Australians abroad: AZ Alkmaar's Brett Holman withdrawn early, while Monchengladbach's Mathew Leckie gets extended run

It was a lean weekend for the Australians in Europe, with a host of stars not in action, while Adam Federici and Nikita Rukavytsya provided some good news

20/02/2012 1:51:00 PM

By Ben Somerford

More On :  Australia, AZ Alkmaar, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Adam Federici, Brett Holman, Mathew Leckie
Brett Holman - AZ Alkmaar
Getty Images
Socceroo Brett Holman was sacrificed in the 24th-minute as 10-man AZ Alkmaar crashed to a shock 3-0 loss at FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday.

Leaders PSV Eindhoven had been beaten 3-0 by Groningen earlier in the day, meaning AZ had the chance to go top but they were never in the game conceding twice in the opening 21 minutes, while they had defender Niklas Moisander sent off too.
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Considering the deficit and being a man down, AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek opted to replace Holman with defender Nick Viergever after 24 minutes. AZ, though, had no response and spurned the chance to go top.

The news is positive for Socceroos fans who may have thought Holman's early substitution was related to an injury however it was merely tactical.

In Germany's Bundesliga on Saturday, Mathew Leckie was given an extended run off the bench in Borussia Monchengladbach's 2-1 win at Kaiserslautern.

However, despite being a 38th-minute substitute for the injured Patrick Herrmann with the score at 2-0, Leckie was replaced on 82 minutes.

Foals boss Lucien Favre opted to shore up his backline with defender Oscar Wendt coming on for the Australian as Kaiserslautern pressed for an equaliser.

England
Tim Cahill (Everton): Wasn't in the side for the 2-0 win over Blackpool in the FA Cup.
Vince Grella (Blackburn): Rovers were not in action.
Chris Herd (Aston Villa): Villa were not in action.
Brad Jones (Liverpool): Wasn't in the squad for the 6-1 victory over Brighton in the FA Cup.
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham): The Cottagers were not in action.
Ryan Williams (Fulham): The Cottagers were not in action.
Adam Federici (Reading): Played a full game and kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Burnley on Friday.
Richard Garcia (Hull City): The Tigers were not in action.
STAR OF THE WEEKEND
Adam Federici


Won praise from Reading boss Brian McDermott after another clean sheet. The Royals are now third
Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace): Started and played 84 minutes in the 4-0 win over Watford.
Neil Kilkenny (Bristol City): Started and played 75 minutes in the 3-0 loss at Peterborough.
Paddy Kisnorbo (Leeds United): Out injured (knee) for the 3-2 win over Doncaster Rovers.
Shane Lowry (Millwall): Played a full game as his side were knocked out of the FA Cup 2-0 by Bolton.
Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough): Boro were not in action.
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough): Boro were not in action.
Dean Bouzanis (Oldham): Was an unused sub in the 5-0 loss to MK Dons.
Alex Cisak (Oldham): Played a full game in goals in the heavy defeat to MK Dons.
James Wesolowski (Oldham): Out injured (shoulder) for the MK Dons loss.

Germany
Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund): Was an unused substitute in the 1-0 win at Hertha Berlin.
Nikita Rukavytsya (Hertha Berlin): Started and played 63 minutes in front of new coach Otto Rehhagel as Hertha lost again, 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund.
Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf): Not in the squad for the 2-1 loss at 1860 Munich.

Netherlands
Jason Davidson (Heracles): Not in the squad for the 2-1 win over Roda JC.
Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht): Not in the squad for the 3-0 win over AZ Alkmaar due to injury.
Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht): Was an unused sub in the 3-0 win over AZ Alkmaar.
Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht): Absent for the win over AZ due to injury.

Italy
Carl Valeri (Sassuolo): Put in a full shift and picked up a booking in the 0-0 home draw with Varese.

Greece
Apostolos Giannou (PAOK): Started and played 80 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Aris.

Turkey
Kerem Bulut (Eskisehirspor): Absent for the 2-1 home loss to Karabukspor.
James Troisi (Kayserispor): Played a full game in the 3-3 draw with Trabzonspor.

Scotland
Ryan McGowan (Hearts): Put in a full shift in the 3-0 loss to Motherwell.
Matt McKay (Rangers): Wasn't in the Gers squad for the disappointing 1-0 home loss to Kilmarnock.
Aaron Mooy (St Mirren): Was a 64th-minute sub in the 0-0 draw at Dundee United.

Austria
James Holland (Austria Vienna): Played a full game in the 0-0 draw at Rapid Vienna.

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