City set pace

London City FC remain three points clear at the top of the Global Premier Football League table after the latest round of matches, after a tough match in Los Angeles, while Union Buenos Aires snapped their two match losing streak at the Monumental. Olympia Munchen jumped into third after Esportivo Rio was held on the road, while surprise packages, Emirates United and Harbour City, both won again.

ROUND 16 ROUND-UP

Bjorn Goudier, opened the scoring as LA Icons got off to a promising start against the league leaders, but London City were soon on level terms as Mark Ives headed down for Joseph Texier to equalise from the edge of the box. While not on the score sheet in this match, Ives found other ways to hurt the Icons, as he turned provider again, late on, for substitute, Okafo Akuchi to grab the winner. City have made a habit of grinding out results when not at their best, but they saw this one out comfortably enough, especially so after LA’s main goal threat, Goudier, became the latest in a string of the GPFL’s leading goal scorers to leave the field injured.

There were no major dramas for Union this week, as Abel Orozco‘s early goal settled any nerves against Tokyo-Yokohama United. Substitute, Elian Corral, completed the job late on but Union were largely untroubled throughout, even without the suspended Sebastiano Cruz and injured Rico Cocci. Victory was also much needed after two consecutive defeats.

Olympia grabbed their third 2-1 win on the trot, holding off a late charge by al-Qāhirah Stars to move up to third. Andre Peters scored again, eight minutes after the break, to put his side two ahead, but Marcelo Pinho struck back thirteen minutes from time, then saw a close range snap shot slap off the cross bar with almost the last kick of the match.

Esportivo dropped points for the first time in five games after being held to a draw at Paris Metro. Gaua Guedes put Rio ahead not long before half time, but Rio were reduced to ten men only minutes after the break thanks to a second yellow card for Rogerio Camara. Enzo Prigent squared the game up, then Metro had a great chance to win it when awarded a late penalty, but Alberto dos Santos drove his shot over the top.

Eternal Roma moved into the top six after a narrow win over Ciudad de Madrid at the Stadio Olympico. Cristofer Ortiz scored the game’s only goal sixteen minutes in, while Madrid were hampered by the early injury withdrawal of key man, Antonio Rabellini.

Emirates United and Harbour City continue to thrill their fans, both notching up solid wins and maintain their upward momentum. A brace from Guilherme de Freitas got the job done for United at Hong Kong Traders, while Geert-Jan de Walle struck late to see City home against Marina Bay Flyers. 

CF Azteca, Constantinople FC and Johannesburg Rush all scored home victories to ease a bit off pressure on themselves in the bottom half of the table.

First half goals from Teodor Mezquita and Milagros Freixa were ultimately enough to get Azteca home over New York Capitals, despite Greg Lockhart‘s late header for the visitors.

Erkin Okay put in the star showing of the round, scoring the perfect hat trick (left foot, header, right foot) to ease Constantinople home against the visiting Toronto. Livewire midfielder, Aral Akkas, provided two assists for Okay, and should have set the seal on the day for his side, but missed from close range in added time.

Adrien De Koninck drilled home from the penalty spot just after half time for the games only goal, as Johannesburg Rush made it two from two against Shanghai Pearl, who continue to slip down 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