Half time in Padova and Catanzaro lead 1-0. 45 minutes left to turn this around and make it to the final.
Edit - Padova equalise with about 10 min to go! If it stays 1-1 it will be extra times. And Padova score in the 97th minute from a free kick just outside the box!! It was the last kick of the game and that takes them to the final where they will meet Palermo (who came 3rd, behind Catanzaro). Scenes in Padova!
Great stuff. Another who will join AWs camp on a high. Played a full game. Seems he's been playing alot on the left lately. So neither him nor Payne, played RB all of their club seasons.
See final is a 2 legged affair (4th & 11th June) with first game in Padova. The 2nd leg away in Sicily I imagine would be tough.
Hopefully his team mates can grab Serie B promotion in Kirwan’s absence
Highlights from the semifinal second leg here. Well worth a watch. Niko in the thick of the action a few times (he seems to like to bomb forward) including a header that glances the cross bar. It wouldn't have counted as he had fouled the defender according to the ref. Pretty soft free kick leading to Padova's winner if I'm honest.
They will miss Niko in the final(s). He's been a mainstay of this high performing team for the whole season and with two different coaches at the helm. But you can't say no to the chance of playing in the world Cup can you?
Highlights from the semifinal second leg here. Well worth a watch. Niko in the thick of the action a few times (he seems to like to bomb forward) including a header that glances the cross bar. It wouldn't have counted as he had fouled the defender according to the ref. Pretty soft free kick leading to Padova's winner if I'm honest.
They will miss Niko in the final(s). He's been a mainstay of this high performing team for the whole season and with two different coaches at the helm. But you can't say no to the chance of playing in the world Cup can you?
Those Ultras ehh! Well worth the watch/listen. Stadium only half full, but deafening sound. Plenty of drama.
Good experience for Kirwan, re upcoming AWs matches. Noise levels in Qatar won't bother him.
See that the Sicilians Palmero play in a 34,000 seater ground. So that's likely to be a toughie for Northern Italian boys Padova.
Would the Serie C be the toughest, most fiercely contested, passionate 3rd tier in Europe, outside maybe League One?
Highlights from the semifinal second leg here. Well worth a watch. Niko in the thick of the action a few times (he seems to like to bomb forward) including a header that glances the cross bar. It wouldn't have counted as he had fouled the defender according to the ref. Pretty soft free kick leading to Padova's winner if I'm honest.
They will miss Niko in the final(s). He's been a mainstay of this high performing team for the whole season and with two different coaches at the helm. But you can't say no to the chance of playing in the world Cup can you?
Those Ultras ehh! Well worth the watch/listen. Stadium only half full, but deafening sound. Plenty of drama.
Good experience for Kirwan, re upcoming AWs matches. Noise levels in Qatar won't bother him.
See that the Sicilians Palmero play in a 34,000 seater ground. So that's likely to be a toughie for Northern Italian boys Padova.
Would the Serie C be the toughest, most fiercely contested, passionate 3rd tier in Europe, outside maybe League One?
3. Liga in Germany would have to be contender to be top there. Some massive clubs down there like 1860, Magdeburg, Braunschweig and Kaiserslautern, though Magdeburg, Lautern and Braunschweig went up, but have been replaced by equally intense Dresden
Padova with a mountain to climb. They lose the first leg 1-0 and will be without Niko and Ajeti (a bit chunk of their starting defense) as the latter received a late booking in today's match. Away goals don't count anymore so should they win 1-0 in Palermo they will force extra times. The going has certainly got tough... Can they rise to the challenge?
Padova with a mountain to climb. They lose the first leg 1-0 and will be without Niko and Ajeti (a bit chunk of their starting defense) as the latter received a late booking in today's match. Away goals don't count anymore so should they win 1-0 in Palermo they will force extra times. The going has certainly got tough... Can they rise to the challenge?
Bugger. Palmero away in their 34,000 seater stadium in Sicily. That will be tough.
Serie C play off final second leg tomorrow 7:15 am NZ time. Padova with a mountain to climb, away at a sold out Renzo Barbera stadium where they need will need to score at least a goal to force extra times. 34k passionate Sicilians will be cheering on the home side who were last in Serie A in 2016-17 and Serie B in 2018-19. Their head coach Silvio Baldini is a fairly uncompromising character with Serie A experience and a reputation for uttering profanities and blasphemy (allegedly 67 times in a row to a referee in 2001 which earned him a ban!). And they will need to do it without Niko who of course is on All Whites duty.
The generic mountain becomes Mount Everest with Palermo going ahead 1-0 thanks to a penalty and Padova losing one of their best players and captain Ronaldo to a straight red card. Padova now need 2 goals to stay in it. 15 or so gone in the second half. Things looking terrible. This goes to show how important getting automatic promotion is in Serie C. Padova had a much better season than Palermo but in a 2 match series anything can happen
And the dream is over for Padova who lose in the play off final for the second year in a row. Apparently Palermo played much better. Padova lost their captain for the last 30' and finished with 9 men after a late red card. Not sure what this means for Niko. His contract goes beyond this season. He's certainly done well and has been a mainstay of a high performing team throughout the year and with 2 different coaches. Can he gets scouted to Serie B? Does he want to stay and finish the job with Padova? For now the focus will be firmly on Wednesday's All Whites match
Massimo Oddo, Padova's coach has decided not to carry on with the team. I'm pretty sure he was on a one year contract anyway. So new gaffer incoming for Niko & Co. Be interesting to see who he's going to be. Padova have fallen at the last hurdle two years in a row and will want to make it third time lucky next season. I expect a decent signing in the coaching department.
You're spot on! It's been reported here also (very trusted source) https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-c/?action=read&idtmw=1561069
Can confirm it's a 1 year deal with automatic extension in case of promotion to Serie B. I think given his ambitions, it was probably the right call on his behalf though this means he will be a free agent by the end of the season if Padova don't get promoted. Anyway, exciting times ahead! Mods please update his club to Padova or Calcio Padova (technically their new name but everyone calls them just Padova)
NP - did Kirwan re-sign with Padova or is he now a free agent?
Well spotted Coochiee, I had forgotten he was on a 1 year deal (+1 in case of promotion to Serie B). Transfermarkt says his contract ends in June 2023 so one more year. Though it hasn't been announced, this article seems to confirm that he has renewed his contract for another season. It's dated a couple of weeks' back so quite recent. Also in a recent interview, where Niko complained he had unfortunately missed out on both Serie B and the World Cup in the space of 3 days, he also said he was looking at the positives, including the fact that he'd been made to feel like Padova was his family. Had he been a free agent, he would have said something about looking for a new club, or waiting on Padova to make him an offer. I'm pretty sure he is staying.
Just listened to a press conference given by the Padova executive team. Highlights:
Owner has been investing heavily for 3 years, but the budget has now been cut by 20%
Budget for players almost maxed out, still need to re-sign or replace 9 players plus a new coach/coaching staff
CEO has resigned. All very amicable apparently
Same goes for the coach. Apparently it was a amicable split
They are gutted they missed out yet again and will now be looking at planning year by year (not for 3 year cycles like they did until now). This will likely mean shelter contracts/overheads.
All in all they all came across as very professional and determined to win promotion. However it is worrying to hear the budget won't be the same. They are right however that big investments don't necessarily always mean promotion/victory (PSG in the UCL anyone??). It's just a shame Serie C has so many teams and only a handful can win promotion. Padova certainly deserved to be promoted when you see how many points they got last year. If my Intel is correct and he still has one year left on his contract, then no harm for Niko to carry on and try to win his third Serie B promotion with them.
Sounds like they have given up in trying to buy themselves promotion.newzealandpower
Just listened to a press conference given by the Padova executive team. Highlights:
Owner has been investing heavily for 3 years, but the budget has now been cut by 20%
Budget for players almost maxed out, still need to re-sign or replace 9 players plus a new coach/coaching staff
CEO has resigned. All very amicable apparently
Same goes for the coach. Apparently it was a amicable split
They are gutted they missed out yet again and will now be looking at planning year by year (not for 3 year cycles like they did until now). This will likely mean shelter contracts/overheads.
All in all they all came across as very professional and determined to win promotion. However it is worrying to hear the budget won't be the same. They are right however that big investments don't necessarily always mean promotion/victory (PSG in the UCL anyone??). It's just a shame Serie C has so many teams and only a handful can win promotion. Padova certainly deserved to be promoted when you see how many points they got last year. If my Intel is correct and he still has one year left on his contract, then no harm for Niko to carry on and try to win his third Serie B promotion with them.
In a way, yes. But they will still be one of the better run teams in the league. Hopefully they can do it next season but unless you smash your group like Sudtirol did, going through the play offs will always be the most treacherous path
Padova have already appointed a new coach, Mr Bruno Caneo. Not a name I recognise if I'm honest. Apparently did quite well in the third division with Sadrinian outfit Turris. He said in the presser what he will likely play 3-4-2-1 so a change of formation for Niko. Padova have also sold one of their best players, Chiricò to another team.
Padova will be in action on 27 July, for a friendly vs Serie A side Spezia. Then they will play Bari in a Coppa Italia tie (not the Third Division Cup which they won last season, this is the actual FA Cup). A few transfer movements already, looks like GK Donnarumma (PSG's Donnarumma's brother) and his backup are both moving on. Donnarumma was apparently the only player to be offered a new contract (of all those whose contract had expired). So a few other people have technically been let go though if Padova can free up some capital, they will be offered new deals. The new regime is already happening. Hard to argue against after 3 years where the owners spent large amounts of cash but got basically nothing in return.
Padova will be in action on 27 July, for a friendly vs Serie A side Spezia. Then they will play Bari in a Coppa Italia tie (not the Third Division Cup which the won, this is the actual FA Cup). A few transfer movements already, looks like GK Donnarumma (PSG's Donnarumma's brother) and his backup are both moving on. Donnarumma was apparently the only player to be offered a jew contract (of all those whose contract had expired). So a few other people have technically been let go though if Padova can free up some capital, they will be offered new deals. The new regime is already happening. Hard to argue against after 3 years where the owners spent large amounts of cash but got basically nothing in return.
Careful with the keyboard NZP! Or is this some reference to the 'Merchant of Venice' - set in Italia after all.
Pre season starter for Padova and Niko seems to be there from day 1, so no extra holidays for him after his national team duty. Padova are active on the transfer market. They were able to retain solid GK Antonio Donnarumma and mainly brought it young talent on loan from Serie A. Will do a better wrap up of their transfers closer to the start of the season.
Injured and therefore unavailable for a friendly vs Serie A outfit Spezia. Hopefully nothing serious as the news just reported he and 3 other players were "out" for this one.
Subbed off at halftime (2-0) in a resounding 3-0 loss vs Serie B outfit Bari. Bad start to the season and Padova are now eliminated from the Coppa Italia (FA Cup) and go into the Coppa Italia Serie C (third tier Cup) which they won last year.
Bad news, according to this report on the Padova website, Niko has had an MRI which showed a lesion in his anterior cruciate ligament (right knee). He will be re-evaluated in the coming days and might have surgery. Just as the season was about to start...such bad luck! Let's hope it's not too bad, though it doesn't sound great
Sounds like really bad news... 7-8 months off. So basically the season is almost over before it started. Let's just hope the surgery goes well and he comes back stronger than before.
Sounds like really bad news... 7-8 months off. So basically the season is almost over before it started. Let's just hope the surgery goes well and he comes back stronger than before.
Bugger that is tough luck, and yes hopefully he recovers well.
So AWs lose two of their wingbacks (Kirwan & de Vries) of recent squads. For Socceroos games, presumably Ingham comes in for Kirwan, as he's been the 3rd choice RB lately. Though Elliott may push him for a spot.
de Vries backup to Libby spot, a host of contenders. Sutton being in NZ (so easy for Hay to assess), and playing well in pre season maybe the front runner. Wynne, Wilkins, Mcgarry all in the mix as well.
I guess the only teeny tiny silver lining in all this is that, other than the Socceroos friendlies, the AWs don't really have much in their plate for this year IIRC? Gives Niko a chance to recoup and be ready for selection when the next big tournament (OFC? WC Quals?) start presumably next year?
All Whites defender Niko Kirwan has revealed he has ruptured his ACL and is set for a long stint on the sidelines. Second All White to suffer an ACL injury since their loss to Costa Rica after similar happened to Francis de Vries. pic.twitter.com/04eq9KSVyP
Padova open their campaign with a 1-0 loss to 7-time Italian league champions Pro Vercelli (all titles won between 1908-22). Obviously no Niko who will likely miss most of not all of the season. They only lost one in the whole of last year in the regular season if memory serves me correctly, so I just get the feeling this year Padova are going nowhere. Hope to be proven wrong of course.
Padova were doing quite well until today. They were sitting second after 6 games and even draw with third to keep them at bay last week. This morning they were thumped 5-0 by mid table Pergolettese.
Kirwan will be off most of not all of the season of course.
After 10 Serie C games, Padova are 7th. But that is only 3 points off Leccoin 1st spot. Looks like it's going to be a tight race for the promotion (playoff) spots.