Aussies Abroad: Rogic returns while Hrustic and Ruka on the scoresheet

Tom Rogic has ended a frustrating run of injury, making his long-awaited return to the field with Celtic on a weekend where Aussie sharpshooters Nikita Rukavytsya and Ajdin Hrustic found their way onto the scoresheet.

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Rogic played his first minutes of the season after coming off the bench for a 23-minute cameo during Celtic's 1-0 win at Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell. 

The mercurial midfielder has been battling a knee injury since May, forcing him to miss all of Celtic's UEFA Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as their early season league fixtures.

The 26-year-old came on in the 67th minute to replace James Forrest and delivered a solid performance in what is sure to be the first of many more for the recovering star.

Rogic's return was just one of many positive signs from Australian players in Europe overnight with Ajdin Hrustic and Nikita Rukavytsya's goals for their club sides the standout. 

Rukavytsya started the match alongside fellow Aussie Trent Sainsbury for Israeli Premier League outfit Maccabi Haifa, scoring a second half goal in their 2-0 win against H. Kiryat Shmona. 

The former Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers flyer was in the right place at the right time to tap home from close range to open the scoring early in the second stanza.

It was Rukavytsya's fifth goal in as many games as Haifa took top spot on the table.

Hrustic was on target in Holland but it wasn't enough to help his Groningen side claim victory on the road as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of VVV Venlo.

The winger found the back of the net on the cusp of half-time to level the scores at 1-1 going into the interval.

However, it wasn't enough for Groningen as they conceded with only six minutes left on the clock to gift VVV Venlo the win.

Brighton's Aussie duo of Mat Ryan and Aaron Mooy were both in action in the Premier League as the Seagulls had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with Burnley.



Ryan started the match between the sticks for Brighton and was largely untroubled for most of the match.

He was forced into a big save late on but couldn't do anything about a Jeff Hendrick strike in added time as Burnley snatched a late equaliser.

Mooy was on the bench for the clash and played only four minutes after coming off the bench in the 86th minute.

Staying in England, Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar backed up from Socceroos duty with both seeing action in the lower leagues.

Irvine played 90 minutes for Hull City in their Championship tie against Wigan, with both side's taking home a point after a 2-2 draw.



Souttar was a late substitute for Fleetwood Town against Southend United in League One.

He came on in the 81st minute but couldn't inspire his side to victory as it too ended in a draw dead locked at 3-3.

Milos Degenek was a winner overnight with his Red Star Belgrade team fighting back with two final minute goals to claim an unlikely 2-1 win against Indija.

In Austria, James Holland provided an assist as LASK Linz eased to a 2-0 win at Sturm Graz.

Finally, Lyndon Dykes saw red in Scotland as his Livingston side were defeated 2-1 by Rangers.


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3 min read
Published 15 September 2019 2:18pm

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