Aussies Abroad: Taggart clinches career-best scoring season with 17th K-League goal

Caltex Socceroos hitman Adam Taggart was on target again as Suwon Bluewings made a winning start to the K-League Relegation Play Offs.

Taggart found the net twice in the Caltex Socceroos 7-1 triumph against Chinese Taipei on Tuesday and continued his goal-scoring form on his return to Korea Republic club football in a 2-1 win against Gyeongnam.

After Uros Deric has put the visitors in front from the penalty spot on 26 minutes, the 10-cap Caltex Socceroos marksman stepped up from 12 yards to level the scores two minutes before half-time.

Taggart’s 17th goal of the K-League season makes it his most prolific league campaign, beating his previous best of 16 for Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League 2013/14.

The 26-year-old made it through 60 minutes before he was withdrawn for Han Eui-kwon and Bluewings grabbed the winner on 72 minutes when Yeom Ki-hun pounced.  

Suwon finished the regular season eighth out of 12 teams so enter the six-team Relegation Play Offs but sit a comfortable 15 points above the bottom two places.


'KEEP PUSHING': Healthy strikeforce competition as Taggart ends 2270-day drought
WATCH: All the highlights from Australia's 7-1 win over Chinese Taipei

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Goodwin helps the Red Giant to five wins on the spin

Craig Goodwin got 90 minutes under his belt on his return to Saudi Arabia as Al Wedha racked up their fifth straight Saudi Pro League win.

Former Brazil U-20 international Marco Guilherme’s 33rd-minute effort was enough to secure a 1-0 against Al-Ittihad at King Abudl Aziz Stadium.

The Knights of Mecca retain their spot in second on the Saudi Pro League ladder, four points behind leaders Al-Hilal.

Craig Goodwin celebrates following Al-Wehda's 1-0 win against Al-Ittihad.
Craig Goodwin celebrates following Al-Wehda's 1-0 win against Al-Ittihad.

Image courtesy of Al-Wehda on Twitter

Smith’s Sounders march on in MLS Play Offs

Brad Smith and his Seattle Sounders advanced to the Major League Soccer Western Conference Semi Finals following a dramatic 4-3 extra-time win against FC Dallas.

Seattle leaped into a two-goal lead when Raul Ruidiaz and Jordan Morris struck, but goals from Reggie Cannon and Matt Hedges pulled the Texans level.

Smith was replaced by Victor Rodriguez and Morris hit his second on 74 minutes. The 3-2 lead lasted only six minutes when Bryan Acosta equalised to force extra-time but Morris pounced to complete his hat-trick in the 114th minute at a raucous CenturyLink Field.

FIFA 20: Caltex Socceroo Souttar joins Kane and Lewandowski in FIFA 20 Team of the Week
AUSSIES ABROAD: Luongo recovers to play 90 minutes, Milligan returns to action

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Free-scoring Souttar stopped as Fleetwood record big win

Harry Souttar returned to English League One action with Fleetwood Town and, for once, did not get on the scoresheet in their 4-1 triumph against Burton Albion.

Souttar grabbed four goals in his first two Caltex Socceroos caps during the October international window, netting a brace against Nepal and Chinese Taipei.

Paddy Madden was the man of the moment at Highbury Stadium, hitting a second-half hat-trick, after the Brewers’ Oliver Sarkic had cancelled out Ched Evans’ opener for the Trawlermen.

Caltex Socceroos number one Mat Ryan kept Brighton & Hove Albion in contention but a late goal earned a 2-1 Premier League victory for Aston Villa.

Adam Webster’s early goal put the visitors in front but, after Aaron Mooy was sent off for a pair of first-half yellow cards, Villa took control of the game.

Jack Grealish slid in an equaliser on the stroke of half time and Ryan had to be alert to keep the Seagulls in the game, making an outstanding close-range save from Conor Hourihane in the 50th minute.

Brighton’s resolve was broken deep into stoppage time when Matt Targett slammed in the winner for the home side at Villa Park.

Jackson Irvine played 90 minutes as Hull City fell to a 3-2 reverse against Queens Park Rangers in the Championship after a pair of late Ebere Eze penalties sealed three points for the visitors.

Jarrod Bowen had put the Tigers ahead but Ryan Manning levelled for 1-1 just before the interval at KC Stadium. 

Eze stayed composed from 12 yards on 78 and 88 minutes as Josh Magennis’ late strike proved to be in vain.

Meanwhile, Bailey Wright was part of Bristol City’s 18-man match day squad but did not get the field on as the Robins slipped to a 3-0 defeat against Luton Town. 

Behich’s boys earn three points

Aziz Behich remained on the Istanbul Başakşehir bench as Martin Skrtel’s stoppage time strike earned the hosts a 2-1 win over Göztepe in the Turkish Süper Lig. 

Goals from Yasuhiro Hiraoka and Ramon Lopes’ penalty consigned Mitch Langerak’s Nagoya Grampus Eight to a 2-0 loss against Vegalta Sendai in Japan’s J-League.

Brandon Borrello was an unused substitute as Freiburg SC went down 2-0 at Union Berlin in the German Bundesliga, with goals from Marius Bülter and Marcus Ingvartsen.

REPORT: Taggart, Irvine and Souttar score doubles in big win over Chinese Taipei
'A PRIVILEGE': Ryan on becoming 62nd captain and second-most capped goalkeeper

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