Aussies Abroad: Cahill sent off, Kruse back on pitch

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Adam Federici

Socceroo striker Tim Cahill was sensationally sent off just three minutes after coming on as a substitute in the New York Red Bulls win over Houston Dynamo in the MLS on Saturday.

Cahill entered the fray with the Red Bulls leading 1-0 with just five minutes left but was shown a red card two minutes from time for a challenge on Oscar Boniek Garcia.

It was the first time the 34-year-old has been sent off for the Red Bulls and he will now miss crucial games in the club's run in towards the play-offs.

With Cahill to link up with the Socceroos for two international friendlies this week - and with the MLS not counting these national team games as suspensions - he will miss at least two of his club side’s four remaining matches.
 


The Red Bulls are currently sitting in the last playoff position in the Eastern Conference, four points clear of Toronto although the Canadian club have two games in hand.

While Cahill saw Red, there were some impressive performances for a host of Socceroos over the weekend.

In Switzerland, Dario Vidosic’s Sion got the better of Socceroo team-mate Oliver Bozanic’s Luzern with a 3-1 victory.

Vidosic, who is not in the Socceroos squad for upcoming friendlies against UAE and Qatar, played 71 minutes and set up his side’s second goal to make it 2-1 just after half-time and send them on their way to victory.

In a great sign for Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, Robbie Kruse came on for the final eight minutes of Bayer Leverkusen’s clash with SC Paderborn.

And the pacy winger, who re-injured his knee slightly on recent international duty, has an immediate impact setting up an injury-time equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Midfielder Massimo Luongo also had an assist in Swindon Town’s gritty 2-1 away win over Leyton Orient, while Neil Kilkenny set-up Preston North End’s opener in a 4-2 win over Colchester United in England’s League One.

Luke Wilkshire continued his fine season in the Eredivisie, playing a full match as Feyenoord won 4-0, while Mat Ryan was rarely troubled in Club Brugge’s 3-0 win over Standard Liege.

Trent Sainsbury came on at half-time as his PEC Zwolle outfit fought out a 0-0 draw away to Ajax while Josh Brillante was a late substitute as Fiorentina beat Inter Milan 3-0.

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