Union clear as bottom two surprise

Tight matches were generally the order of the day in round 6 of the 2023/24 Global Premier Football League, which suited leaders Union Buenos Aires, along with Emirates United and Marina Bay Flyers.

With teams and players settling into the new league, along with the hectic travel schedule, different time zones, and contrasting climates, we can expect to see even more competitive games and, hopefully, more than the odd upset as the season progresses.

ROUND 6 ROUND-UP

Union went two points clear at the top of the standings after, eventually, squeezing past a resolute Constantinople FC at an increasingly nervous Monumental. Two first half goals from lethal marksman, Rico Cocci, seemed to set the hosts up for a comfortable win, but the Turkish outfit held firm before striking late through Aral Akkas. While a second goal never eventuated, it did dampen, somewhat, the party mood, as did Cocci’s fifth yellow card in a, so far, eventful campaign. With nine goals in five games, he has proven to be Union’s talisman, but his tally of bookings mean he must sit out his team’s next match – a visit to currently unbeaten LA Icons.

The Icons eased into the top four with a routine win at Johannesburg Rush. The match was all but over inside the first quarter, as the visitors took a two goal lead through Escobar Cardoso and Amine Fraisse. Those goals were more than enough for LA as the Rush offered little going forward in front of their passionate home fans.

Emirates United and Marina Bay Flyers both picked up their first wins of the season. Emirates scored in the glow of half time, the solitary goal of their match against, CF Azteca, to secure a much needed three points. Guilherme de Freitas was the hero for the Gulf side, as was Kay Kraus for the Flyers. He powered home a late header at Shanghai Pearl to move his side above their opponents on the table.

Hong Kong Traders also picked up their first victory of the season, lifting themselves into mid-table. Alfredo Viera hit his first goal of the season, with just under twenty minutes left, to seal the points in a tight match against an al-Qāhirah Stars side that had goalie, Aurelio Serra, sent off just after half time.

Returning to the upper reaches, three of the current leading sides all dropped points following drawn matches. London City FC and Olympia Munchen shared the points from a bright, engaging encounter at Wembley, while Paris Metro were held to a goalless stalemate by visiting New York Capitals. In an ultimately drab encounter, Metro didn’t really fire too many shots against resolute, adventure-less opponents.  

The Esportivo Rio versus Ciudad de Madrid match, at a heaving Maracana, showcased all that is good about the GPFL. It was a back and forth riot of footballing flavour, with the Brazilians edging a match that could easily have gone the other way. Madrid’s first goal, Vincent Xifre‘s lob almost straight from the kick-off after Rio’s second goal, was the moment, from many moments, of the match.

Eternal Roma, while not at their best, found a way to win a tight tussle in Toronto. Cristofer Ortiz scrambled the ball home from close range in the final minute of regulation time to leave Athletic with nothing from a match in which they probably deserved at least a point.

Tokyo-Yokohama United scored the largest victory of the week, putting three past Harbour City thanks to their double-act up front. Richard Casey had his second, and seventh of the season, not long after the break, before Alessandro de Siqueira sealed the points right on 90 minutes. 

CURRENT STANDINGS

UPCOMING FIXTURES

GPFL STAT ATTACK

AL-QAHIRAH STARS

CF AZTECA

CIUDAD DE MADRID

CONSTANTINOPLE FC

ESPORTIVO RIO

ETERNAL ROMA

HARBOUR CITY

HONG KONG TRADERS

LA ICONS

LONDON CITY FC

MARINA BAY FLYERS

NEW YORK CAPITALS

PARIS METROPOLE

SHANGHAI PEARL

TOKYO YOKOHAMA UNITED

TORONTO ATHLETIC