Niko Kirwan (Calcio Padova | Italy)

66 minutes in and so far it's a rout, 4-1 to Padova, Simon Palombi with a first time hattrick.
The winner of the Serie C Cup gets automatically qualified for the Serie C play offs as well as being admitted to next year's Coppa Italia (proper FA Cup) along with the 3 Serie C regional group winners.
They achieved this feat in 2021-22 when Niko was already with them.

A bit of a Legnano comeback in the second half, but Padova still advance to the next round with a comprehensive 4-2 win.
Niko started and captained the side. Unsure if he was subbed off just yet.

Update: Full game for Niko.
Next up Pro Patria (15th) on Sunday morning NZT

Padova (1st) host Pro Patria (15th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/07/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/pro-patria/4208329/

Niko watches from the pine as Padova draw 1-1. Their goalscorer also giving away the penalty for a somewhat late (82min) equaliser for Pro Patria.
Padova are still top of the table, one point above Mantova.

Nexr up is Pro Sesto (13th), next Sunday morning 

Another late goal given away by Padova. 
The game vs Pro Sesto ends 1-1 after Padova missed a pen and had many chances to increase their advantage. Niko with the AWs of course.

Padova (1st) host Arzignano Valchiampo (9th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/21/italy/serie-c1/union-arzignanochiampo/biancoscudati-padova/4208345/

Niko starts on the pine. 60min gone and still 0-0. Arzignano have been playing with 10 men since 42min but Padova haven't found a way to score yet. 3 points would be really good today.

And just as I post, Padova take the lead. 62min gone, hopefully they can bring home the 3 points now.

An eventful game in the end. Niko comes on at 70min (1-0), Padova almost immediately double their lead.
Arzignano pull one back at 87min but finish the game with 9 after a second red card in injury time. Final score 2-1.

So Padova do the business and reclaim the lead by 1 point over Mantova.

Padova (1st) host Renate (7th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/24/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/ac-renate/4208361/

Full game for Niko in a 0-0 draw vs Reno's old team.
Padova drop to second due to Mantova winning their own game.
Next up is Vicenza (8th) away while Mantova host Virtus Verona (4th)

Padova (3rd) travel to Vicenza Calcio (11th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/29/italy/serie-c1/vicenza-calcio/biancoscudati-padova/4208366/

Another draw for Padova, 1-1 at Vicenza in front of 10,600 spectators.
Niko on at 66 (1-0) and Padova equalises 17min later thanks to a penalty. 
Padova slip to 3rd (2nd equal on points) with 23 points along with Triestina, Mantova open up a wee gap with 26.

Padova (3rd) host Giana Erminio (15th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/11/04/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/giana-erminio/4208380/

On in the 89th.
On the scoresheet at 90 + 3.

#Padova-Giana parziale 3-1
48° - TERZO GOL DEL PADOVA: Punizione di Favale, svetta KIRWAN in area, colpo di testa alle spalle di Zacchi!https://t.co/agjXadKawO pic.twitter.com/RAIYyCpwdk

— Calcio Padova (@PadovaCalcio) November 4, 2023

Helps Padova to a 3-1 win and 2nd on the table on goal difference with 26 points from 12 games.

Mantova (26 points - 3rd) have a game in hand however.

Hopefully Kirwan can log some more minutes than just the back end of matches over the coming weeks too.

Super sub

Scores in Serie C, but dropped from the AWs.

Niko Kirwan goal, shirts off ⚽️

This was his first goal since his knee injury in 2022, helping seal another win for Calcio Padova#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/eecAPDHZ4E

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 5, 2023

Padova play Giana Erminio for the second time in the space of 3 days, this time for the Serie C Cup.

The Padova coach has brought in 8 players from their youth team (currently third in Primavera 2), with a couple meant to start the match.

Niko starts as well.

3-0 Cup win and they are through to the next round. Full game and a couple of shots on target for Niko.

Next up, Albinoleffe (9th) away. Padova are currently joint 2nd,3 points away from the top.

Full game in a tough away win, 1-0 at Albinoleffe. Padova played with 10 men from 79min.
Triestina (joint 2nd) drew, so Padova are now alone in second place, 3 points away from Mantova. 

Only the top team from each group gets automatically promoted, the others go into a rather tricky playoff series...

Next up ProVercelli (7th), Serie C not stopping for the international window.

Gutsy win for Padova! Up 2-0 after 24min, only to concede the equaliser at 88min....and then getting the winning goal deep into injury time (95min).
Full game Niko and heavily involved in the winner.
Mantova lost at home so Padova are now joint top with 32 points.
Next up Pergolettese (15th).

Highlights here. A great supporting run and intelligent pass by Niko so late in the game were crucial to ger the 3 points.

Padova (2nd) travels to Pergolettese (15th). Padova win by 2 goals, and they go top on GD from Mantova.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/11/27/italy/serie-c1/as-pizzighettone/biancoscudati-padova/4208409/

Not the best outcome. Padova snatch a late draw (1-1) at 86min while Mantova win and go top (+2 points).
Niko off at 70min (0-1).

Serie C Italian Cup, last 16 tie. Padova host Lumezzane.
From memory the winner of this comp, automatically gets a spot in the Serie C promotion playoffs?

Same two sides meet in a regular Serie C game this weekend.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/11/30/italy/coppa-italia-serie-c/biancoscudati-padova/ac-lumezzane/4257474/

Comes on at 70min (0-0) and helps his side win the match 2-0.
Padova are through to the QF where they will meet Pontedera (who are famous for beating Italy in a friendly game in the 00s). Several of their players ended up moving to one of my favourite sides in the early 2000s, Empoli.

Padova won the cup a couple of years back. Victory would be good for the trophies cabinet only as they should qualify for the play offs already. The winners also get to play in next year's Coppa Italia proper.

Kirwans comes on at 85 mins (1-1) in a 1-1 draw with Lumezzane (11th).
Padova (2nd) slip 4 pts behind Mantova (1st).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/03/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/ac-lumezzane/4208420/

A nice little aside...I discovered that one of Padova's youth players, who has now been capped for the senior team in the Cup is Andrea Toldo. He's the son of former Inter and the Italian National Team's goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who is best remember for his penalty saves in the Euro 2000 semifinal vs The Netherlands. 
I'll never forget that day. It was the day my mother got married and I made the whole party rush bash to the place where were staying so we could watch the game. On the way over Toldo saved a penalty (during regular time) and we almost crashed the car from all the excitement 

newzealandpower

A nice little aside...I discovered that one of Padova's youth players, who has now been capped for the senior team in the Cup is Andrea Toldo. He's the son of former Inter and the Italian National Team's goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who is best remember for his penalty saves in the Euro 2000 semifinal vs The Netherlands. 
I'll never forget that day. It was the day my mother got married and I made the whole party rush bash to the place where were staying so we could watch the game. On the way over Toldo saved a penalty (during regular time) and we almost crashed the car from all the excitement 

That game was ridiculous and amazing enough in itself without anything else! The names involved in that game…

Totti's famous penalty chip of Van der Sar also happened in that game...I will treasure it forever 

Padova (2nd) travel to Atalanta II (5th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/09/italy/serie-c1/atalanta-ii/biancoscudati-padova/4208424/

newzealandpower

Totti's famous penalty chip of Van der Sar also happened in that game...I will treasure it forever 

I thought of it as the Immovable defense of Maldini’s Italy against the Irresistible attack of the Netherlands. 

Probably not quite right. 

So incredibly exciting for a neutral. I can only imagine what it must have been like with Italian heritage. Like Rory Fallon’s goal multiplied by any number of ABs finals or semifinals. 

martinb

newzealandpower

Totti's famous penalty chip of Van der Sar also happened in that game...I will treasure it forever 

I thought of it as the Immovable defense of Maldini’s Italy against the Irresistible attack of the Netherlands. 

Probably not quite right. 

So incredibly exciting for a neutral. I can only imagine what it must have been like with Italian heritage. Like Rory Fallon’s goal multiplied by any number of ABs finals or semifinals. 

That team felt like it had something special and could go all the way. We were just undone by France thanks for the at the time fairly new Golden Goal rule.

I may also be remembering things with rose tinted glasses a bit. In 2000 I was 17 years old, about to finish High School, having fun as kids do. That summer I remember especially fondly...

Back to Niko, who comes on at 68min (1-0) in an important 1-0 win vs Atalanta's second team.
Mantova also won and kept their 4 points gap at the top of the table.
Padova will host Mantova after the Christmas break (9 Jan).

Only the winning team gets automatically promoted. 

Padova travel to Pontedera in the Serie C Cup quarterfinals.
Padova are 2nd in their Girone (North region) and Pontedera are 7th in their different Girone (Central).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/12/italy/coppa-italia-serie-c/us-pontedera-1912/biancoscudati-padova/4257698/

Full 90 mins for Niko & the winning goal (9th min) as Padova win 1-0, to make Serie C Cup semis.

Coppa Italia: Pontedera-Padova parziale 0-1
GOL DEL PADOVA: 8° Palla tagliata in area dalla sinistra, la difesa del Pontedera non riesce a spazzare, KIRWAN scaglia al sfera alle spalle di Lewis!https://t.co/dnboUAcWbs pic.twitter.com/AQsVkS1EVK

— Calcio Padova (@PadovaCalcio) December 12, 2023

He was deployed on the right it seems.
Highlights here.

The remaining QF games are:
Vicenza v Rimini
Avellino v Lucchese
Catania v Pescara 

All decent sides with a lot of history there.

As noted previously, unless Padova's form drops so much that they finish midtable, winning the Serie C Cup won't help them much..but again, it's a chance of getting some silverware.

They need to win on Monday, then they play Triestina (3rd) before Christma and then Mantova (1st) after the break. Massive games coming up.

Highlights. Kirwan (no 26) was the captain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuQZCtNSIps

Padova (2nd) host Fiorenzuola (18th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/17/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/us-fiorenzuola-1922/4208440/

Padova win 3-0. Kirwan came off the bench at 65 mins (3-0).