Aussies In Action Today

Scottish Division One
Raith Rovers v Airdrie (Simon Storey, Frankie Lagana), 5.45am
English FA Trophy
York City (James Meredith) v Hinckley United, 5.45am
English Premier League
Birmingham City v Blackburn (Vince Grella [inj]), Brett Emerton), 6am

Aussies In Action Today

Turkish Lig A
Adanaspor (Ersan Gulum) v Orduspor, 4am

Sunday Update; Bresc Hits Net

Socceroo Mark Bresciano scored a goal and provided the assist for another as Palermo recorded a memorable 2-0 win at AC Milan in the Serie A overnight.

The Australian midfielder scored his first goal of the season with a close-range finish in the 62nd minute of the match to help the Sicilians leave the San Siro with all three points.

Bresciano seemed in an ominous mood early on when he tested AC Milan keeper Dida with a swerving long-range effort on 4 minutes.

On the half hour mark, Bresciano cruised in down the left but his powerful effort missed the target.

But despite Bresciano’s efforts, Milan were on top in midfield in the first-half, yet Palermo responded in style after the break with the decisive goals.

First, Fabrizio Miccoli produced a moment of class after Bresciano’s layoff to give the Sicilians the lead, before Bresciano tapped in from close-range.

Miccoli’s tidy work down the left opened up an opportunity for Javier Pastore, but he was tackled only for the ball to fall to Bresciano who clinically finished to make it 2-0.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Australian frontman Joshua Kennedy hit a hat-trick for Nagoya Grampus as they moved into the semi-finals of Japan’s Emperor’s Cup with a 3-0 win over FC Gifu.

The beanpole striker glanced in a header from Shohei Abe’s cross just before the break for the opener.

And in the second-half Kennedy added strikes in the 67th and 82nd minutes, scoring with boot feet, to lead Nagoya into a final four clash with Shimizu S-Pulse.

In Turkey’s Super Lig, James Troisi was a 73rd minute substitute as Kayserispor returned to the summit of the table with a 2-1 win at Istanbul BB.

Elsewhere in the Turkish top flight, Michael Petkovic played a full game as Sivasspor claimed a much-needed 2-1 win over Eskisehirspor, while Bruce Djite missed out on a run for Genclerbirligi as they drew 1-1 with Gaziantepspor.

In Greece’s Super League, Zeljko Kalac was back in goals for Kavala, keeping a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 with PAOK. Forward Apostolos Giannou wasn’t involved for Kavala.

In Greece’s Beta Ethniki, Nathan Burns remains on the sidelines with injury as AO Kerkyra stayed top with a 3-1 win over Ethnikos.

Finally in England’s Championship, Brad Jones and Rhys Williams put in full shifts as Middlesbrough slumped to a 1-0 home loss to Cardiff City.

Aussies In Action Today

Japanese Emperors Cup
Nagoya Grampus (Joshua Kennedy) v FC Gifu, 4pm
Turkish Super Lig
Istanbul BB v Kayserispor (James Troisi), 9.30pm
Genclerbirligi (Bruce Djite) v Gaziantepspor, 9.30pm
Sivasspor (Michael Petkovic) v Eskisehirspor. 9.30pm
Greek Beta Ethniki
AO Kerkyra (Nathan Burns) v Ethnikos Piraeus, 11pm
German Regionalliga Sud
Weiden v FC Nurnberg II (Matt Spiranovic), 11pm
English Championship
Middlesbrough (Brad Jones, Rhys Williams) v Cardiff City, 11.15pm
Italian Lega Pro Prima Girone B
Portosummaga (Adrian Madaschi) v Hellas Verona, 11.30pm
Italian Serie A
AC Milan v Palermo (Mark Bresciano), midnight
Romanian Liga I
Steaua v International Curtea (Tomislav Arcaba), midnight
Greek Super League
Kavala (Zeljko Kalac, Apostolos Giannou, Rob Stambolziev) v PAOK, 12.45am

Sat Euro Update; Wes Nets Goal

Young Australian James Wesolowski scored his first senior goal as Hamilton Academical defeated Aberdeen 2-1 in Scotland’s Premier League overnight.

The 22-year-old Sydney-born midfielder netted the winner in the 80th minute as struggling Hamilton claimed a crucial three points to move away from the drop zone.

Earlier in the contest, fellow Aussie Trent McClenahan (who put in a full shift) had to clear Chris Maguire’s goalbound header off the line.

And just before half-time, Wesolowski could’ve got his personal tally off the mark when he put a good chance wide.

But with the scores locked at 1-1 with ten minutes to go, Mickael Antoine-Curier sent the ball into Wesolowski’s path and the Aussie drilled it in for the winner.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid commented after the game, “That was James' first senior goal, which is incredible because in training he is a great finisher but for some reason he has not managed to get on the scoresheet. I hope it is the first of many.''

Wesolowski, who is on a six-month loan at Hamilton from English Championship club Leicester City, is enjoying a good run in the Accies side after several injury-ruined years.

Elsewhere in the SPL, Scott McDonald had a quiet day against his old club Motherwell but provided the assist for the Marc-Antoine Fortune’s winner as Celtic won 3-2.

And Danny Invincibile was back in action after a calf injury, playing a full game as Kilmarnock drew 1-1 with high-flying Hibernian.

Elsewhere around Europe’s top leagues, in the Dutch Eredivisie, David Carney was an 84th minute sub as FC Twente retained top spot with a 3-1 win over NAC Breda. Nikita Rukavytsya wasn’t involved.

Staying in the Netherlands, Brett Holman missed Dick Advocaat’s first game in charge of AZ Alkmaar, which PSV Eindhoven won 1-0. Holman suffered a calf injury in the midweek Champions League game and wasn’t fit for Saturday’s game.

In the German Bundesliga, Dario Vidosic and Matthew Spiranovic were both absent as FC Nurnberg lost for their third consecutive match, 4-0 at home to Hamburg SV. Nurnberg are struggling down in second last in the Bundesliga.

In the Swiss Schweizer Pokal, injured Socceroo Scott Chipperfield watched on as FC Basel moved into the final four with a 3-1 win over Biel-Bienne.

In the Romanian Liga I, Joshua Rose and Josh Mitchell played full games as Universitatea Craiova lost 1-0 at Otelul Galati.

In European lower tier leagues, Carl Valeri was absent again for Grosseto as they won 1-0 at Piacenza in Italy’s Serie B.

In Scotland’s Division One, in-form Erik Paartalu provided the assist as Morton lost 2-1 to Queen of the South.

Elsewhere in Scotland’s second tier, Ryan McGowan put in a full shift as Ayr United lost 3-1 at Dundee, while Simon Storey played a full game and Frankie Lagana put in an hour as Airdrie lost 5-2 to Partick Thistle.

Finally, in the Coupe de France, Ante Rozic’s Sedan defeated Moissy-Cramayel 3-1 to move into the next round.

Sat Update; Grella Injured Again?

Socceroo Vince Grella worryingly limped off before half-time as Blackburn drew 0-0 with Hull City in a scrappy Premier League match overnight.

Grella, who has had plenty of injury problems since joining Rovers last year, was replaced on 41 minutes.

Meanwhile, fellow Aussies Brett Emerton and Richard Garcia were both involved in the game from the start, with the latter wasting a great chance in the second-half for the Tigers.

Elsewhere in the Premier League overnight, Lucas Neill came up against future World Cup opponent Michael Ballack as Everton drew 3-3 at Chelsea.

Neill had a few shaky moments as he put in a full shift for the Toffees at the centre of defence, while Tim Cahill missed the match due to suspension.

At Turf Moor, Socceroos custodian Mark Schwarzer played a full game as Fulham drew 1-1 with Burnley, with the Aussie not tested too much.

In the Championship, potential Socceroos back-up goalkeeper Adam Federici made a number of decent saves as Reading drew 1-1 at home against Scunthorpe.

Elsewhere, young Aussie stopper Daniel Ireland was on the pine as Coventry beat Peterborough 3-2, while Nick Carle was an unused sub in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 loss at Sheffield United.

At Deepdale, promising Socceroos defender Shane Lowry missed Plymouth’s 2-0 loss to Preston North End due to suspension and with his loan from Aston Villa due to expire his immediate future remains unresolved.

In League One, Australian international Patrick Kisnorbo was back in the heart of Leeds United’s defence after injury as the Whites were held to a 0-0 draw at Brentford.

Kisnorbo played a full game along with fellow Aussie Neil Kilkenny who was influential in midfield for Leeds.

Elsewhere in the English third tier, Gareth Edds started and played 68 minutes as Tranmere lost 3-0 at Southampton, while Michael Theoklitos continues to be overlooked at Norwich who drew 3-3 at Yeovil overnight.

In League Two, Australian defender Aaron Downes was back in the Chesterfield squad for the first time since he sustained a serious knee injury in April.

Downes was an unused substitute as Chesterfield defeated Cheltenham 1-0.

Elsewhere, Dean Bouzanis continues to impress at Accrington helping them defeat Notts County 2-1, while Oliver Bozanic got a start for Aldershot as they were thumped 6-1 at Burton Albion.

Daniel Leach put in a full shift for Barnet as they lost 2-1 to Crewe, while Shane Cansdell-Sherriff missed Shrewsbury’s 0-0 draw with Grimsby.

Finally in the FA Trophy, James Meredith’s York City face a replay after a 0-0 draw with Hinckley.

Aussies In Action Today

Romanian Liga I
Otelul Galati v Universitatea Craiova (Joshua Rose, Josh Mitchell, Spase Dilevski, Michael Baird), 10pm
German 2.Bundesliga
FSV Frankfurt v Rot-Weiss Ahlen (Dino Djulbic), 10pm
Scottish Premier League
Motherwell v Celtic (Scott McDonald), 10.45pm
German 3rd Liga
Sandhausen v SpVgg Unterhaching (Milan Susak), 11pm
German Regionalliga West
Schalke II v Eintracht Trier (Andy Rakic), 11pm
Waldhof Mannheim v Moenchengladbach II (Pece Cvetanovski), 11pm
German Bundesliga
FC Nurnberg (Dario Vidosic, Matt Spiranovic) v Hamburg SV, 12.30am
Italian Serie B
Piacenza v Grosseto (Carl Valeri), 12.30am
Salernitana v AlbinoLeffe (Christian Esposito), 12.30am
English Premier League
Burnley v Fulham (Mark Schwarzer), 1am
Chelsea v Everton (Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill [susp]), 1am
Hull City (Richard Garcia) v Blackburn (Vince Grella, Brett Emerton), 1am
Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen v Hamilton (James Wesolowski, Trent McClenahan), 1am
Kilmarnock (Danny Invincibile) v Hibernian, 1am
English Championship
Reading (Adam Federici) v Scunthorpe, 1am
Preston v Plymouth (Shane Lowry), 1am
Sheffield Utd v Crystal Palace (Nick Carle), 1am
Coventry (Daniel Ireland) v Peterborough, 1am
Leicester (Alex Cisak) v Sheffield Wed, 1am
English League One
Brentford v Leeds United (Patrick Kisnorbo, Neil Kilkenny), 1am
Carlisle v Wycombe (Jamie Young), 1am
Southampton v Tranmere (Gareth Edds), 1am
Yeovil v Norwich City (Michael Theoklitos), 1am
English League Two
Barnet (Daniel Leach) v Crewe, 1am
Burton Albion v Aldershot (Oliver Bozanic), 1am
Chesterfield (Aaron Downes [inj]) v Cheltenham, 1am
Lincoln (Chris Herd) v Rochdale, 1am
Morecambe v Bournemouth (Scott Guyett [inj]), 1am
Notts County v Accrington (Dean Bouzanis), 1am
Shrewsbury (Shane Cansdell-Sherriff) v Grimsby, 1am
Scottish Division One
Dundee v Ayr United (Ryan McGowan), 1am
Airdrie (Simon Storey, Frankie Lagana) v Partick, 1am
Morton (Erik Paartalu) v Queen of the South, 1am
English FA Trophy
Hinckley United v York City (James Meredith), 1am
Mansfield (Kyle Nix) v Tamworth, 1am
Swiss Schweizer Pokal
FC Basel (Scott Chipperfield) v Biel-Bienne, 2.45am
Dutch Eredivisie
FC Twente (Nikita Rukavytsya, David Carney) v NAC Breda, 4.45am
PSV v AZ Alkmaar (Brett Holman, James Holland), 5.45am