Aussies Abroad weekend wrap: Success in Championship as Scottish silverware beckons

Need a refresher on how your Caltex Socceroos fared over the weekend?

We've compiled a recap of the club football action involving our overseas Aussies, including maximum points for a midfield pair and a welcome return for a striker in Europe.

REWARD: Caltex Socceroos move up in FIFA rankings

Goalkeepers: More plaudits for Maty

Mat Ryan goes from strength to strength in the Premier League as he continued his stellar form with a third successive clean sheet for Brighton and Hove Albion.

Australia's number one stood tall under immense pressure to safeguard a 1-0 advantage against Wolves and help his team to three straight top-flight wins for the first time since 1981.

KRC Genk were unable to cling on for three points on the road to Standard Liege but did stay top of the Belgian Pro League thanks to a 1-1 draw in which Danny Vukovic played the full 90 minutes.

It was a similar story in Saudi Arabia, where the same scoreline away at Al-Fayha ensured Brad Jones and Al-Nassr continue to set the pace.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Mitch Langerak was unable to keep 10-man Nagoya Grampus from slipping to a 2-1 loss to Consadole Sapporo.

Defenders: Degenek delivers again for Red Star

Milos Degenek is enjoying domestic dominance in Serbia with Red Star Belgrade rebounding from a tough Champions League trip to beat Macva Sabac 2-0.

The versatile 24-year-old clocked 90 minutes to help his side, who are now nine points clear, secure their sixth clean sheet of the campaign.


Fellow centre-back Matthew Jurman also played a full match in Al-Ittihad's late 3-1 loss away to second-placed Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Elsewhere, Aziz Behich and Trent Sainsbury were unused substitutes as PSV made it 10 wins on the trot in the Eredivisie by edging Groningen 2-1.

Alex Gersbach's Rosenborg are top of the table in Norway following their 2-1 victory over Brann, although the left-back wasn't involved in the match-day squad.

Midfielders: Dual success in England

It was a successful weekend in the Championship for our Aussies with Massimo Luongo and Jackson Irvine celebrating crucial victories.

Both were involved from start to finish for their teams' respective 1-0 wins, QPR edging Aston Villa at home and Hull City beating Bolton Wanderers away.

Tom Rogic was also influential in leading Celtic to the League Cup final in Scotland, the pla-ymaker impressing during a three-goal second-half blitz that sunk Ben Garuccio and Oliver Bozanic's Hearts.

Unfortunately for Aaron Mooy, Huddersfield Town remain in the Premier League's bottom three following a 3-0 loss away to Watford.

Kenny Dougall was unable to play a part for Barnsley after suffering ankle ligament damage during the week, but a 30-minute cameo in PEC Zwolle's 1-1 draw with Heracles represented a brighter weekend for Denis Genreau.

Meanwhile, in Denmark, Mustafa Amini started in AGF's 4-2 loss at FC Copenhagen.

Forwards: Mabil strike puts Midtjylland back on top

In Denmark, Awer Mabil continued his excellent form for Midtjylland after his second half equaliser sparked a 3-2 comeback win over Brondby on Tuesday morning.

Mabil turned in a cross from Joel Andersson  shortly after half time before Marc Dal Hende's late effort saw Midtjylland climb back to the precipice of the Danish Superliga.

After including him in the squad that eased past Kuwait, Graham Arnold will have been pleased to see Tomi Juric earn his first start of the season in FC Luzern's 2-1 win over Neuchatel Xamax.

The target man played 78 minutes before his substitution, as Luzern earned their fifth win of the campaign.

Hertha Berlin managed to halt in-form Borussia Dortmund in a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga, but Mathew Leckie was not involved.

Robbie Kruse played a full game for Bochum as the German outfit drew a 3-3 thriller with Jahn Regensburg, while Apostolos Giannou's AEK Larnaca beat Anorthosis 2-1.

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