London inch clear

London City FC extended their lead at the top of the Global Premier Football League table to three points after a solid win at Wembley coupled with Union Buenos Aires being held in Paris. It was another round of tight games as favoured teams dropped points. City were the only side to score more than twice.

ROUND 24 ROUND-UP

London City had their match against Marina Bay Flyers wrapped up by half time thanks to a Mark Ives double and a neat header from Birger Ingvartsen. Their play was slick and the goals all well taken. The Flyers got one back seven minutes after the break, but City always had too much in reserve and you always felt they could step up a gear or two if needed.

Union scored inside the first ten minutes, through Samuel Peralta, and look headed for another victory, this time at Paris Metro. But the hosts held on through a vicious first half, then drew level not long after the break. Alberto dos Santos broke the line, beat two players and hammered home a shot that showed his side meant business. Union were out of sorts for most of the second half and, in fact, were lucky not to lose. Another dos Santos piledriver skimmed off the cross bar late on.

Esportivo Rio took advantage of Union’s stumble to move to two points behind their South American neighbours. They did it tough at LA Icons, needing a Xabier Ballester header five minutes from time to settle the match. Caua Guedes had put Rio ahead on the half hour, before Neto Guimaraes equalised almost half an hour later.

Olympia Munchen remain in fourth, but dropped points again after being held in Rome. Tommaso Baresi and Erico Batista scored either side of Andre Peters to have Eternal Roma in front at half time. Olympia twice came from behind and needed a Borje Lindqvist strike in the closing stages to guarantee a point. They now sit four points ahead of the Icons.

Harbour City and Emirates United continued their bright campaigns, as both sides picked up narrow home victories. Bartolomeo Aguirre was the hero in Sydney as his cross-come-shot slipped under the CF Azteca cross bar with two minutes remaining. Emirates also scored in the final ten minutes to bag the points against Johannesburg Rush. Charles Dermout headed home a Guilherme de Freitas flick-on for United’s tenth win of the season.

Ciudad de Madrid picked up their first away win of the season scoring twice through star man, Ranieri Lettiere, at Toronto Athletic. Lettiere headed home crosses from each of his wide men to have his side two up not long after half time, and that was enough for Madrid against an out-of-confidence Athletic side who remain clear last.

Richard Casey was at it again for Tokyo-Yokohama United, scoring twice midway through the first half against al-Qāhirah Stars . His second goal, just after the half hour, came courtesy of some fine work by winger, Restituto Castro.

New York Capitals battled away for a point at Shanghai Pearl, twice coming from behind, before missing a late spot kick to secure what would have been a deserved three points. Substitute, Dennis Velez, went from hero to villian, driving home the equaliser, before blazing over with three minutes left.

Hong Kong Traders went sailing up the table after toppling Constantinople FC in Hong Kong. Mark Evans and Ebrima Kabba scored within three minutes of each other during the first half to set up a solid advantage. Erkin Okay pulled one back just after half time but the visitors didn’t quite have enough for an equaliser. The Traders moved to 14th after the result, while Constantinople dropped to second bottom, although only two points behind their conquerors.

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