GCPL Week Two Recap: Blue Eagles return, Gaffa FC finds its form, Rangers make a statement

What a difference a week makes. Early seasons are always a bit chaotic, and there was much in the air following GCPL’s week one. The defending champs Gaffa FC had not played, the most successful team in league history CD Motagua of New Orleans was a week away from their regular season debut, and a surprising result in Shreveport shook up the entire Eastern Conference. Every club now has one game under its belt and while the picture is not fully painted, it is starting to become a bit clearer.

Eastern Conference Recap

Last weekend the Gulf Coast Rangers did not score their first goal until second-half stoppage time; this week they made up for lost time. The Rangers put up 10 goals on Real United FC in a match that was never questioned. After Rangers scored in the seventh minute on a Matt McArthur free kick, they never looked back. Amos Ndikumana led the charge with a goal and two assists and was fantastically dynamic going forward. The Riverhawks’ defense could do nothing but foul, which ultimately led to 3 penalties for the Rangers, who pulled out all stops in an incredibly dominant and professional performance.

Over in Pensacola during the biggest match of the weekend, conference favorites Pensacola FC and Port City FC played to a 2-2 draw. Pensacola’s central defense of Nick Trzesniowski and Kyle Sealy were sent off with double yellows alternately in the first and second half. Jordan Hall continued his run of good form with a brace for the Sounders while Pensacola defender Christoph Zellar scored two to keep the score even at Ashton Brosnaham.

Currently, the Pensacola and Gulfport clubs sit atop the Eastern table with four points each. Port City faces AFC Mobile in Gulfport hoping to get ahead in the Forgotten Coast Cup and solidify early season dominance over their rival from Mobile on Saturday. Pensacola FC, on the other hand, will be heavy favorites, even while missing its starting centerback duo, against Real United FC. Gulf Coast Rangers will travel to Clinton to take on Mississippi Blues in a cross-divisional matchup.

Central Conference Recap

Another high flying, high scoring game took place in Covington’s Wolverine stadium as defending champ Gaffa FC was able to get their first win of the season with a 4-2 win over Northshore United FC. United’s Cam Lavallee created multiple opportunities in addition to his own goal, but Gaffa looks to be hitting its mark quickly in spite of drawing with Sippi Cup rivals, Mississippi Blues SC, earlier in the week. Gaffa captain and defender Tom Cosgrave, the GCPL Cup Championship MVP, who looks to be just as dominant as he was last year in this match, led the charge. Cosgrave finished the night having tallied two assists and served as the ever-present field marshal for the boys from Jackson, MS who find themselves in an ever familiar position at the top of the Western Conference table.

But perhaps Gaffa shouldn’t get too comfortable as CD Motagua of New Orleans went to Clinton, MS for their regular season opener and rolled over the Mississippi Blues to the tune of 3-0. Former Honduran international goalkeeper Donaldo Morales earned his first clean sheet of the season for the Blue Eagles, and Gino Ray was absolutely commanding in New Orleans’s attack. Motagua are looking rejuvenated after their slow start last year. Right now it seems that the Blue Eagles and Gaffa will be in a constant battle for control of the Central Conference.

This week, Motagua will take on Northshore United in a midweek game that will prove a huge testing ground for the new Covington club. Gaffa will host Baton Rouge United in Jackson on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mississippi Blues will host the recently unleashed, offensive behemoth of the Rangers in Clinton, MS.

Western Conference Recap

In the West, Alexandria FC fell just short of gaining a huge three points falling to Boca Knights 2-3. Pool Boys’ goalkeeper Tom Fuller stood on his head collecting an amazing 10 saves in the loss, but it did not prove enough as behind stellar performances from Mario Hidalgo and Alvaro Castro Boca was able to head to Alexandria and leave with all points.

In cross-conference action, AFC Mobile headed over to Lafayette to take on last year’s GCPL Cup runners-up and put on a relatively dominant performance in a 3-1 win over Cajun SC. Chisom Ogbonna had a hattrick by game’s end. While earning the maroons’ first ever three-goal game will surely make sure Ogbonna stays on the player’s to watch list, it was the ball movement from Erik Aispuro, Ibrahima Ndaw, and Donte Oliver, who had an assist each, that has Mobile looking as if it may be starting to fire on all cylinders. If the defense, led by Markos Mallis and Barou Ndaw can play as calmly as they did in LUS Fiber Stadium on Saturday night, things could finally turn around for the Azaleas.

The rest of the Western Conference had the weekend off.

Did Not Play

Shreveport United will host Boca Knights on Wednesday, May 23rd.

Saturday, May 26th, Central Texas Lobos host CD Motagua of New Orleans in the first GCPL match to ever take place in Texas.

Also on Saturday, Baton Rouge SC will hope to pull some points out of Jackson as they head up to Freedom Ridge to take on Gaffa FC.

GCPL Team of the Week

Chance Bourdene (Gaffa FC)
Alvaro Castro (Boca Knights FC)
Tom Cosgrave (Gaffa FC)
Tom Fuller (Alexandria FC)
Jordan Hall (Port City FC)
Mario Hidalgo (Boca Knights FC)
Burkley Louviere (Cajun Soccer Club)
Amos Ndikumana (Gulf Coast Rangers)
Chisom Ogbonna (AFC Mobile)
Gino Ray (CD Motagua of NOLA)
Christoph Zeller (Pensacola FC)

Honorable Mentions: Benoit Dorronsoro (Gulf Coast Rangers), Zack Elegamy (Cajun Soccer Club), John Hamide (CD Motagua of NOLA), Harrison Houle (Alexandria FC),Cam Lavallee (Northshore United FC), Markos Mallis (AFC Mobile) , Rudy Seelman (Pensacola FC), Eduardo Soto (Northshore United FC)