Loan Report: Goal Fest For Vito Mannone

If we start across the pond, Vito Mannone was between the sticks for an absolute goal-fest as Minnesota United and New York City FC contested a 3-3 draw in a game that swayed one way and then the over. Minnesota were arguably lucky to come away with a point in this game at Allianz Field, but an important point keeps them in the Western Conference playoffs.

Sticking with goalkeepers, youngster Lewis Ward was once again in goal for Forest Green Rovers as they picked up a 2-0 win against strugglers Macclesfield Town, with former Reading left back Joseph Mills grabbing the goal that sealed the win two minutes from time. This result gives Forest Green a six-point cushion in the race for a League Two playoff place, heading into the last four games of the season.

Luke Southwood’s Eastleigh managed to arrest a slump of three straight league defeats with a 1-0 win over Gateshead. With three league games left of the Vanarama National League season, it’s a vital win for Eastleigh who occupy the last playoff spot, and have now given themselves a four-point gap to Ebbsfleet United below them.

George Legg has been involved in the past number of games for Boreham Wood in the Vanarama National, but this past Saturday he was an unused substitute as his side picked up a 1-0 win away at Harrogate Town.

Over in Belgium, as the relegation round of the Belgian second tier moves past the halfway point, it was a dismal display from Darren Sidoel and his KSV Roeselare side, as they lost 3-0 away at OH Leuven. Danzell Gravenberch was not included in the matchday squad despite his inclusion over the past number of weeks, but Roeselare are yet to pick up a win in this relegation round, and find themselves rock bottom of the mini table, three points adrift of their nearest rival.

Beijing Renhe finally won a game! Sone Aluko has picked up his first win in China at the fifth attempt, in a result that sees Renhe move off the bottom of the Chinese Super League. Much like how his parent club do it however, Renhe did it the hard way.

Their opponents Guangzhou Evergrande, managed by World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, went down to ten men inside fifteen minutes as former Spurs midfielder Paulinho was sent off, and then the visitors went 1-0 up despite their man disadvantage but Renhe equalised on the stroke of half time. Aluko wasn’t on the pitch when the home side grabbed their winner as he was substituted off in the 84th minute and the home side left it until the 92nd minute to grab their winner.

In a game that ended in a bad tempered manner, Adrian Popa played the full 90 minutes as Ludogorets picked up an important 2-0 win away at rivals Levski Sofia. This result leaves Ludogorets three points clear at top of the Bulgarian playoff table.

As we move to the Eredivise in Holland, Andrija Novakovich scored for Fortuna Sittard as they drew 1-1 at home to VVV. The young American struck in the 11th minute to put his side 1-0 up, but the visitors equalised with just under ten minutes to go, to grab a deserved point.

He hasn’t been involved too much in previous weeks, but young striker Ben House came on as an 82nd minute sub for Swindon Town as they travelled to Oldham Athletic in a game that finished 2-2.