Gets back from U23s and given 30 mins off the bench in a 2-2 draw.
Scores 1 min after coming into the game to tie it up 2-2.
Starting and has grabbed himself a double as Nomme Kalju cruise in Estonia, 5-0 up over Tallinna Kalev with quarter of an hour left.
Scored 7 in 6 in the Meistriliiga so far.
While the standard is questionable, Mata has been making the most of his opportunities in Estonia.
Started off playing up front after being loaned out, but seems to have been playing on the LW as of late. Been in good form no less, has scored or assisted in each of the last 6 games in the Meistriliiga.
5 games left for the season in Estonia, before his loan finishes. Not sure how close he would be to the first team picture back in Switzerland with Grasshopper fighting to gain promotion back to the Super League. Perhaps might be off for another loan deal - Hopefully to a league of a higher standing.
Scores the winner in a 1-0 victory over Paide, helping Nomme Kalju jump to 3rd and more importantly, into the Europa League qualifying places. 4 games left in the Estonian season.
Good to see Mata carry on his good form, basically doing all that could've been asked of him from his parent club back in Switzerland.
Highlights from last week's match, incl his winning goal
Nomme Kalju had a 2-1 win on the weekend. Mata full game.
Kalju consolidate 3rd spot, and an Europa League qualifying place. 3 games left.
Credited with the assist for the 2nd Nomme Kalju goal in their 2-1 win over Flora.
Has scored or assisted at least once per game in the past 9 competititive matches - (8 League & 1 Cup game)
Taking on Levadia on Thursday morning in another Cup game. Good to see the games coming thick and fast toward the back end of the Estonian season.
Looks like the league will be over on 10 November. I wonder what's in store for him after that.
Maybe a recall to his parent team in Switzerland or maybe another loan?
As he's done well recently, I wonder if the likes of Vaduz/Aarau etc (mid table 2nd Division Swiss teams) would take a punt on him, especially on loan where they only need to pay his wages?
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
New Estonian season starts March 2020.
You would think Mata is back in Switzerland for the moment. Probably with a FC Grasshopper (his parent club) youth side (Grasshopper II?). Though winter break has already started for Grasshopper II (Swiss 4th tier).
Grasshopper 1st team are currently 2nd in the Swiss 2nd tier. Top team gets automatically promoted and 2nd spot goes into promotion playoffs.
Swiss 5 week winter break for Swiss top tiers goes 15th Dec to 23rd January.
A month now for Mata at a NZ beach, loitering around Eastern Suburbs?
New Estonian season starts March 2020.
You would think Mata is back in Switzerland for the moment. Probably with a FC Grasshopper (his parent club) youth side (Grasshopper II?). Though winter break has already started for Grasshopper II (Swiss 4th tier).
Grasshopper 1st team are currently 2nd in the Swiss 2nd tier. Top team gets automatically promoted and 2nd spot goes into promotion playoffs.
Swiss 5 week winter break for Swiss top tiers goes 15th Dec to 23rd January.
A month now for Mata at a NZ beach, loitering around Eastern Suburbs?
Already back in Switzerland... hoping this means the team needs him :)
New Estonian season starts March 2020.
You would think Mata is back in Switzerland for the moment. Probably with a FC Grasshopper (his parent club) youth side (Grasshopper II?). Though winter break has already started for Grasshopper II (Swiss 4th tier).
Grasshopper 1st team are currently 2nd in the Swiss 2nd tier. Top team gets automatically promoted and 2nd spot goes into promotion playoffs.
Swiss 5 week winter break for Swiss top tiers goes 15th Dec to 23rd January.
A month now for Mata at a NZ beach, loitering around Eastern Suburbs?
Already back in Switzerland... hoping this means the team needs him :)
The first team at Grasshopper? Hopefully.
But probably just mapping out a fitness regime for the winter break/off season. Plus maybe negotiating another loan deal somewhere for 2020.
Hopefully he gets to play first team.
By memory, he scored well for their second team and has carried that form to Estonia. Not sure what more he needs to do in order to earn a 1st team chance.
Hopefully he gets to play first team.
By memory, he scored well for their second team and has carried that form to Estonia. Not sure what more he needs to do in order to earn a 1st team chance.
Be better than the other strikers in the first team squad, or get a chance through injury.
First team are tracking pretty well in 2nd place.
He may go out on loan again. He wasn't always starting for his mid table team in Estonia, so not sure his form was always that red hot in a pretty average league. Who knows for sure.
It's just important at this stage that he is playing, rather than bench warming. Patience required and the long game.
Worked for Boyd as an example. Portuguese 2nd tier for a few seasons, loan deal to a lowly Portuguese top tier side (Tondela), then a mid table Turkish side, and now at one of Turkey's biggest clubs. Each new move an upwards one.
Best chance I reckon would be do to well with the reserves when the league resumes and hope to get a look in for the first team through injury or suspension.
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Swiss leagues restart next Friday.
Grasshopper are 3rd in the 2nd tier (Challenge League).
Mata hasn't been playing in Estonia (their league has been playing since May), so presume is back in Zurich with Pijnaker.
Swiss leagues restart next Friday.
Grasshopper are 3rd in the 2nd tier (Challenge League).
Mata hasn't been playing in Estonia (their league has been playing since May), so presume is back in Zurich with Pijnaker.
yep has been in New Zealand during the pandemic, but he returned to Grasshopper at the end of 2019. Promoted to their first team, given number 15
Played in GCZ U21's first two games back. A start and 65 mins in a 2-0 loss to Muttenz, and subbed on in the 62nd minute in a 2-1 loss to Buochs
Grasshopper beat Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 2-1 in Schweizer Pokal (2nd round).
No Mata in match day squad.
Swiss 2nd tier new season begins this coming weekend.
Grasshopper (1st) with a 1-0 loss at Neuchâtel Xamax (7th)
Grasshopper still remain top of the Swiss 2nd tier, after 3 wins from 4 games (first points dropped this morning).
Mata not sighted in a match day squad, nor loaned back to Estonia or anywhere else it seems for the moment. Presume with GCZ U21's.
From this week's Flying Kiwis. Hopefully a good move for him.
AWs need to a backup striker to Wood, at some sort of pro level scoring goals.
Mods please update his club.
Fine looking news there. Max Mata had been back in Aotearoa in recent times having parted ways with Grasshopper Zurich where he had some great times out on loan in Estonia (including playing against Celtic in European action... to go with 11 goals and 6 assists in 20 games) but never cracked the first team in Switzerland. Nando Pijnaker joined him for a while in the second team, then left for Portugal. Now Mata’s off to America.
GC Zurich missed out on promotion last year and that probably affected things for a fair few of their players. But the USL will be a good level for him, the 20 year old should play regularly there and of course it means getting an attacking player into that league where in recent times, Elliot Collier aside, it’s mostly been kiwi defenders in the USL. Real Monarchs are a feeder team to Real Salt Lake too so there’s upwards progression potential if things go well.
Slight asterisk: “”Mata’s signing is pending league and federation approval, as well as the approval of a p-1 visa. The terms of the signing have not been disclosed.”
And now a word from RM’s assistant general manager: “Max is a dynamic young attacking player, capable of scoring with both feet and in the air. He joins the Monarchs not only as an accomplished and competent professional but also at a time in his career with tremendous capacity for future development. We are excited to see his progression under the tutelage of our Club staff.”
That’s the one.
Up Next: New season season should start... eventually, not quite sure when yet
Mata and Adams both start as Real Monarchs travel to Austin Bold. Same two teams played each other only 5 days ago (1-1). Western Conference Mountain (7 teams).
There is also a Western Conference Pacific (8 teams) which includes San Diego Loyal and Phoenix Rising.
Mata playing as lone striker. Adams as the middle of 3 CBs.
There is also a Western Conference Pacific (8 teams) which includes San Diego Loyal and Phoenix Rising.
Mata playing as lone striker. Adams as the middle of 3 CBs.
2-0 loss this time against Austin. Full game & a yellow for Adams.
Mata subbed off at 69 mins (score 1-0).
Mata subbed off at 69 mins (score 1-0).
Mata subbed off at HT (score 0-1) as Real Monarchs lose to El Paso Locomotive, 1-2 in USL. Not much of a boost to his Olympic prospects. Monarchs did make two subs earlier at 19 mins & 31 mins. El Paso down to 10 men from 79 mins (score 2-0).
Full game Adams. Actually unfortunate for him re the Olympics. He's born 20/11/1996, cut off date being 01/01/1997. So misses out being eligible by 41 days.
Trainspotting trivia - El Paso's starting 11, consisted of 9 different nationalities. They are 2nd in Western Mountain Conference, with a game in hand. Real Monarchs last in the same conference.
Full game Adams. Actually unfortunate for him re the Olympics. He's born 20/11/1996, cut off date being 01/01/1997. So misses out being eligible by 41 days.
Trainspotting trivia - El Paso's starting 11, consisted of 9 different nationalities. They are 2nd in Western Mountain Conference, with a game in hand. Real Monarchs last in the same conference.
Unused sub as Real Monarchs (7th Western Mountain Conference), draw 1-1 with San Antonio (5th). Full game Adams.
Mata has had 5 starts, twice subbed on & 5 times an unused sub. Yet to score. He'll be disappointed at missing Olympics selection, though he shouldn't be surprised.
Mata has had 5 starts, twice subbed on & 5 times an unused sub. Yet to score. He'll be disappointed at missing Olympics selection, though he shouldn't be surprised.
Mata gets on the board in the USA. Scores Real Monarchs 2nd goal at 73 mins, 8 mins after being subbed on (RM down 1-2).
Finishes as a 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights (4th Western Pacific), courtesy of a 96th min pen.
Full game Adams. Monarchs still last in their Conference (Western Mountain).
Go to 1.40 (1 hour 40 mins) in this video, for Mata's goal. Subtle deflection of a team mate's shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxocVN8iakY
Finishes as a 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights (4th Western Pacific), courtesy of a 96th min pen.
Full game Adams. Monarchs still last in their Conference (Western Mountain).
Go to 1.40 (1 hour 40 mins) in this video, for Mata's goal. Subtle deflection of a team mate's shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxocVN8iakY
61st min sub (score 1-0) as Monarchs (last Western Mountain Conference) lose 2-0 to Hartford Athletic. No Kyle Adams.
Hartford are in Connecticut and play in the Eastern Atlantic Conference (6th), a long way from Utah. Rare inter conference USL game.
Hartford are in Connecticut and play in the Eastern Atlantic Conference (6th), a long way from Utah. Rare inter conference USL game.
Subbed on in the 88th min (score 2-1) as Real Monarchs (7th) lose 2-1 at New Mexico United (6th) in the USL. Western Mountain Conference.
Still no Kyle Adams.
Still no Kyle Adams.
Rare full game in a 1-3 loss to Rio Grande Valley (4th Western Mountain Conference).
Kyle Adams also a full 90 mins, against his old USL club.
Real Monarchs remain last in their Conference with 1 games left.
Kyle Adams also a full 90 mins, against his old USL club.
Real Monarchs remain last in their Conference with 1 games left.
Mata gets Real Monarchs goal in a 3-1 loss at New Mexico (4th).
Full games for both him and Adams.
Season over with RM comfortably finishing 7th & last in their Western Mountain Conference. 19 points behind 6th spot.
Adams 30 match day squads, 28 starts & 1 goal.
Mata 20 match day squads, 12 starts & 2 goals.
Full games for both him and Adams.
Season over with RM comfortably finishing 7th & last in their Western Mountain Conference. 19 points behind 6th spot.
Adams 30 match day squads, 28 starts & 1 goal.
Mata 20 match day squads, 12 starts & 2 goals.