Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)

Albirex Niigata (14th) host Kevin Muscat's Yokohama F Marinos (2nd)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/14/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/yokohama-f-marinos/4025467/

1-1 at 60 mins. Fitzgerald starting CB. No Deng.

Edit - finishes 2-1 Niigata. A very handy upset win for them, & up to 12th. Full game Fitzgerald.

Niigata (12th) travel to Sagan Tosu (13th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/20/japan/j1-league/sagan-tosu/albirex-niigata/4025478/

Full game Fitzgerald, and Deng subbed on at 81 mins (2-0) in a 2-0 loss.

J League Cup tie, Niigata host Avispa Fukuoka.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/24/japan/j-league-cup/albirex-niigata/avispa-fukuoka/4024856/

Deng starts. No Fitzgerald
Edit - Niigata lose 1-2. Deng off at HT with Niigata 1-0 up.

Albirex Niigata (13th) host Gamba Osaka (18th/last)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/28/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/gamba-osaka/4025486/

A Kiwi goal in the J League. Fitzgerald scores, but can't prevent Niigata losing 1-3. 

Match highlights including Fitzgerald's goal, well taken glancing header from a corner. Niigata in red.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHcwGPQlj_c

3rd loss in a row for promoted Niigata, who will striving to avoid the drop this season. Long way still to go in the J League.

Niigata (13th) travel to Shonan Bellmare (17th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/03/japan/j1-league/shonan-bellmare/albirex-niigata/4025492/

Neither Deng or Fitzgerald in match day squad
Edit - a 2-2 draw.

Tomorrow Niigata host 4th tier club Rayluck Shiga in the Emperor Cup.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/07/japan/emperor-cup/albirex-niigata/mio-biwako-kusatsu/4072938/

Deng full game in a 1-0 win. No Fitzgerald.

J1 Kiwi derby of a sort. Niigata (13th) host Kyoto Sanga (14th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/11/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/kyoto-sanga/4025502/

Neither Fitzgerald or Woud feature as Kyoto win 3-1. 
Socceroo Deng a full game for Niigata.

J League Cup. Niigata travel to Kashima Antlers.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/18/japan/j-league-cup/kashima-antlers/albirex-niigata/4024857/

Niigata lose 2-0. No Fitzgerald, but full game Deng.

Deng dropped from the Socceroos against Argentina. I remember he made a bad mistake against Ecuador back in March.

Niigata (13th) travel to Kashiwa Reysol (18th/last).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/24/japan/j1-league/kashiwa-reysol/albirex-niigata/4025509/

No Fitzgerald in match day squad, but Thomas Deng starts.
0-0 at HT.
Edit - a 0-0 draw.

Niigata (15th) host Sanfrecce Hiroshima (6th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/01/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/sanfrecce-hiroshima/4025520/

An important 2-0 win for Niigata.
No Fitzgerald but full game Deng

Niigata (13th) travel to Vissel Kobe (3rd)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/07/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/vissel-kobe/4025527/

Deng starting. No Fitzgerald.
Edit - Niigata lose 0-1

Niigata (14th) travel to Consadole Sapporo (10th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/07/15/japan/j1-league/consadole-sapporo/albirex-niigata/4025536/

No Fitzgerald as Niigata win 1-0. Deng a full game.

4th Round Emperor Cup (EMC) tie, Niigata travel to Machida Zelvia (top of the table in J2).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/02/japan/emperor-cup/machida-zerubia/albirex-niigata/4079202/

Fitzgerald starts. He actually made his injury comeback (hadn't played since early May) in another EMC tie 2 weeks ago (4-3 win in ET over a J3 team). And he comes up against a fellow Antipodean.

Socceroo Mitch Duke (5 goals this J2 season) up front for J2 leaders Machida. Their main threat is a Brazilian called Erik who's netted 15 times this campaign.

Edit - Niigata win it late, with a 90th min goal to get up 1-0.
Full games both Fitzgerald & Duke.

Back to the J League and Niigata (14th) travel to Nagoya Grampus Eight (3rd).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/05/japan/j1-league/nagoya-grampus-eight/albirex-niigata/4025546/

Fitzgerald on the pine as Thomas Deng starts. Another former Socceroo Mitch Langerak in goal for Grampus.

Edit - an unused sub in a 1-0 loss.

Niigata (14th) host Shonan Bellmare (18th/last). Win for Niigata will help ease any relegation fears.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/12/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/shonan-bellmare/4025555/

80 mins in and Niigata losing 1-2. Deng starting, Fitzgerald on the bench.

Edit - finishes a 2-2 draw, Niigata coming back from 0-2 down. Full game Deng. Fitzgerald an unused sub.

Niigata (14th) travel to Avispa Fukuoka (7th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/18/japan/j1-league/avispa-fukuoka/albirex-niigata/4025564/

Fitzgerald starting. Thomas Deng on the bench.

Edit - the Kiwi replaced by the Aussie at 76 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 win

Niigata (14th) travel to Kashima Antlers (5th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/26/japan/j1-league/kashima-antlers/albirex-niigata/4025574/

Full games for Fitzgerald & Deng in an ANZAC CB pairing. 
But Niigata lose 2-0.

Emperor Cup quarter final.
Niigata (15th) host fellow J1 side Kawasaki Frontale (9th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/30/japan/emperor-cup/albirex-niigata/kawasaki-frontale/4204597/

1-1 in NT. 2-2 currently in ET.
Fitzgerald subbed on at 101 mins in ET. No Deng.

Edit - unfortunately Niigata lose the pen shootout 3-4.

Niigata (15th) host Urawa Red Diamonds (4th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/02/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/urawa-red-diamonds/4025586/

Full games both Fitzgerald & Deng in a 1-1 draw.

Niigata (15th) travel to Gamba Osaka (11th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/17/japan/j1-league/gamba-osaka/albirex-niigata/4025597/