There was some exciting midweek action for our Socceroos abroad, with Mitch Duke grabbing his first goal of the season and others earning a shot at promotion.
Aussies continue to battle for places higher up in their club competitions, with only a few games left to play.
Here is the rundown.
Subway Socceroos
On Wednesday morning, Gethin Jones (cap #639) picked up an assist in the second leg of Bolton Wanderers’ EFL League One semi-final tie against Barnsley. The side lost 3-2 on the day but went through to the EFL Championship promotion final on aggregate 5-4.
In Scotland’s League One, Dylan McGowan (cap #590) played a full game for Hamilton Academical on Wednesday morning in their 2-2 draw with Alloa Athletic. This was the first leg of a two-legged tie in the semi-finals for a chance at a place in the Scottish Championship.
In J. League, Mitch Duke (cap #559) came off the bench to score Machida Zelvia’s third in the final half hour of their 3-0 win over Kyoto Sanga on Monday.
Duke will hope to build on his first goal of the season when his side travel to Shonan Bellmare on Saturday at 4:00pm (AEST).
Also, Mitch Langerak (cap #566) was the goalkeeper for Nagoya Grampus’ 3-2 win over Sanfrecce on Monday afternoon. Langerak will probably be in goal again on Saturday at 5:00pm (AEST) when Nagoya host Gamba Osaka.
Brad Smith (cap #575) played 84 minutes of Houston Dynamo’s penalty loss over Detroit City FC in the US Open Cup. The sides were locked at 3-3 before Dynamo went on to lose 10-9 on penalties. The fullback should be involved again for Houston’s game with Sporting KC on Sunday at 10:30am (AEST).
Gianni Stensness (cap #617) started Viking’s 4-2 loss to Levanger after extra time in the Norwegian Cup on Thursday morning. The midfielder was sent off for a second yellow card in the final moments of extra time. Patrick Yazbek (cap #641) came on in the 54th minute for the side.
Stensness will be suspended for Viking’s trip to Stromsgodset on Monday at 1:00am (AEST), but Yazbek could start the match.
Joe Gauci (cap #631) was a backup goalkeeper for Aston Villa as they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League by Olympiacos on Friday morning. The side went down 2-0 this morning after losing 4-2 in the first leg of the semi-final matchup.
Gauci may be on the bench again for Aston Villa when they host Liverpool on Tuesday morning at 5:00am (AEST).
Alessandro Circati (cap #637) looks set to start for Parma in their away trip to Reggiana on Saturday at 4:30am (AEST) in Serie B.
Jordan Bos (cap #632) is likely to start for Westerlo on Saturday at 4:45am (AEST) against Standard Liege in Belgium’s First Division A.
In 2. Bundesliga, Jackson Irvine (cap #568) and Connor Metcalfe (cap #611) are likely to start for St Pauli when they take on VfL Osnabruck on Sunday at 9:30pm (AEST). The pair can secure automatic Bundesliga promotion with a win.
John Iredale (cap #640) could get some minutes off the bench in a must-win game for Wehen Wiesbaden against fellow 2. Bundesliga relegation strugglers Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday at 9:30pm (AEST).
Mathew Ryan (cap #555) should be the goalkeeper for AZ Alkmaar on Sunday at 10:30pm (AEST) when they travel to Go Ahead Eagles in Eredivisie.
Also in the competition, Ajdin Hrustic (cap #589) should start for Heracles on Sunday at 10:30pm (AEST) against Excelsior as they look to confirm their safety in the Dutch top flight.
Over the Scottish Premiership, where Kye Rowles (cap #622), Cameron Devlin (cap #625) and Nathaniel Atkinson (cap #620) have a good chance to start for Hearts as they take on Dundee on Sunday at 12:00am (AEST).
Also, St Mirren’s Ryan Strain (cap #624) and Keanu Baccus (cap #628) could start when the side host Kilmarnock at the same time.
Elsewhere in the competition, Martin Boyle (cap #599) should be in the starting team for Hibernian’s home match against Aberdeen on Monday at 12:00am (AEST).
Finally, Ryan McGowan (cap #546) is set to start for St Johnstone as they travel to Livingston on Sunday at 12:00am (AEST).
In Croatia’s 1. Division, Fran Karacic (cap #607) could start for Rudes in their away clash with HNK Gorica on Saturday at 2:00am (AEST).
In Sweden’s Allsvenskan, Alex Gersbach (cap #587) is still a doubt for Kalmar FF and therefore is likely to miss their visit to Hacken on Sunday at 10:00pm (AEST).
In the Austrian Bundesliga, James Holland (cap #508) remains sidelined for Austria Wien with a back injury ahead of Sunday’s game with Wolfsberger AC at 1:00am (AEST).
Harrison Delbridge (cap #623) could start for Incheon United when they welcome FC Seoul in K-League 1 on Saturday at 5:30pm (AEST).
In Thai League, Kenny Dougall (cap #608) is likely to be in the starting lineup for Buriram United in their home game against Port FC on Sunday at 9:00pm (AEST).
Trent Sainsbury (cap #574) could start again for Al-Wakrah following their Qatar Cup success last weekend when they host Muaither in the Emir Cup on Friday at 3:00am (AEST).
Subway Olyroos
Tyrese Francois put in a dominant defensive display for Vejle Boldklub in their 3-2 win over Odense on Tuesday morning in the Danish Superligaen Relegation group. The side host Viborg on Sunday at 10:00pm (AEST).
Nicholas Bilokapic was an unused substitute for Peterborough United as they were knocked out by Oxford United in the EFL League One promotion play-off semi-final on Thursday. Peterborough drew 1-1 on the night but fell 2-1 on aggregate over the two legs.
Giuseppe Bovalina came on for his Vancouver Whitecaps debut on Wednesday, playing from the 88th minute of the Whitecaps’ 2-1 win over Cavalry in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Championship. Bovalina will target further minutes when Vancouver take on LAFC on Sunday at 12:30pm (AEST) in Major League Soccer.
In the Polish I Liga, Louis D'Arrigo is set to play for Lechia Gdansk in their away match with Wisla Krakow on Sunday at 1:30am (AEST).
Adrian Segecic might get some minutes for FC Dordrecht in their away tie with Jong FC Utrecht in the final game of the Eerste Divisie season on Saturday at 4:00am (AEST).
Cameron Peupion could make the Brighton & Hove Albion bench on Sunday at 12:00am (AEST) when they take on Newcastle United in the English Premier League.
In K-League 1, Alexandar Popovic was an unused substitute for Gwangju’s 2-1 win over Daejeon Hana on Monday night. The defender could play when the side travel to Daegu on Saturday at 8:00pm (AEST).
In the Scottish Premiership, Nectaris Triantis might get back on the pitch when Hibernian host Aberdeen on Monday at 12:00 am (AEST) as the defender continues his recovery from injury.