I'm sure proud Aucklander dad John, and the whole Kirwan family would get a buzz out of Niko playing for the new ALM team. Having Auckland NPC, Auckland (as it was then) Warriors, and Auckland ALM players all in the same family - would be a unique record unlikely to ever be broken. Maybe Elliot can play midfield!
Kirwan an unused sub as Padova (2nd) lose 2-0 at Giana Erminio.
Padova fall 9 points behind Mantova (1st). Think Kirwan's team can kiss goodbye to automatic promotion to Serie B. But they are still 12 pts clear of 3rd placed Vicenza. So they should at least get a favourable draw in the Serie C promotion playoffs - with 7 regular season games to go.
I would say so. Top players will be on Euro 150k+ (there was a guy on Eu300k a while back). I could see a decent player being on NZ$170k. There's a huge spread depemon age, experience and the means/aim of each club
Captains his side and plays the full game in an important 2-1 win in the first home leg. The return leg will be played on 2 April (Italy time). Didn't get a chance to watch on Fifa+ but hoping to do that next time.
Full game in a 2-0 loss. Mantova (1st) drew and so did Vicenza (3rd). The ladder says Mantova 78 (automatic promotion), Padova 66, Vicenza 58 (2nd and 3rd go into the promotion playoffs), Triestina 53 (qualification playoffs). 5 games remaining.
Basically they just need wants to stay 2nd or 3rd as that means you come into the play offs at the QF stage and skip the first two rounds.
Saw that his younger bro has got into Alinghi. Was a rower but will be one of those grinders who use their feet... Man I have no idea what I'm really describing here.
Rested (hopefully not injured) in a 3-2 win vs Serie A club Udinese. Nothing riding on this but good for morale as they head into the final part of the season
Sadly Niko was banned, I presume due to yellow cards accumulation. Padova fail to take home the Cup, succumbing 5-4 on aggregates, including giving away the final goal on 120min! After 90 minutes it was 3-2 to Catania. A 2-2 score, after the first leg's 2-1 result, would have been enough for Padova, who gave away the third goal at 89 min.
Only the play offs left, hopefully they can manage and get promoted.
Niko comes on a exactly the same time as Libby Cacace (82min), with the score at 1-1. It finishes that way. Padova will mathematically end the season in 2nd place, and will go straight to the play off QFs.
Padova finish off the regular season with a 3-2 win over Triestina. No Kirwan. A well deserved second place that will see them go directly into the play off QFs. It sounds like the play offs are being delayed as one team (Taranto) are appealing a 4 point deduction. That they are able to do so now is absolutely ludicrous...the play offs were meant to start on May 18, so we'll wait and see what happens. Padova will get a chance to rest and regroup. Apparently they are chasing a friendly game vs Inter Milan who recently won the Serie A!
Incredibly, Padova sacked their coach a few days ago and brought back Massimo Oddo who led them to the Serie C play off final in 2022.
Kirwin seems to be in an out this year - still recovering from his injury?
More so first half of the season he was in & out, which yes could well have been related to recovery from his ACL. But lately he's been a pretty regular starter.
Game on the weekend was a nothing game. Hopefully he starts their playoffs, and hopefully they can navigate their way to promtion to Serie B. Been close but no cigar last few seasons.
Kirwan's played 31 (18 starts) of 38 games in the completed regular season.