With a few conference leaders matching up in cross-conference games, the cream has started to rise up in Week 4. It was a weekend of surprising late-game equalizers, big time scoring, and another huge crowd in Mobile getting to finally see the home side walk away with all the points. But despite all the stories coming out of Kyle, Gulfport, Covington, and Mobile, it is the Blue Eagles and BOCA Knights that are setting themselves apart as early season favorites.
EASTERN CONFERENCE RECAP
After a weekend off, AFC Mobile was back in action in Mobile. As always, they drew a large crowd, but unlike last year, the maroons pulled off not just a home win, but an end-to-end dominant performance over Real United FC. Chisom Ogbonna scored his second hat trick in two games and Sherman Winchester found himself scoring his first ever goal for the Azaleas. Next week, the Battle of Mobile Bay takes place as the Gulf Coast Rangers come to Mobile for a grudge match a year in the making.
Speaking of the Rangers, across Mobile Bay they took on a struggling Baton Rouge United. Baton Rouge had yet to earn any points this season. The Rangers’ David Hall struck early off a great ball from Nathan Gillespie. but Baton Rouge’s Cam Hilliard was able to score a late equalizer and Joshua Joseph was absolutely heroic in between the pipes in the final minutes for the Red Sticks, which led to them earning their first point of the GCPL campaign.
CENTRAL RECAP
After beating the Rangers last weekend, the Blues felt like things might finally be clicking, but the ever eager Northshore team was able to shred the Blues in an efficient and impressive 3-0 win at home. Brandon Core scored a brace for United and Eric Schwing’s solid performance helped to cement the all the points for Northshore who find themselves a point behind Gaffa FC for the last playoff spot in the Central Conference.
A battle of division leaders had CD Motagua of New Orleans continue their monstrous form as Eastern leading Pensacola FC. Carlos Palacios defense was instrumental in keeping a high-flying 59ers attack from scoring for the first time this season and Leonardo Barros scored twice to help the Blue Eagles remain perfect, and relatively unchallenged, so far this season.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Being on the receiving end of a streaking Motagua team last week, the Lobos had a point to prove this weekend and they did not disappoint. Following the season-ending injury of Blake Landers last week, 20-year-old Jordan Guardado stepped into the spotlight and did not fail to impress. Guardado ended the match with a goal and 2 assists as the Lobos were able to impress the home crowd with a dominant 4-0 win over Shreveport United.
In Alexandria, an evenly played match was broken apart by Ethan Loftin of Port City after the Pool Boys’ Martin Iddon subbed out at the end of the first half. Iddon, a defensive stalwart, had previously missed the first three matches of the season. He held the Sounders scoreless, but after being subbed off in the 40th, Port City scored twice and then held on the rest of the way to gain three valuable road points.
In another matchup of cross-conference powerhouses, BOCA FC Knights and Quesi Weston were able to hold off Cillian Thompson and Gaffa FC. Both Weston and Thompson had braces for their respective clubs, but the firepower of BOCA helped them pull off an impressive 4-2 win against the defending champs. This win for BOCA and the dominance of Motagua perhaps marks these two teams as the clubs to beat this season.
GCPL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Leonardo Barros (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Brantton Greene (AFC Mobile)
Jordan Guardado (Central Texas Lobos)
Joshua Joseph (Baton Rouge United SC)
Ethan Loftin (Port City FC)
Chisom Ogbonna (AFC Mobile)
Carlos Palacios (CD Motagua of New Orleans)
Abdallah Rayyan (BOCA FC Knights)
Eric Schwing (Northshore United FC)
Cillian Thompson (Gaffa FC)
Quesi Weston (BOCA FC Knights)
