While many folks are spending the dog days of summer relaxing, Atiba Hutchinson is spending the time getting his team one step closer to the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Last Wednesday, the stalwart midfielder put in a solid 90 minutes for Besiktas as they snatched a 2-1 win at Feyenoord in the first leg of their tie in the third qualifying round. The second leg is set for Istanbul this Wednesday, with Hutchinson’s side sitting in a good position to advance.
Andre Hainault’s VfR Aalen opened their 2.Bundesliga campaign on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig, with Hainault playing the full 90. Over in Japan, fellow ex-MLSer Dejan Jakovic had a tougher weekend, with his Shimizu S-Pulse side going down 4-0 against Tokyo FC.
Nik Ledgerwood put in a full day’s work for Energie Cottbus in a 3-1 loss to Dynamo Dresden on Sunday, while Randy Edwini-Bonsu made a pair of appearances as a second-half substitute for Stuttgarter Kickers in the last seven days.
Further down the German pyramid, Daniel Stanese went the full 90 for FC Augsburg II in a 3-2 with over Greuther Furth II.
Up in Finland, Charlie Trafford went the distance for KuPS in a 3-1 loss to RoPS, while Roger Thompson featured for IFK Mariehamn in a 1-1 draw with Honka.
Lastly, we check in on Singapore’s S.League, where Jordan Webb and Sherif El-Masri both played the entirety of Young Lions’ 0-0 draw with Harimau Muda II on Sunday.
