Niko Kirwan (Calcio Potenza | Italy)

Comes on at 85min (2-1) in a 2-1 win.
Padova with a healthy +7 on Vicenza and a staggering +13 on Trento.
Next they travel to 11th placed Lecco.

Great to see Padova doing well, and with a good lead on Vicenza in the battle for that one automatic promotion spot to Serie B.

Pity Kirwan not getting that many mins. About 350 mins in 13 games so far (4 starts).

Padova (1st) travel to Lecco (11th)

Padova roll on with a 3-0 win. Kirwan subbed off at 90 mins (3-0), with a yellow.
FlashScore had him playing on the left.

Italian Cup Serie C Round of 16, Padova host Caldiero Terme.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/11/27/italy/coppa-italia-serie-c/biancoscudati-padova/caldiero-terme/4494960/

In an upset, 9 man Padova lose 1-2
First player sent off at 49 mins, Kirwan on at 77 mins (1-2) and another team mate off just after

A Cup game so no real effect on Padova’s league title and promotion ambitions 

In a way it's probably good they got that first loss out of the way, even though it's not in the league. As long as the wheels stay on as sometimes teams that start really well lose a game and the magic just...evaporates.
Serie C Cup isn't really worth anything for Padova, since they add pretty much guaranteed at least a spot in the play offs. 
Call me old fashioned but it's probably best they get knocked out and can concentrate on winning the league and going up to Serie B.

Padova (1st) host Triestina (20th/last)

Comes off at 61min (1-0) but Padova concede a quarter of an hour later and are held to a draw by Triestina. 
Vicenza (2nd) continue their winning ways and are suddenly only 2 points behind Padova, though Niko's team has a game in hand.
Next up is Atalanta's Reserve team (8th), while Vicenza play Triestina who would love to take points away from the top 2 sides in the league in consecutive weeks.

Padova (1st) host Atalanta II (6th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/12/04/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/atalanta-ii/4427698/

Catch up game for Padova.
Full game Niko in a healthy 3-1 win, Padova back on +5 points on Vicenza.
Next up a trip to Union Clodiense (the reincarnation of the old Chievo Verona) who arrived currently 19th.

Padova (1st) travel to Union Clodiense (19th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/12/08/italy/serie-c1/asd-clodiense/biancoscudati-padova/4427730/

Postponed due to bad weather. It almost feels like a win though as Vicenza lost away at Triestina, so Padova are still +5 and they have a game in hand once again..

Padova (1st) host Lumezzane (9th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/12/14/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/ac-lumezzane/4427739/ 

Comes on at 85min (1-0) in a 2-0 win.
Padova +5 on Vicenza with a game in hand. I think they will have their catch up game midweek 

Catch up game for Padova (postponed from a few days ago) vs Union Clodiense (the new Chievo Verona).
Niko starts, 0-0 after 20min

And Padova get the 3 points with a comfortable 2-1 win (the opposition only scored in added time).
Full game Niko.

Padova are now top of the table with 51 points, +8 on Vicenza, with 19 games gone, in a 20 teams league - so exactly half way through.

Padova (1st) travel to Trento (7th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/12/22/italy/serie-c1/trento-calcio-1921/biancoscudati-padova/4427747/

Padova win 1-0

Kirwan a full game as captain 

Both teams with a player sent off

Padova (1st) host Caldiero Terme (18th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/01/05/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/caldiero-terme/4427754/

Weekend of Kiwis scoring overseas 
Kirwan the only goal in a 1-0 win

Padova looking good now 13 pts clear in first
Vicenza in 2nd have a game in hand

But Padova a strong bet for promotion to Serie B. 21 of 38 rounds completed

Match highlights, and apart from one diving save from the Padova keeper, the home team absolutely dominant if just the one goal.

Very nicely taken by Kirwan on the volley. Seems to be regular starter as well as captain of late. Getting back to some of the form, that under Hay had him as the starting AWs RB?

https://video.sky.it/sport/calcio/lega-pro/video/padova-caldiero-terme-1-0-gol-e-highlights-978142

Looks like he's been playing both as RB and LB. Could be useful in the All Whites set up in my opinion, especially on the right hand side when Libby and FDV are both available 

Padova (1st) host Arzignano Valchiampo (12th).

Vicenza won the other day to close the gap to 10 pts, all teams played same number of games. But Padova still in a strong position for automatic promotion to Serie B.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/01/12/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/union-arzignanochiampo/4427764/

And re Kirwan's AWs hopes, how is Roux going at a struggling Central Coast?
If Kirwan stays a regular starter (and often captain at Padova), then he must come back into national team calculations at RB. I think if you want a guy who covers both wingback roles that is a fit Wilkins.

Kirwan recently played his 100th game at Padova.

Padova drop some pts at home against Arzignano Valchiampo, held to a 1-1 draw.
Kirwan off at 77 mins (1-1) 

Two AWs full backs play in Milan tonight.
Padova (1st) travel to Alcione Milano (5th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/01/19/italy/serie-c1/alcione/biancoscudati-padova/4427777/

Kirwan off the bench at 57 mins (1-0) in a 2-0 win.
Padova 8 pts clear in first spot.

Padova (1st) host Pro Vercelli (14th)

Another 1-1 draw. Niko off at 62min, just after Padova scored their equaliser. 
Vicenza -9 and with a game in hand now. They play Alcione (8th) on Monday morning

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo

Padova (1st) travel to Virtus Verona (11th)

90min in Padova's first loss in recent memory, 1-0 to Verona. All of a sudden, Vicenza is only 3 points behind them. Crazy.
Next up is Pro Patria who are 19/20 and have lost the last 5 games. Hopefully Padova can re-open the gap 

Yes no romance in Verona. Was Padova's first loss of the season.

Looking like very much a 2 horse race with Vicenza (only 2 losses) themselves, then a 14 pt gap then back to 3rd placed FeralpiSalò

Padova (1st) host Pro Patria (19th).

Kirwan a full game in a 3-1 win.

Good day for Padova (1st, 65 pts) as promotion rivals Vicenza (2nd, 59 pts) lost 2-0. 
So back to a 6 point gap, with 12 rounds left

Huge game this coming weekend as Padova travel to Vicenza.

Kirwan must be back in AWs reckoning, but he may decline any callup from Baze next month if it came, with Serie C playing through the March window. 

Been a few years of heartbreak for Padova and Kirwan re promotion to Serie B. This does feel sorta like their big chance for automatic promotion, avoiding the playoffs lottery.

Huge game. Padova (1st, 65 pts) travel to Vicenza (2nd, 59 pts). Padova win/draw, it stays a comfortable gap. They lose and it will be nervous times re that one automatic promotion spot.

Good chance the game might be on FIFA+, though way too late for me. Great chance for Padkva to go +9...bit of a regional derby between two teams who were regulars in the Serie A a couple of decades ago...

Padova snatch an injury time draw and a point which keeps them 6 points above Vicenza. Final score 1-1. Niko off at 76min (0-1).

Padova (1st) host Giana Erminio (8th)

Currently streaming on FIFA+ at work.
Padova up 1-0 at the start of the 2nd half. HD stream with Italian commentary...I'm a happy camper