Latest news with #Yengi
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Heartbreak and joy for Aussies in Scotland play-off tie
It will be a long night of reflection for three Scottish-based Australians after the second leg of the Premiership play-off tie, with two celebrating as the other dreams of what could have been. Midfielder Josh Nisbet and striker Tete Yengi lined up for their respective sides - Ross County and Livingston - and both scored in the final game of the season to decide which side either stayed in the top flight or was promoted to it. Veteran Ryan McGowan, who wore the green and gold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is playing for his seventh club in Scotland during a much-travelled career, marshalled the Livingston defence in Dingwall on Monday night. It's been a huge week for the 35-year-old, also from Adelaide like Yengi, who became a father to twin boys. McGowan's manager David Martindale had full belief in his side after a 1-1 home draw last Thursday, but County were looking to avoid relegation to the Championship by winning the play-off for a third successive year. Goals from Nisbet, a 2022/23 A-League champion during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, and Ronan Hale - who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg - put the hosts 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Yengi, the 24-year old younger brother of Socceroos striker Kusini, all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season at the first attempt. It leaves the 25-year-old Nisbet's future in limbo, unlikely to add to his three international caps from Scotland's second tier next season. But he will still harbour hope, for now, of getting a call up from Socceroos boss Tony Popovic for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yengi, a former Newcastle Jets forward who's played in England and Finland's lower leagues since September 2021, came off the bench on 72 minutes and sent the small band of visiting supporters delirious in the sixth minute of added time. "It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral," Martindale said. "It was great come fulltime for Livingston and Livingston fans. We had massive belief in the players and ... I'm happy for them." County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. "When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out," he said. "Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership." With PA. It will be a long night of reflection for three Scottish-based Australians after the second leg of the Premiership play-off tie, with two celebrating as the other dreams of what could have been. Midfielder Josh Nisbet and striker Tete Yengi lined up for their respective sides - Ross County and Livingston - and both scored in the final game of the season to decide which side either stayed in the top flight or was promoted to it. Veteran Ryan McGowan, who wore the green and gold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is playing for his seventh club in Scotland during a much-travelled career, marshalled the Livingston defence in Dingwall on Monday night. It's been a huge week for the 35-year-old, also from Adelaide like Yengi, who became a father to twin boys. McGowan's manager David Martindale had full belief in his side after a 1-1 home draw last Thursday, but County were looking to avoid relegation to the Championship by winning the play-off for a third successive year. Goals from Nisbet, a 2022/23 A-League champion during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, and Ronan Hale - who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg - put the hosts 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Yengi, the 24-year old younger brother of Socceroos striker Kusini, all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season at the first attempt. It leaves the 25-year-old Nisbet's future in limbo, unlikely to add to his three international caps from Scotland's second tier next season. But he will still harbour hope, for now, of getting a call up from Socceroos boss Tony Popovic for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yengi, a former Newcastle Jets forward who's played in England and Finland's lower leagues since September 2021, came off the bench on 72 minutes and sent the small band of visiting supporters delirious in the sixth minute of added time. "It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral," Martindale said. "It was great come fulltime for Livingston and Livingston fans. We had massive belief in the players and ... I'm happy for them." County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. "When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out," he said. "Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership." With PA. It will be a long night of reflection for three Scottish-based Australians after the second leg of the Premiership play-off tie, with two celebrating as the other dreams of what could have been. Midfielder Josh Nisbet and striker Tete Yengi lined up for their respective sides - Ross County and Livingston - and both scored in the final game of the season to decide which side either stayed in the top flight or was promoted to it. Veteran Ryan McGowan, who wore the green and gold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is playing for his seventh club in Scotland during a much-travelled career, marshalled the Livingston defence in Dingwall on Monday night. It's been a huge week for the 35-year-old, also from Adelaide like Yengi, who became a father to twin boys. McGowan's manager David Martindale had full belief in his side after a 1-1 home draw last Thursday, but County were looking to avoid relegation to the Championship by winning the play-off for a third successive year. Goals from Nisbet, a 2022/23 A-League champion during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, and Ronan Hale - who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg - put the hosts 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Yengi, the 24-year old younger brother of Socceroos striker Kusini, all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season at the first attempt. It leaves the 25-year-old Nisbet's future in limbo, unlikely to add to his three international caps from Scotland's second tier next season. But he will still harbour hope, for now, of getting a call up from Socceroos boss Tony Popovic for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yengi, a former Newcastle Jets forward who's played in England and Finland's lower leagues since September 2021, came off the bench on 72 minutes and sent the small band of visiting supporters delirious in the sixth minute of added time. "It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral," Martindale said. "It was great come fulltime for Livingston and Livingston fans. We had massive belief in the players and ... I'm happy for them." County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. "When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out," he said. "Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership." With PA.
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Heartbreak and joy for Aussies in Scotland play-off tie
It will be a long night of reflection for three Scottish-based Australians after the second leg of the Premiership play-off tie, with two celebrating as the other dreams of what could have been. Midfielder Josh Nisbet and striker Tete Yengi lined up for their respective sides - Ross County and Livingston - and both scored in the final game of the season to decide which side either stayed in the top flight or was promoted to it. Veteran Ryan McGowan, who wore the green and gold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is playing for his seventh club in Scotland during a much-travelled career, marshalled the Livingston defence in Dingwall on Monday night. It's been a huge week for the 35-year-old, also from Adelaide like Yengi, who became a father to twin boys. McGowan's manager David Martindale had full belief in his side after a 1-1 home draw last Thursday, but County were looking to avoid relegation to the Championship by winning the play-off for a third successive year. Goals from Nisbet, a 2022/23 A-League champion during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, and Ronan Hale - who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg - put the hosts 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Yengi, the 24-year old younger brother of Socceroos striker Kusini, all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season at the first attempt. It leaves the 25-year-old Nisbet's future in limbo, unlikely to add to his three international caps from Scotland's second tier next season. But he will still harbour hope, for now, of getting a call up from Socceroos boss Tony Popovic for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yengi, a former Newcastle Jets forward who's played in England and Finland's lower leagues since September 2021, came off the bench on 72 minutes and sent the small band of visiting supporters delirious in the sixth minute of added time. "It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral," Martindale said. "It was great come fulltime for Livingston and Livingston fans. We had massive belief in the players and ... I'm happy for them." County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. "When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out," he said. "Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership." With PA.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Heartbreak and joy for Aussies in Scotland play-off tie
It will be a long night of reflection for three Scottish-based Australians after the second leg of the Premiership play-off tie, with two celebrating as the other dreams of what could have been. Midfielder Josh Nisbet and striker Tete Yengi lined up for their respective sides - Ross County and Livingston - and both scored in the final game of the season to decide which side either stayed in the top flight or was promoted to it. Veteran Ryan McGowan, who wore the green and gold at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and is playing for his seventh club in Scotland during a much-travelled career, marshalled the Livingston defence in Dingwall on Monday night. It's been a huge week for the 35-year-old, also from Adelaide like Yengi, who became a father to twin boys. McGowan's manager David Martindale had full belief in his side after a 1-1 home draw last Thursday, but County were looking to avoid relegation to the Championship by winning the play-off for a third successive year. Goals from Nisbet, a 2022/23 A-League champion during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, and Ronan Hale - who scored the last-gasp equaliser in the first leg - put the hosts 2-0 up after 24 minutes. But Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Yengi, the 24-year old younger brother of Socceroos striker Kusini, all scored to earn Livi a 4-2 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory that clinched their place back in the top tier next season at the first attempt. It leaves the 25-year-old Nisbet's future in limbo, unlikely to add to his three international caps from Scotland's second tier next season. But he will still harbour hope, for now, of getting a call up from Socceroos boss Tony Popovic for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Yengi, a former Newcastle Jets forward who's played in England and Finland's lower leagues since September 2021, came off the bench on 72 minutes and sent the small band of visiting supporters delirious in the sixth minute of added time. "It was a very good play-off game, one for the neutral," Martindale said. "It was great come fulltime for Livingston and Livingston fans. We had massive belief in the players and ... I'm happy for them." County manager Don Cowie was understandably disappointed as his side's six-year spell in Scotland's top flight came to an end. "When you're winning the tie by two goals in the first half you should never have not seen it out," he said. "Credit to Livingston. They put us under a lot of pressure and they deserved to get back to the Premiership." With PA.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
David Martindale proves he's Livingston's own special one as Lions motor back while Ross County blow it
Livingston are back in the big time after a playoff final comeback for the ages Livingston have been bought over by Calvin Ford but it is Davie Martindale who has got them motoring back into the Premiership with a 5-3 aggregate win over Ross County. The Lions produced a brilliant comeback coming from two goals behind in Dingwall to torpedo Ross County. They had gone behind to strikes from Joshua Nisbet and Ronan Hale, but goals from Lewis Smith, Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and sub Yengi turned it into a glory gold and black night. Livi will now return to the top-flight at the first time of asking. Ford - the great grandson of Henry Ford - the found of the car company - bought the club earlier this month, Now he is the proud owner of a shiny, new Premiership outfit. He has promised to invest and if he backs Martindale then they could well go up a gear or two. You talk about the fight and grit of Livi but some of their goals on the night were top drawer. As for County, their survival bid completely stalled. They should never have been in this position but a horrendous drop off in form saw them slide into the play-offs. They had got out of jail with a 96th minute penalty to level things at 1-1 from the first-leg. The Highlanders then were 2-0 up in this game and basically blew it. They had managed to save themselves in the previous two play-off finals but this time it was third time unlucky. After six years in the Premiership they now face the cruel reality of an instant return to the Championship. You would have thought lessons would have been learned, but they haven't. Chairman Roy MacGregor will now need to put his hand in his pocket again. Will he stick with manager Don Cowie? Or will he pull the trigger? It is a major decision. Tail The Highlanders needed to find something special. A couple of years ago they had found themselves three down and got the goals in 19 minutes to level in the play-off against Thistle. it never materialised. They hardly laid a glove on Livi. Prior saved from George Harmon but apart from that County dropped with barely a whimper. They lumped the ball forward but lacked any real quality. It wasn't helped that Harmon had to go off injured but the harsh reality is that County weren't good enough. It was the case on the night and over the course of the season! Yengi went through in stoppage time and sealed this famous win. It led to a charge down the sideline with Martindale and his players doing a Jose Mourinho as they raced after him to celebrate. This had been Livi's very own 'Special One'. The Livi fans again spilled onto the pitch and the police and stewards had to try and control them. The game was over, County's time was up. Everybody knew it and referee Nick Walsh blew his whistle. It was party time for Livingston and a dismal one for everyone else in Dingwall.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Luckless Socceroos striker Yengi cut by Portsmouth
Kusini Yengi's career is at a crossroads after the Socceroos striker was released by English side Portsmouth. The former Adelaide United and Western Sydney forward arrived at Pompey last season, helping the club gain promotion from League One by registering 13 goals in 31 games. But following Portsmouth's move to the Championship, Yengi has failed to score across just 14 games after battling hamstring and knee injuries. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is a noted admirer of Yengi and has identified the 26-year-old as a player who can be a point of difference for the national team. But Popovic will find it harder to pick the powerful striker if he doesn't secure a move where he can play every week. "He does offer something different to any other striker, any potential striker that we have," Popovic said earlier this month. "There's no one that has that frame or body. I'd love him to use it more. "I'd love him to impose himself a lot more and actually impose himself on the defenders. "But I think he needs to find somewhere to play regular football to do that … That's what I would like all the strikers to do: find an environment where you can play regularly, where you're an important player. "And if you're scoring goals, then regardless of where it is, it's something that we're always searching for." Pompey had an extension option in Yengi's contract but chose not to trigger the clause, allowing the striker to secure a move elsewhere. Fellow Australians Jacob Farrell, Tom Waddingham and Hayden Matthews remain contracted to Portsmouth, who announced Yengi was one of five players set to leave Fratton Park over the off-season. "We would like to thank all those players leaving the club for their service and wish them nothing but the best for the next stage of their careers," said manager John Mousinho, whose side finished the season in 16th spot. "Kusini played a massive part in our memorable League One title success just over a year ago." Kusini Yengi's career is at a crossroads after the Socceroos striker was released by English side Portsmouth. The former Adelaide United and Western Sydney forward arrived at Pompey last season, helping the club gain promotion from League One by registering 13 goals in 31 games. But following Portsmouth's move to the Championship, Yengi has failed to score across just 14 games after battling hamstring and knee injuries. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is a noted admirer of Yengi and has identified the 26-year-old as a player who can be a point of difference for the national team. But Popovic will find it harder to pick the powerful striker if he doesn't secure a move where he can play every week. "He does offer something different to any other striker, any potential striker that we have," Popovic said earlier this month. "There's no one that has that frame or body. I'd love him to use it more. "I'd love him to impose himself a lot more and actually impose himself on the defenders. "But I think he needs to find somewhere to play regular football to do that … That's what I would like all the strikers to do: find an environment where you can play regularly, where you're an important player. "And if you're scoring goals, then regardless of where it is, it's something that we're always searching for." Pompey had an extension option in Yengi's contract but chose not to trigger the clause, allowing the striker to secure a move elsewhere. Fellow Australians Jacob Farrell, Tom Waddingham and Hayden Matthews remain contracted to Portsmouth, who announced Yengi was one of five players set to leave Fratton Park over the off-season. "We would like to thank all those players leaving the club for their service and wish them nothing but the best for the next stage of their careers," said manager John Mousinho, whose side finished the season in 16th spot. "Kusini played a massive part in our memorable League One title success just over a year ago." Kusini Yengi's career is at a crossroads after the Socceroos striker was released by English side Portsmouth. The former Adelaide United and Western Sydney forward arrived at Pompey last season, helping the club gain promotion from League One by registering 13 goals in 31 games. But following Portsmouth's move to the Championship, Yengi has failed to score across just 14 games after battling hamstring and knee injuries. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is a noted admirer of Yengi and has identified the 26-year-old as a player who can be a point of difference for the national team. But Popovic will find it harder to pick the powerful striker if he doesn't secure a move where he can play every week. "He does offer something different to any other striker, any potential striker that we have," Popovic said earlier this month. "There's no one that has that frame or body. I'd love him to use it more. "I'd love him to impose himself a lot more and actually impose himself on the defenders. "But I think he needs to find somewhere to play regular football to do that … That's what I would like all the strikers to do: find an environment where you can play regularly, where you're an important player. "And if you're scoring goals, then regardless of where it is, it's something that we're always searching for." Pompey had an extension option in Yengi's contract but chose not to trigger the clause, allowing the striker to secure a move elsewhere. Fellow Australians Jacob Farrell, Tom Waddingham and Hayden Matthews remain contracted to Portsmouth, who announced Yengi was one of five players set to leave Fratton Park over the off-season. "We would like to thank all those players leaving the club for their service and wish them nothing but the best for the next stage of their careers," said manager John Mousinho, whose side finished the season in 16th spot. "Kusini played a massive part in our memorable League One title success just over a year ago."
