Your #bitored team to face @DroghedaUnited ⬇️
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) June 24, 2022
Colm Horgan replaces the injured Garry Buckley and Adam McDonnell is in for David Cawley.
Nando Pijnaker and Greg Bolger are unwell and miss out. #bitored pic.twitter.com/jlxyZwZK3C
Max Mata (Shrewsbury Town | England) [Loan: Auckland FC | A-League]
Another goal for Max Mata at @sligorovers 🇳🇿🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/LLJd2NgttU
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) July 3, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdRDXxwrlZc
Pijnaker a full game and Mata subbed off at 80 mins (0-2).
Sligo may have been distracted as they host Motherwell midweek in UEFA Conference League playoffs, first leg
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/07/17/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/university-college-dublin-football-club/3712567/
Much for Sligo to work on for their next round of European Conference League qualifiers against Motherwell.
Much for Sligo to work on for their next round of European Conference League qualifiers against Motherwell.
Even against Bala Town on Friday morning they were comfortably second-best. That was at home with a capacity crowd against a part-time Welsh side (UCD might also be part-time, I’m not sure) that were knocked out 3-1 on aggregate by a Sammarinese side a couple of years ago. Only their ‘keeper Ed McGinty (and the woodwork tbf) kept them in Europe, he made several big saves to keep it to just a one goal deficit, and then saved twice in the shootout. The trouble is, it looks like he’s leaving to Oxford Utd and he didn’t play the UCD game.
Motherwell look like they’ll be too big an ask unfortunately, but upsets can happen. It’s only the third ever time Sligo have progressed in a European tie, with the others being a 3-2agg win over Maltese side Floriana in 94/95 and 4-0agg over Lithuanian Banga Gargzdai in 14/15, so there’s little precedent. Last year, for example, they lost both legs against Faroese side FH, going out 3-1 on aggregate. Derry City (interestingly from Northern Ireland but playing in the Republic), the other LoI side in the UECL First Qualifying Round, lost their first round tie 4-0 to Latvian side Riga FC, while Shamrock Rovers beat Hibernians of Malta 3-0 in the UCL First Qualifying Round.
Also in the UECL Second Qualifying Round is Joe Bell’s Brøndby against Pogon Szczecin, as well as Viking against Sparta Prague.
MAX MATA 😍
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) July 26, 2022
The #bitored are delighted to announce striker Max Mata has signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with the club to keep him at The Showgrounds until at least the end of 2024https://t.co/WmriXtwXCV pic.twitter.com/yxAujC7g9P
And who knows he may even get noticed by a low level club across the Irish Sea,
at some stage. Still only 22.
Mata & Pijnaker both start.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/07/31/ireland-republic/fai-cup/sligo-rovers-fc/wexford-youths-fc/3806393/
Edit - goes to ET, is 1-1 end of NT. Looks like both Kiwis are still on the field.
110’ Another good chance as Mata is in behind again. His effort is saved by the goalkeeper and behind for a corner..
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) July 31, 2022
🔴1-1⚫️
105’ Great pass from Nando Pijnaker finds Fitzgerald on the left.
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) July 31, 2022
He crosses for Mark Byrne who heads just wide.
Two minutes added on at the end of the half
🔴1-1⚫️
So a few nights after beating a SPL team in Europe, they lose a home cup tie to a 2nd tier Irish team. Football.
Next a trip to Viking and Gianni Stensness midweek in Norway. Viking are currently 6th in the Eliteserien at just over the half way mark.
Stensness though hasn't played since returning from the Socceroos playoff games (he was on the bench verus UAE) back in early June.
So a few nights after beating a SPL team in Europe, they lose a home cup tie to a 2nd tier Irish team. Football.
Next a trip to Viking and Gianni Stensness midweek in Norway. Viking are currently 6th in the Eliteserien at just over the half way mark.
Stensness though hasn't played since returning from the Socceroos playoff games (he was on the bench verus UAE) back in early June.
It's also not really the same Viking side that medaled last year in Eliteserien, due to the inevitable departures that accompany overachieving. To Brøndby alone they have lost three key players: Norway U21 centre-back Henrik Heggheim in September last year for €1.5m, Joe Bell in January for €1.1m and Norway U21 right-back Sebastian Sebulonsen for €1.2m in mid July. All three in fact played the full 90 minutes today against Silkeborg.
On top of that, Viking have lost their two top scorers for this season, without replacing them yet, Sebulonsen one of them with four goals, and the other being Veton Berisha on eight goals (and five assists) in 12 games, who left to Hammarby for €2m. Berisha is quite literally irreplaceable for Viking, in the last three seasons he has 61 goals/assists in 68 Eliteserien games and it speaks volumes that he was the only (outfield) non-Bødo/Glimt local player in the national team.
Viking are also in a little bit of a local slump. They were right up setting the pace beside Lillestrøm earlier in the year, and were even top in May. But they have dropped down a bit, sitting in fifth, though all the teams around them have a game in hand. Since May, they have only three wins out of ten, against dead-last Kristiansund who have two points all season, against a relegation-playoff-spot Haugesund, and against (then) top-of-the-table Lillestrøm.
Viking will definitely back themselves to be comfortable, especially after beating Sparta Prague, but hopefully Sligo will be able to continue their run, and also allow Mata and Pijnaker to get one over their ex-U20 World Cup teammate.
Certainly neither Mata or Pijnaker stated either match verus Motherwell. Apparently return Viking game in Sligo already sold out. So locals loving their little novelty Euro adventure.
First leg Europa Conference League qualifier
Unfortunately no on field match up with Gianni Stensness. He's injured.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/04/europe/uefa-europa-conference-league/viking-fotballklubb/sligo-rovers-fc/3876630/
Edit - both Kiwis bought into the game very early. Mata at 7 mins & Pjinaker at 22 mins. Presumably as injury replacements, but Sligo had also made a terrible start down 2 nil after only 8 mins!
Concede three more in the 2nd half to go on to lose 5-1 (get a late consolation pen).
So 2nd leg in front of a full house back in Sligo, could have a bit of a damp squid feel about it.
Pijanker with a yellow.
First leg Europa Conference League qualifier
Unfortunately no on field match up with Gianni Stensness. He's injured.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/04/europe/uefa-europa-conference-league/viking-fotballklubb/sligo-rovers-fc/3876630/
Edit - both Kiwis bought into the game very early. Mata at 7 mins & Pjinaker at 22 mins. Presumably as injury replacements, but Sligo had also made a terrible start down 2 nil after only 8 mins!
Concede three more in the 2nd half to go on to lose 5-1 (get a late consolation pen).
So 2nd leg in front of a full house back in Sligo, could have a bit of a damp squid feel about it.
Pijanker with a yellow.
Pijnaker & Mata starting. Gianni Stensness injured
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/11/europe/uefa-europa-conference-league/sligo-rovers-fc/viking-fotballklubb/3876674/
Edit - Flying Kiwi. Highlights Mata's 2nd goal from his weekend brace.
Brace for Max Mata! ✌️
— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) August 7, 2022
🇳🇿 The New Zealander gives his side the lead with a great finish shortly after scoring the equaliser @sligorovers 2-1 @bfcdublin
📺 | https://t.co/bOaBkAJJJW#LOI | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/QaGeAIYMJv
This defeat, alongside Brøndby's shootout defeat in Basel, means Marko Stamenic at København will be the only New Zealander playing European football this season. They play the home leg against Turkish champions Trabzonspor next week, with the winner going to the Champions League group stage, and the loser to the Europa League. David Browne's HJK are also now guaranteed European football for the second year in a row after beating Slovenian side Maribor in UEL qualifying this morning; they'll also play a playoff round next with at least a place in the UECL group stage guaranteed .
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/19/ireland-republic/premier-league/finn-harps-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/3712586/
Finished a 3-2 loss. Full games Pijnaker and Mata
Liam McGing was a 84th min sub for Finn Harps
Mata 56 mins (1-0) and an assist
𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓰𝓸𝓪𝓵 👌
— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) September 3, 2022
An outstanding Sligo Rovers team move is finished off by Frank Liivak 👏@sligorovers 1-0 @DroghedaUnited
Watch live 📺 | https://t.co/a2qHlhnzpE#LOI | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/ZihcYocGrS
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/09/ireland-republic/premier-league/shelbourne-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/3712595/
Mata off at 62 mins (1-0) in a 2-0 win
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Amf542w54k
MOTM last week, but has to cut out those bad errors surely to get a gig at a higher level.
Looks like with 6 rounds left Sligo don't really have much to play for. Too far off the top 3 (Europe) but well safe from relegation.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/01/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/shamrock-rovers-football-club/3712602/
Mata off at 64 mins (0-2)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/07/ireland-republic/premier-league/university-college-dublin-football-club/sligo-rovers-fc/3712606/
Full game Pijnaker
Sligo nothing to play for. St Pats, only 2 points behind 3rd placed (a UEFA Conference league spot) Dundalk with plenty of motivation.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/28/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/st-patricks-athletic-fc/3712622/
Mata's goal from last weekend.
Seventh goal of the season for Max Mata, giving Sligo Rovers an 83rd min lead 🤙 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/fJuZfUl7oM
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 21, 2022
1 game left to finish the season
Wehrly Bros/Sligo Rovers Young Player of The Year for 2022 👉 Max Mata
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) October 28, 2022
The New Zealander has settled into life in Sligo well this year scoring 9 times and made a good contribution throughout the season
Well done, Max. #bitored pic.twitter.com/ilRA25F2Nf
Chuck another one on the mantelpiece, Max Mata capping a fine year with a sneaky award. Young player of the year for the club. Both he and Nando Pijnaker were also nominated for overall Player of the Year although no surprises that Aidan Keena won that one.
All over here and it’s a good win to open our pre-season schedule with goals from Heaney, Mata, Lafferty, Brannefalk and Hartmann
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) January 20, 2023
Thanks to Petstop Discount Warehouse for sponsoring the game
🟥1-5⬛️ #bitored pic.twitter.com/gMPiKm4d7I
Pre season underway in earnest for Sligo as the whip Fleetwood Town (reserves) 5-1.
Mata & Pijnaker both subbed on as two of the 10 H/T substitutes.
Wonder if Oliver Colloty was involved for Fleetwood? 🤔
🎥 Max Mata breaks the deadlock
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) January 23, 2023
Max Mata made it two from two in pre-season after good play from Fabrice Hartmann in the build up ☑️
Rovers drew with Wigan Athletic at St. George’s Park#bitored pic.twitter.com/UszyUQvID7
2 from 2 in pre season for Mata as Sligo continue to build towards their season.
Finished 1-1 against Wigan.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/18/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/shamrock-rovers-football-club/3999939/
Our first SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Team of the Week of 2023 as chosen by @conanbyrnecb7 🗳️
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 20, 2023
Agree? #LOI | https://t.co/vfkMjbvRwA
Edit: Make that two, scores a penalty.