Goals flow for South Americans

South American-based clubs, Esportivo Rio and Union Buenos Aires, were both amongst the goals as they picked up big road victories to claw their way closer to Global Premier Football League leaders, London City FC during a thrilling latest round of games.

Thirty goals flew in across the ten games, as most of the top ten picked up points. Bottom side, Toronto Athletic, won for the first time since January 31 and now sit within four points of handing over the wooden spoon. Constantinople FC had better start looking over their shoulders.

ROUND 31 ROUND-UP

The cross-channel derby, between London City FC and Paris Metro, finished all square, leaving the door for the chasing South American duo slightly ajar as the 2023/24 GPFL heads into its final rounds.

London City appeared to be sailing to another victory, going two up inside the first half hour through Joseph Texier and Oscar Barbero. The odds couldn’t have been much shorter or City to secure three more points at Wembley, but the passion of the derby fixture kicked in for the visitors, who halved the deficit via Mathijn Rohaan‘s second goal of the season as half time neared.

City were mostly comfortable through the opening stages of the second half, but Metro came again, pounding City’s goal until they finally broke through with Tim Ludwig‘s 75th minute equaliser. Either side could have stolen at the end, but a draw ended up being a realistic result.

Rodrigo Machado, back for Rio after an injury-enforced break, was right back amongst the goals, scoring a first half double to erase an early two goal, Tokyo-Yokohama United lead. Milton Nakata gave Rio the lead early in the second half, before Caua Guedes sealed victory near the end.

It was a much needed three points for Esportivo as it kept them, just, in touch with the leaders and in front Union in third. The Argentinians traded goals with Olympia Munich through a bright opening hour in southern Germany, with key players from both sides featuring prominently. It was left to second half substitute, Diego Santander, to edge the match Union’s was, with his header five minutes from the end proving decisive. 

Cesare Angelo‘s late cameo tipped the match Harbour City‘s way as his bullet header, five minutes after entering the fray, finished off a tidy, if not overly inspired, LA Icons. The loss saw the Icons tumble down the table as teams below them all picked up solid points.

Eternal Roma, thanks largely to midfielder Tommasso Baresi‘s hat trick, and Ciudad de Madrid both won to stay level with each other on 48 points, while Emirates United‘s point at home to Shanghai Pearl also lifted them above LA.

Maxence Remy‘s early goal was the difference for Toronto Athletic, as their new-found defensive resilience was tested, before securing a long awaited and very welcome win.

CF Azteca and Marina Bay Flyers both also won to consolidate their solid, lower half positions on the table.

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