After Troyes ended a five-game losing run with Hillel Konate in goal, Patrick Beach faces a fight to regain his place amid the club’s relegation battle.
IRANKUNDA’S RISE CONTINUES AMID SPORTING STRUGGLES: What does latest result mean for Socceroo and his coach?
‘DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT?’: Harry Kewell SENT OFF as coach makes explosive ‘mafia’ accusation Dumont had made his criticism public on October 16. “There are players who need to be able to do better and I think Patrick, in particular, needs to do better. That’s a fact,” he said, while stressing that Beach wasn’t the only player expected to raise his level. “The key message … is to keep pushing. But pushing ourselves should make us better, should make each of us strive for more than we’re currently achieving.” French publication L’Est Eclair had also reported that Beach was still working to convince at Troyes. Konate’s clean sheet gives Dumont a practical reason to keep assessing his options. After the Toulouse match, the coach praised Konate’s saves and his wider contribution, saying the goalkeeper brought “serenity” and helped instill confidence across the team. He added: “Now, we have to move on.”
Troyes teammate Paolo Gozzi said the selection didn’t necessarily signal a clear hierarchy among the club’s three goalkeepers, with Zacharie Boucher also in contention. “All three goalkeepers are strong, for us there’s no difference,” he said. “Sometimes you have to make choices.” Gozzi was pleased for Konate, adding that the team knew his qualities. The immediate picture is stark: Troyes have five points from eight games and sit in the relegation zone, two points from safety. Beach’s place in Australia’s team became more secure after his World Cup performances, but his status in France is now unsettled.
Aussie phenom makes another Premier League start as big clubs circle
Lucas Herrington’s run in Hull City’s starting side is becoming a story of its own. The 19-year-old played all 90 minutes in Monday’s 1–1 draw with visiting Brentford (AEDT), after beginning his Premier League spell with four consecutive substitute appearances. Each of his last three top flight outings has been a start. His numbers against Brentford suggest a defender earning responsibility: seven clearances, the most of any player, 10 defensive contributions and the second highest aerial duel tally in the match. Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic said his players responded well after the previous weekend, praising their aggression, work on first and second balls, and attacking play in the first half. He felt Hull lost control around the hour mark as Brentford pushed forward, but said the draw was fair and that the team had given everything.Herrington joined Hull from MLS club Colorado Rapids at the start of 2026–27 in a record Australian transfer, and reports say he continues to attract interest from larger clubs. The rising role is clear; how much of that reported attention turns into concrete moves isn’t yet clear.
The broader story here is how often Australian players and coaches are shaping results well beyond the A-League. Some performances were decisive; others came in games that swung wildly in the closing minutes. Either way, the week offered plenty to track.
A young Australian centre-back at Hull City is drawing attention after a strong start in the Premier League. Transfer expert Rudy Galetti says some of the “biggest clubs in world football” are watching him closely. That’s a meaningful signal, though monitoring a player is a long way from a transfer bid.
Galetti says top clubs continue to follow the teenager’s progress week by week.
Socceroo decides it at the death
Jason Cummings needed until the fifth minute of stoppage time to settle Cong An Ho Chi Minh City’s match with Ninh Binh, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win in Vietnam’s V.League 1. The finish sent the home side into celebration, with Australian coach Arthur Diles, formerly of Melbourne Victory, among those swept up in the moment.
Cummings has now scored twice in four appearances since arriving from India. CAHCMC sit third after five rounds, just one point off the lead. That’s a promising start, although a five-round table is still taking shape.
Diles called the victory unusually emotional, pointing to the last-minute finish and the fact his side had beaten the league leaders on their own ground. His focus after the final whistle was already on recovery and preparation for the next match.
He also offered a measured assessment of Cummings: a striker can’t be expected to score every time, he said, but must take chances at decisive moments. With several forwards available, Diles plans to rotate the attack.
There was late drama elsewhere in Asia. Jackson Irvine’s Cerezo Osaka scored in the 96th and 98th minutes to turn a two-goal deficit into a 2-2 home draw with JEF United, who were missing Australian defender Dan Hall.
Steve Corica’s Yokohama F.Marinos drew 1-1 with Nagoya Grampus. Arthur Papas’ Al-Ettifaq beat Al Kholood 3-0, their second win in three Saudi Pro League matches. Ettifaq are seventh, seven points behind Ange Postecoglou’s Al-Nassr and nine behind leaders Al-Hilal.
In China, Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port beat Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 3-1 to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games. The three-time defending champions have won three in a row and sit fifth, 10 points behind John Aloisi’s Chengdu Rongcheng. Chengdu lost 1-0 to second-place Dalian Yingbo, leaving the CSL title race to be settled on the final weekend.
Nick Montgomery’s third-place Beijing Guoan produced the biggest comeback, recovering from 3-0 down to beat Henan 4-3 with four goals in 16 minutes, capped by an 81st-minute winner. Ross Aloisi’s Zhejiang FC also won, beating Liaoning Tieren 4-2.
McKenna’s brace puts Forest in front
Leticia McKenna scored twice before half-time as Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with WSL 2 leaders Newcastle United. Her first goal, a finish into the roof of the net, was her first for Forest since joining from A-League Women champions Melbourne City. She added a penalty soon after to give Forest a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes.
Fellow Australian Alana Murphy also started for Forest. Newcastle, coached by Australian Tanya Oxtoby, fought back to take a point, with Matildas utility Kaitlyn Torpey in the line-up.
In the WSL, Holly McNamara scored Everton’s goal in a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa, cutting the deficit after Everton had fallen 3-0 behind. Manchester City, the defending champions, drew 1-1 with Manchester United in the derby, with Matildas star Mary Fowler supplying an assist.
Ellie Carpenter’s Chelsea won 3-1 away to Crystal Palace. Emily van Egmond and Leah Davidson both started for Charlton Athletic in their 1-0 loss at Birmingham City.
In Sweden, Aivi Luik started as league leaders Hacken beat Vaxjo DFF 2-1, moving eight points clear at the top of the Allsvenskan. Third-place Malmo remain 19 points back after a 2-1 win at Kristianstad, where Matildas pair Charli Grant and Amy Sayer both started.
For Australian football, the useful takeaway is the breadth: goals, assists and coaching influence are showing up across several leagues, from Vietnam and China to England and Sweden. One weekend doesn’t settle anyone’s season, but it does show how many Australians now have meaningful roles in teams chasing points and titles abroad.
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