18-year-old Lucas Herrington played his part in a massive opening day Premier League win for Hull City, completing 26 minutes in their 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
Elsewhere, Patrick Beach kept a clean sheet in his Ligue 1 debut for Troyes, Nestory Irankunda looked lively on his Sporting debut, and Jackson Irvine assisted the only goal in Cerezo Osaka’s J1 League win.
The Headliners
Herrington impresses on Premier League debut
Teenager Lucas Herrington added another milestone to his incredible year, making his Premier League debut in newly promoted Hull City’s 2-0 victory over football giants Manchester United.
Herrington watched from the bench as Hull took an unexpected two-goal lead before slotting into defence to help see out the final half hour of the match.
The youngster was typically assured on the big stage and won several aerial duels to help the unfancied Hull to a clean sheet.
He will have the chance to make his starting debut midweek when Hull travel to take on Stoke City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday morning (AEST).
Result: Hull City 2 – 0 Manchester United
Irankunda lively in first Sporting CP glimpse
Nestory Irankunda showed large amounts of promise after making his Sporting CP debut from the bench.
The electric forward played 22 minutes in the team’s 3-1 victory over Alverca. He created three chances in that time, won three ground duels, drew two fouls, and completed 12/15 passes, for an 80% completion rate.
It was an exciting glimpse into what the 20-year-old could bring to the European giants this season.
Result: Sporting CP 3 – 1 Alverca
Beach keeps clean sheet as Troyes re-enter Ligue 1 with a draw
Patrick Beach once again proved he can adapt to the big stage, keeping a clean sheet as ES Troyes drew 0-0 with Paris FC.
The 23-year-old is no stranger to being thrown in the deep end this year and once again emerged with credit, remaining composed as the newly promoted side picked up a point to start their league campaign.
They’ll be hoping for their first three points against Lorient next week.
Result: ES Troyes 0 – 0 Paris FC
Other Standouts
Jackson Irvine made his first goal contribution in his first start in the J-League, assisting the only goal in Cerezo Osaka’s 1-0 victory against Shimizu S-Pulse. Osaka have gotten off to a good start, winning two of their first three games, and will hope to continue that momentum in the Emperor’s Cup midweek.
Result: Cerezo Osaka 1 – 0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Max Balard was huge for NAC Breda on the weekend, making three key passes with 93% passing accuracy in their 3-2 victory over Jong Ajax. The midfield metronome also made seven progressive carries in an impressive overall performance.
Result: NAC Breda 3 – 2 Jong Ajax
Elsewhere Abroad
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough, EFL Championship) – 30 minutes in 2-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers
Mohamed Toure (Norwich City, EFL Championship) – 90 minutes in 3-0 defeat to Millwall
Joe Gauci (Lincoln City, EFL Championship) – unused substitute in 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth
Alex Robertson (Cardiff City, EFL Championship) – 90 minutes and yellow card in 2-2 draw with Derby County
Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth, EFL Championship) – not in matchday squad v Lincoln
Harry Souttar (Leicester City; EFL League One) – 90 minutes in 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion
Sam Silvera (MK Dons, EFL League One) – not in matchday squad for 1-1 draw with Huddersfield
Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli; 2. Bundesliga) – 13 minutes in 2-0 defeat v Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB-Pokal
Kai Trewin (New York City FC; MLS) – not in matchday squad for 1-1 draw with New England
Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC; MLS) - not in matchday squad for 1-1 draw with New England
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC, MLS) – 62 minutes in dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Columbus
Kye Rowles (D.C United, MLS) – not in matchday squad for 3-1 defeat v Charlotte
Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, J1 League) – 90 minutes in 3-0 win over Urawa Reds to remain top of league
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata; J2 League) – not in matchday squad in 1-0 win v Fujieda MYFC
Paul Izzo (Randers; Danish Superliga) – half-time substitute in 1-0 defeat to Midtylland
Ryan Teague (KV Mechelen, Belgian Pro League) – not in matchday squad for 2-0 defeat to Charleroi
Ajdin Hrustic (Al Nasr; UAE Pro League) – 84 minutes in 1-0 victory over Al-Wahda - his competitive club debut
Deni Juric (Wisla Plock, Ekstraklasa) – 81st minute substitute in 5-0 defeat against GKS Katowice
Fran Karačić (Hajduk Split, HNL) – not in matchday squad in 4-0 win over Osijek
Unavailable players
Jordy Bos (Feyenoord, Eredivisie) – Injured
Lewis Miller (Blackburn, EFL Championship) – Injured
Cameron Burgess (Swansea City; EFL Championship) – Injured
Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK; Austrian Bundesliga) – Injured
Midweek Fixtures
Mathew Ryan (Levante, La Liga) – v Osasuna, Tuesday 25 August, 3.30am AEST
Paul Okon-Engstler (1. FC Köln, Bundesliga) – v Wurzburger Kickers in DFB-Pokal, Tuesday 25 August, 2.00am AEST
Lucas Herrington (Hull City, EFL Championship) – v Stoke City in EFL Cup, Wednedsay 26 August, 4.45am AEST
Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka, J1 League) – v F.C Gifu in the Emperor’s Cup, Wednesday 26 August, 7.30pm AEST
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough, EFL Championship) – v Doncaster in EFL Cup, Wednesday 26 August, 4.30am AEST
Alex Robertson (Cardiff City, EFL Championship) – v Norwich City in EFL Cup, Wednesday 26 August, 4.00am AEST
Harry Souttar (Leicester City; EFL League One) – v Ipswich Town in EFL Cup, Wednesday 26 August, 4.45am AEST
Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, J1 League) – v Morioka in Emperor’s Cup, Wednesday 26 August, 7.30pm AEST
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata; J2 League) – v Kagoshima United in Emperor’s Cup, Wednesday 26 August 8.00pm AEST
Ajdin Hrustic (Al Nasr; UAE Pro League) – v Al-Ettifaq, Wednedsay 26 August, 4.00am AEST
Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League play-off, Thursday 27 August, 5.00am AEST
Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, Eliteserien) - v Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League play-off, Thursday 27 August, 5.00am AEST
Fran Karačić (Hajduk Split, HNL) – v Rakow Czestochowa in Euopa Conference League Play-off second leg, Friday 28 August, 3
Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scottish Premiership) – v Gent in Europa Conference League Play-off Second Leg, Friday 28 August 5am AEST
Cammy Devlin (Rangers; Scottish Premiership) – v Jablonec in Europa Conference League Play-off Second Leg, Friday 28 August 2.00am AEST (suspended)