Aussies Abroad Wrap: Taggart scores against Muscat’s Yokohama, Miller makes Hibs debut

Over the weekend, Adam Taggart found the back of the net against Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama, while Lewis Miller made his competitive debut for Hibernian in the Premier Sports Cup.

An eventful match between two Aussies in Japan headlined the action from the weekend, as pre-season continued across Europe and the Premier Sports Cup kicked off in Scotland. 

Check out our wrap-up of all the Aussies Abroad action over the weekend. 

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Asia

Adam Taggart’s Cerezo Osaka blew a two-goal lead to play out a 2-2 draw with Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday. 

Taggart was subbed on in the 59th minute and found the back of the net four minutes later to hand his side a two-goal advantage with a clinical finish inside the box. 

While Taggart and Cerezo thought a two-goal lead would be enough to take all three points against the J.League leaders, the game swung in the 82nd minute when Cerezo conceded a penalty and had a player sent off. 

Taggart was then substituted to make way for a midfielder but Cerezo could not stop Yokohama from stealing an equaliser at the death.

The draw leaves Cerezo in sixth position, five points off third and an AFC Champions League qualification spot. 

Elsewhere in Japan, Mitch Duke played 90 minutes as Fagiano Okayama drew 2-2 with Oita Trinita in the J2 League on Sunday. 

The result pushes Okayama into fourth as they look to close the eight-point gap and chase a promotion position. 

United Kingdom

Starting in Scotland, where Hibernian and Olyroos defender Lewis Miller started his 2022/23 campaign with a 5-0 rout of Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup at Easter Road on Saturday. Miller made his competitive debut after coming on in the 58th minute to close out the game. 

Nathaniel Atkinson was an unused substitute as Heart of Midlothian F.C defeated Lowland League champions Bonnyrigg Rose 3-0 in their latest pre-season friendly at Tynecastle Park.

In England, where Riley McGree played another 45 minutes in Middlesbrough’s 3-2 win against National League newcomers York City on Saturday. McGree was involved in a number of goalscoring opportunities throughout his half of action. 

Elsewhere, Australian U23 Ashley Maynard-Brewer started for Gillingham as they lost 2-0 to Dover Athletic in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. Unfortunately, Maynard-Brewer fell awkwardly on on his shoulder after making a save and was replaced in the 20th minute as a precaution.

Europe

Starting in Germany, where Eintracht Frankfurt played out a scoreless draw with LASK on Saturday as preparations continue for the start of the Bundesliga. Ajdin Hrustic played the last 15 minutes after replacing new signing Mario Götze. 

In Italy, Fran Karacic saw his first pre-season minutes as Brescia romped local team Anaunia 17-1 on Saturday. 

Joel King also registered his first minutes of the pre-season as he started for Odense Boldklub in their 3-2 loss to Vejle Boldklub in Denmark. 

In Olyroos Abroad news, Josh Rawlins played 45 minutes for the Jong FC Utrecht U23’s as they recorded a 6-0 victory over Jong Zeeland on Saturday.

Alou Kuol also featured for VfB Stuttgart in their 3-2 friendly win over FC Zurich on Sunday morning. Kuol played out the second 45 minutes as he looks to stake a claim on a first team position for the upcoming Bundesliga season. 

The United States

In Major League Soccer, Milos Degenek picked up a knock in training so he did not feature in Columbus Crew’s 3-2 win over Chicago on Sunday morning. 

The victory lifts Columbus to eighth on the Eastern Conference table, one point behind Cincinnati in a final series play-off position. 

Elsewhere in the MLS, it was a disappointing outing for Brad Smith and his D.C United team as they were defeated 7-0 by Philadelphia Union on Saturday. 

To make matters worse, Smith was replaced in the 67th minute due to a serious knee injury, with scans confirming he has suffered a second ACL tear of his career.