Aussies Abroad: Socceroos stay top with huge wins in France and Germany

Jackson Irvine and Denis Genreau both grabbed assists as their club sides solidified their lead on top of the table with huge wins over the weekend.  

We start our weekend wrap in France, where Genreau made a substantial impact for Toulouse FC who thumped Auxerre 6 – 0.

The 22-year-old played just behind English frontman Rhys Healey and was involved in several sweeping attacks, earning an assist in the seventh minute to secure an early 2 – 0 lead.

It was an impressive performance from the Socceroos midfielder, who earned a rest after 58 minutes with an eye to crucial upcoming games for Toulouse, who remain one point clear at the top of Ligue 2.


Over to Germany, where it was a busy afternoon for Irvine who registered an assist and a yellow card in his 54 minutes on the pitch for FC St. Pauli.

The 2. Bundesliga side remains top of the table following an exciting 4 – 2 victory over Hedenheim.


Elsewhere in Germany, set-piece specialist Adjin Hrustic was an unused substitute in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2 – 1 loss against Hertha Berlin on Sunday morning.

To Scotland, where Tom Rogic’s Celtic picked up a much needed 2 – 0 win against Motherwell, with the 28-year-old assisting the opening goal in the 17th minute.

The win sees Celtic climb above the hibs into fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership.

Staying in Scotland, Martin Boyle’s Hibernian suffered a 3 – 0 loss to Dundee United which sees Hibs fall to fifth on the ladder. The Socceroo played the full 90 minutes, picking up a yellow card in the process.

In the English Championship, Callum Elder played a full match for Hull City, who succumbed to Huddersfield Town 2 – 0.

Fellow defender, Harry Souttar played a full match as well, as Stoke City fell to hosts Sheffield United 2 – 1.

The Potters drop to fifth on the ladder but remain in the hunt for promotion to the premier league.

A 20-minute cameo from Kenny Dougall was not enough to stop Blackpool going down 2 – 1 to Nottingham Forrest on Sunday morning with the Seasiders losing their four-match unbeaten streak.

In Belgium, defender Trent Sainsbury’s played the full match in the heart of defence for KV Kortrijk who fell 2 – 0 to Mat Ryan’s former employee, Club Brugge.

In the nation's second tier, Daniel Arzani played an hour of Lommel's 3 - 0 win over Royal Excel Mouscron.

Imposing defender Milos Degenek was an unused substitute in his side's resounding 7 – 1 demolition of Kolubara, with the Serbian side now just two points off top spot.

To Turkey, where Aziz Behich’s Giresunspor claimed a vital 2 – 0 win over Rizspor, with former Newcastle Jets player Joe Champness netting a 94th-minute sealer.

Behich was introduced in the 67th minute.

In Spain’s La Liga, goalkeeper Mat Ryan was an unused substitute in Real Sociedad’s 1 – 0 win over Mallorca.

The result sees Sociedad go three points clear at the top of La Liga at the time of writing, ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

In Denmark, Lawrence Thomas' SønderjyskE pulled off a result that will no doubt please Awer Mabil and league leaders FC Mitdjylland, holding second-placed FC København to a 1 - 1 draw at home. 

Finally in Japan, Mitchell Duke played 88 minutes of Fagiano Okayama's 3 - 0 triumph over Matsumoto Yamaga.