‘Crafty’ McGree scores in ‘fabulous performance’; 20yo Aussie GK stuns with epic first

Riley McGree’s stunning run of form is showing no signs of slowing down after yet another impressive display for Middlesbrough as a fellow Socceroos midfielder bagged his first goal since September.

Elsewhere, a 20-year-old goalkeeper achieved a crazy Championship first while one of the Aussie contingent in Scotland provided a matchwinning assist.

Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree continues to earn the plaudits as his side continue marching towards the automatic promotion spots in the Championship with a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

The Aussie star won a penalty in the 77th minute when he burst into the box before cutting the ball back onto his left foot and was fouled in the process.

Although Boro striker Chuba Akpom would see his initial effort from the spot saved, he converted the rebound.

McGree then got the goal his performance deserved in second-half stoppage time.

Boro’s Matt Crooks avoided QPR’s off-side trap and picked up the ball on the left edge of the box before firing a pass across goal to the unmarked McGree.

The 24-year-old took a touch on his left foot before firing an effort into the back of the net and celebrating wildly.

Middlesbrough reporter Craig Johns was effusive in his praise for the Socceroo, giving him a score of eight in his player ratings.

“Another fabulous performance as he came to life in the second half with a typically crafty performance,” Johns wrote.

“As well as winning the penalty, he scored the third and was so unlucky not to have an early second-half opener which typified his ability to get into the right areas at the right times right now.”

McGree wasn’t the only Socceroo to score a goal on the weekend, as St Pauli’s Jackson Irvine found the back of the net for the first time since September.

Irvine popped up in the 73rd minute to glance a header home from a corner to score the equaliser for St Pauli in their 2. Bundesliga clash against FC Magdeburg, with Irvine’s side going on to win 2-1.

McGree and Irvine may have been the only two Aussie goalscorers on the weekend, but there were also a duo who chalked up assists.

St Mirren right back Ryan Strain whipped in a perfect corner that was thumped home by teammate Declan Gallagher in the 7th minute as they held on for a 1-0 win over Ross County.

However, Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic might lay claim to having the better assist.

In just his third start for the Terriers, the 20-year-old Aussie gloveman launched a ball high up the field to the left wing, where it fell to the feet of Jaheim Headley after Birmingham City’s Maxime Colin misjudged the flight of the ball.

Headley brought it down and then fired in an inch-perfect strike past Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy to give Huddersfield Town a crucial 2-1 win in new boss Neil Warnock’s first game in charge.

Bilokapic’s assist was also the first from a goalkeeper in the Championship this season and he also came up big with a key save to deny Birmingham’s Juninho Bacuna.

Also in the Championship, Blackpool midfielder Kenny Dougall played a crucial role for the Tangerines in a 1-0 win over Stoke City.

Blackpool Gazette writer Amos Wynn awarded Dougall a score of seven in his player ratings, writing that Dougall “did a pretty decent job providing an extra layer of cover for the back four” as Mick McCarthy’s side had just 30 per cent possession against the Potters.

It wasn’t all good news for Aussies in England though, as Harry Souttar couldn’t prevent Leicester City’s 3-0 loss against Manchester United.

The scoreline doesn’t quite reflect the danger the Foxes presented, with Red Devils goalkeeper David de Gea called into action on several occasions.

But Brendan Rodgers’ side could do little to stop a red-hot Marcus Rashford from continuing his rich vein of form.

Writer Jordan Blackwell noted the towering defender played well in the first half, but as Leicester opened up in the second period, life wasn’t as easy.

“He won headers, made blocks and slid in for excellent challenges in the first half, nearly getting himself a goal with a thumping effort just over the bar too,” Blackwell wrote.

“He was unfortunate to play Rashford onside for the first, and the second half was difficult for him, with City so open and United forwards attacking him with pace.”

Elsewhere around the grounds, Hibernian’s Jimmy Jeggo was key in the Edinburgh side’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock that kept them within five points of local rivals Hearts, who sit in third place.

Awer Mabil got his first start since moving to Czech side Sparta Prague as they ran out 3-0 winners over Jablonec, although the winger was substituted at half-time.

Over in Japan, Mitch Langerak kept his first clean sheet of the J1 League season in Nagoya Grampus’ 1-0 win over Yokohama FC.

Massimo Luongo finally got his first league minutes of the 2022/23 campaign as he came off the bench for Ipswich Town in their 4-0 demolition of Forest Green Rovers.

Luongo logged 31 minutes of action in what is just his second senior appearance this season having played in the Trotters’ 0-0 draw against Burnley in the FA Cup.