Top four go clear

The Global Premier League’s top four all scored relatively comfortable victories during the latest round of matches, increasing the gap to fifth to six points. Toronto Athletic pulled off the upset of the week, edging home against Paris Metro, while Emirates United continued their upward surge.

ROUND 17 ROUND-UP

The machine that is London City FC eased to another three points, over Johannesburg Rush, thanks to first half goals from star men, Mark Ives and Okafo Akuchi. The Rush put in a strong second half showing, ensuring City didn’t score again while also looking better going forward, but the league leaders played as if they always had an extra gear or two available to shift into if needed.

Union Buenos Aires appear to be over their recent wobble, but they were made to work for their win in Mexico City. Diego Santander scored what turned out to be the winner just before the hour mark, but Milagros Freixa was unlucky not to help CF Azteca to at least a point after hitting the woodwork twice in the final 20 minutes. A return to a more solid shape seems to have helped Union, despite the ongoing absence of both Rico Cocci and Sebastiano Cruz.

Olympia Munchen and Esportivo Rio also both won, collecting all three points after high scoring encounters. Andre Peters‘ early goal set Olympia on their way against Constantinople FC, while Rodrigo Machado grabbed another brace as Esportivo ran out to a four goal lead against Shanghai Pearl. A late double from Diogo Esteves made the scoreline semi-respectable.

Toronto Athletic scored on the half hour mark through Maxence Remy, then held on, just, to pick up a famous victory, and important three points, against visiting Metro. While the win wasn’t enough to lift them off the bottom of the table, it moved Athletic to within a point of Shanghai.

The goals flew in in both Rome and Sydney.

Eternal Roma and LA Icons shared six of the best. Roma looked to have bagged all three points but, substitute, Isais Fernan, headed home two minutes into added time to deny a home victory.

Harbour City were held to their first draw of the season by New York Capitals. The Capitals were two goals up inside 30 minutes, through Greg Lockhart and Samuel Fernandes, but centre back, Dan Braands, headed home from the edge of the box to equalise late on.

Emirates United moved up to seventh following Guilherme de Freitas‘ winner over Ciudad de Madrid just after the half hour mark. For Madrid, it was a third consecutive 1-0 defeat, so sticking the ball in the net will be very much on the agenda next time out.

Tokyo-Yokohama United edged Hong Kong Traders in a five goal thriller at the National Stadium. Alessandro da Siqueira scored what turned out to be the winner just after the hour mark, but the Traders were unlucky not two have scored several times during the final 20 minutes. Mason Bond‘s goal in added time set up a potential grand stand finish, but United held on.

Kay Kraus scored his fifth goal of the campaign to give Marina Bay Flyers all the points against al-Qāhirah Stars and move them out of the bottom two.

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