Aussie boys among goals

Mark Bresciano and Scott Chipperfield warmed up for Australia’s international week with timely goals, while Vince Grella made his debut for Blackburn Rovers.

Mark Bresciano and Scott Chipperfield warmed up for Australia-s international week with timely goals, while Vince Grella made his debut for Blackburn Rovers.

It was a mixed bag for the Australian players that are part of Pim Verbeek-s 27-man squad that will play against The Netherlands on Saturday night and then the first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup - Round 4 qualifiers against Uzbekistan in Tashkent the following Wednesday.

Bresciano, who has been the centre transfer speculation from Palermo, came off the bench at half time and scored in the 69th minute, but it wasn-t enough in the 3-1 away at Udinese.

Chipperfield, playing a more attacking role for FC Basel this season, scored again with a timely goal just before half time, as Basel went onto win 2-0 away at FC Aarau.

In the English Premier League, Vince Grella had a mixed day in his debut for Rovers against West Ham, assisting for Rovers first goal, but picking up a yellow card early in the match for a rough tackle and then substituted at half time. Lucas Neill-s West Ham went onto win the match 4-1, while Brett Emerton played a full game for Rovers.

Richard Garcia had a chance early to score for Hull City, but could then only watch as his side-s defence was ripped apart by Wigan Athletic to the tune of 5-0. Garcia was replaced after an hour of the match. Meanwhile Chris Coyne played a full game in Colchester-s 2-2 draw with Oldham Athletic.

Harry Kewell played a full game yesterday for Galatasaray, as they drew 0-0 away at Kaysersipor; Bruce Djite also played a full game as Genclerbirligi lost 2-0 away at Buraspor; while Michael Petkovic played a full game in goals as Sivasspor won 2-0 away at Kocaelispor.

Luke Wilkshire made his debut for Dinamo Moscow, playing a full game in a 1-1 draw with FC Moscow; Matt Spiranovic played a full game for Nurnberg in a 2-2 draw with Alemania Aachen and Josh Kennedy also played a full game, as Karlsruhe lost 2-0 at home against FC Koln.

In Holland, Jason Culina came on at half time and helped PSV Eindhoven get off to a blistering start in the Eredivisie, with a 5-1 win over FC Utrecht, but Brett Holman could only watch from the bench, as AZ Alkmaar lost 2-1 at home against NAC Breda.

Several of the 27-man squad didn-t see action, with Scott McDonald, as expected, not playing in Celtic-s 4-2 loss against Rangers; Mile Sterjovski and David Carney not seeing game time for Derby County and Sheffield United respectively. Brad Jones, dislocated finger, was not on the bench for Middlesbrough, while Michael Beauchamp was also not in the AaB.

Several players that missed out on the squad got themselves amongst the goals, with Nick Carle slotting home a penalty for Crystal Palace as they lost 4-2 away at Reading, while Danny Invincibile, finished off a brilliant team goal in the second half, as Kilmarnock won 2-0 away at Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League.