Union leave it late

Union Buenos Aires snatched a late, late winner in the big game of the week to maintain their 100% Global Premier Football League record and top the table three weeks into the season. London City FC secured their third win on the bounce, but if it’s goals you’re after you’d do worse than heading across to Los Angeles.

The league is starting to take some semblance of shape, albeit only after a handful of games. Only five teams remain unbeaten, however, highlighting the even nature of the competition. Seven teams, however, are still to feel the sweet thrill of victory. Will that change in the coming weeks?

Before then, however, here’s our summary of the latest set of GPFL matches.

ROUND 3 ROUND-UP

A close range header from Sebastiano Cruz, three minutes into added time, clinched a thrilling victory for Union Buenos Aires over previous table-toppers, Paris Metropole. Cruz had earlier drilled home a stunning opener in the second minute, before turning provider for a seemingly inevitable Rico Cocci goal that doubled the Argentinians’ lead. Metro turned the game on its head either side of the break thanks to goals from Tim Ludwig and Antenor Camargo Nakamura to leave fans at the Monumental aghast. But the late show from Cruz sent them home delirious.

London City racked up their third victory by the odd goal, securing a narrower than expected win in Singapore. Marina Bay Flyers got off to a, er, flyer, thanks to Thijn Vree‘s third minute belter, but Mark Ives had the visitors in front by half time thanks to a couple of neatly taken close range strikes. City looked the most likely team to score during the second half, but the Flyers came so close to gaining a stunning equaliser when substitute, Axel Schmitt, rocked the crossbar five minutes into added time.

Probably the shock result of the round came in Munich, where previously rampant Olympia couldn’t find the back of the net against Eternal Roma. The Italians, who haven’t had the best start to the season, went ahead early through Tommaso Baresi and, while not exactly hanging on, were defensively secure enough take home all three points.

CF Azteca, Ciudad de Madrid and Johannesburg Rush all picked up their first three points of the season. Azteca has drawn their two openers and looked like making it three from three against Harbour City, until substitute Marcelo Paschoal Kimura hit the winner a minute from time.

Madrid weren’t overly comfortable against Toronto Athletic, but three goals in the final half an hour saw them home. Maxence Remy gave Athletic a first half lead, and it took until after the hour mark for Ranieri Lettiere, with his fifth goal of the season, to get Madrid back on terms. Two further goals in the final ten minutes gave the home side the win they needed to kick their season into life.

Two first half goals from the Rush set them on their way to victory, but a late Emirates United strike made for a few nervous moments.

The remaining games all finished level. LA Icons continued to thrill, coming from behind twice against Esportivo Rio, Adalberto Cortes‘ two assists took him to a league-leading total of six in this category. New York Capitals goalless draw at home to Shanghai Pearl means they’re undefeated, while still being winless, after three rounds.

It also finished without a goal between Constantinople FC and Hong Kong Traders in Istanbul, while Richard Casey‘s fifth goal of the season, in the 90th minute, grabbed a point for Tokyo-Yokohama United at al-Qāhirah Stars, cancelling out Flavio van Overstraeten‘s first half opener.

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