Goals flow in final round

A hat trick from Mark Ives, London City FC‘s leading goal scorer, was central to the Wembley-based team’s evening of celebration as they completed a fine inaugural Global Premier Football League campaign. Already assured of the title, City’s players and fans were in party mood as they completed their season, then lifted the trophy, after yet another victory.

The goals flowed across the league in a round of games with little at stake. About the only thing of consequence left to play for was the wooden spoon, and that was decided with almost the last kick of the season. Maxence Remy hit home in the 96th minute to lift Toronto Athletic to the victory they needed to jump ahead of Johannesburg Rush.

ROUND 38 ROUND-UP

London City recovered from an early scare, provided by opponents Tokyo Yokohama United, to get the Wembley party started thanks to a free flowing performance that left their fans both excited and entertained. Ives benefitted from his team’s reliable supply line, with Jeroen De Rijck again to the fore, to take his goals tally to 33 in what has been a stellar campaign for City’s number nine.

The match was merely a prequel to City’s evening of celebration as the confetti and Champaign flowed in response to captain, Anthony Mears, lifting the GPFL trophy. Congratulations to head coach, Barry Melia, and his staff for the work they’ve done, and the entertainment they’re provided across the globe over the last nine months.

Union Buenos Aires and Esportivo Rio both drew, in goal laden games, meaning they maintained their second and third spot finishes respectively.

Rico Cocci, with a double to cement his Golden Boot winning efforts, and Ranieri Lettiere, were the star performers as Union was held at Ciudad de Madrid. Cocci’s goals took him to 38 for the season, more than a goal a game from the matches he was available for.

Andre Peters‘ second goal of the game, late on, ensured Olympia Munich shared the points against Esportivo, after Xabier Ballester‘s goal early in the second half looked like it could be the winner.

Eternal Roma and Marina Bay Flyers scored large wins to end promising season’s.

The goals were shared around by both teams. Tommaso Baresi‘s two assists for Roma against Hong Kong Traders ensured he finished second in that key individual category, while the Flyers’ Boudewijn Tjaarts, capped his playmaker title with another assist, along with his sixth goal for a Flyers side the finished just outside the top ten. Defeat for their opponents, the Rush, consigned the South African-based side to last.

Harbour City had already secured a fourth placed finish prior to the final round of games, but a goal from Geert-Jan de Walle and the point they shared from the match with Paris Metro meant they finished on a hugely positive note.

Remy’s goal for Toronto lifted his team to victory over an Emirates United side that had struggled for goals all season, leaving United marooned in eighth after a higher finish had looked likely earlier on.

CF Azteca, thanks to goals from their centre forwards Marcelo Kimura and substitute, Milagros Freixa, defeated Shanghai Pearl and shot up to a fourteenth placed finish after other results fell their way.

Such results were the final matches of the round, a draw in Cairo between al-Qahirah Stars and Constantinople FC and a win for LA Icons in the all-American encounter.

Unlike all the other games, the Mediterranean derby was a feisty affair as both sides ended with ten men following red cards to Omar Benzakour and Erkin Okay.

Late, late goals from Bjorn Goudier and Amine Fraisse gave LA the win over a New York Capitals side that had struggled in recent months.

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