainsbury, Behich and Hrustic were not involved as PSV came from behind to win 2-1 at Groningen.
Mathew Leckie also missed out in the Bundesliga as his Hertha Berlin side scored a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund.
