Round 9 of League III Season 2026 produced several important results in Group A, including a huge victory for Toronto FC at the top of the table and a number of tight battles involving teams fighting for the playoff positions.
With 50 rounds in the season, Round 9 is still relatively early, but the promotion race is beginning to take shape. Remember, 1st place earns automatic promotion to League II, while 2nd–9th qualify for the promotion playoffs. 10th qualifies for the Friendly Cup, while 11th–12th qualify for the King's Cup. There is no relegation from the bottom positions.
🇨🇦 Toronto FC 5–4 Dynamo Moscow
The match of the round was an incredible nine-goal thriller as Toronto FC defeated Dynamo Moscow 5–4.
Toronto entered the match ranked 1st, and despite conceding four goals, they held on for three enormous points. The victory allows Toronto to maintain their position at the summit and strengthens their claim to the automatic promotion spot.
Dynamo Moscow, who entered in 25th, showed plenty of attacking quality but once again struggled defensively. They remain outside the playoff picture and have plenty of ground to make up.
🇨🇦 Atlético Ottawa 3–2 FC Akron Tolyatti
Atlético Ottawa came away with a valuable 3–2 victory against FC Akron Tolyatti.
Ottawa entered the match in 24th, so this is a major result for a team attempting to climb away from the bottom of Group A. Akron, who began the round in 9th, suffered a costly defeat that could have consequences in the battle for the playoff places.
For Akron, the priority now is to recover quickly and avoid slipping further away from the top nine.
🇳🇱 AZ Alkmaar 2–1 ASCE La Linguère
AZ Alkmaar picked up three important points with a 2–1 win over ASCE La Linguère.
AZ entered Round 9 in 22nd place, meaning the victory could be a springboard for a climb up the table. La Linguère, ranked 19th, also had an opportunity to move toward the middle of the standings but came away empty-handed.
Both clubs remain outside the promotion playoff positions.
🇳🇱 Excelsior Rotterdam 3–3 AS Dakar Sacré-Coeur
One of the biggest surprises of the round came at Van Donge & De Roo Stadium, where Excelsior Rotterdam held AS Dakar Sacré-Coeur to a 3–3 draw.
Dakar entered the match in 2nd place and was one of the leading promotion contenders. Dropping two points against 26th-place Excelsior could prove costly in such a competitive race.
Excelsior, meanwhile, earned a confidence-boosting point despite remaining at the bottom end of the table.
🇳🇱 SC Heerenveen 4–1 Casa Sports
SC Heerenveen delivered one of Round 9's most convincing victories, defeating Casa Sports 4–1.
Heerenveen entered in 21st, while Casa Sports began the round in 20th. The three points are therefore particularly valuable for Heerenveen as they attempt to move up the standings.
Casa will need to bounce back quickly after suffering a heavy defeat.
🇷🇺 PFC CSKA Moscow 2–3 Raja
Raja continued its push toward the playoff places with an excellent 3–2 away victory over PFC CSKA Moscow.
Raja entered the match in 8th, already occupying a playoff position. Taking three points against 12th-place CSKA strengthens their position inside the top nine.
CSKA, meanwhile, remain close to the playoff battle but missed an opportunity to move higher.
🇵🇪 Pirata FC 3–2 Coquimbo Unido
Pirata FC defeated Coquimbo Unido 3–2 in another entertaining contest.
Pirata entered Round 9 in 6th place, so the victory keeps them firmly inside the promotion playoff zone. They are becoming an important part of the battle among the leading clubs.
Coquimbo, who began the round in 5th, suffered a disappointing defeat and could lose ground on the teams above them.
🇨🇱 Audax Italiano 2–1 Cobresal
Audax Italiano secured a 2–1 victory over Cobresal.
Audax entered the match in 7th place, so the three points are extremely important for maintaining a position inside the playoff places.
Cobresal, ranked 10th, was attempting to move into the top nine. Instead, the defeat leaves them fighting to protect their Friendly Cup position while continuing to chase the playoffs.
🇨🇱 Deportes Iquique 2–4 Viking FK
Viking FK produced one of the round's biggest statements by defeating Deportes Iquique 4–2 away from home.
Iquique entered the match in 3rd place, while Viking began in 4th, making this a massive top-four showdown.
Viking's four-goal performance gives them a huge three-point boost in the promotion race. Iquique, meanwhile, will be disappointed after conceding four goals in a match that could have strengthened their position near the top.
This could be one of the most important results of Round 9.
🇨🇱 Palestino 3–2 FC Köln
Club Deportivo Palestino claimed a 3–2 win over FC Köln.
Palestino entered the round in 17th, just outside the playoff race, while Köln was 15th. The victory gives Palestino valuable momentum as they attempt to close the gap on the top nine.
Köln, meanwhile, missed a chance to move toward the playoff positions.
🇧🇴 Chaco Petrolero 2–1 FC Union Berlin
Chaco Petrolero continued its positive run with a 2–1 victory over FC Union Berlin.
Chaco entered the match in 11th, meaning the three points are particularly important. They are now knocking on the door of the playoff positions and could soon challenge for a place in the top nine.
Union Berlin, ranked 23rd, remains in the lower part of Group A.
🇨🇳 Shandong Luneng Taishan 2–2 RB Leipzig
Shandong Luneng Taishan and RB Leipzig played out a 2–2 draw.
Shandong entered in 16th, while Leipzig was 18th. Neither side was able to secure the three points needed to make a major move up the standings.
The result keeps both clubs outside the playoff positions and leaves them needing stronger runs in the coming rounds.
🇨🇳 Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 3–2 Defence Force
Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao finished the round with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Defence Force.
Guangzhou entered in 14th place, while Defence Force was 13th, making this another important mid-table battle.
The win gives Guangzhou three points and keeps their promotion playoff ambitions alive. Defence Force, meanwhile, will be disappointed after losing a match against a direct competitor.
📊 Round 9 Promotion Race
After nine rounds, the fight for the top nine playoff positions is becoming increasingly competitive.
Toronto FC remain the team to beat at the top, and their 5–4 victory ensures that the automatic promotion position remains firmly within their grasp. Behind them, teams such as AS Dakar Sacré-Coeur, Viking FK, Deportes Iquique, Pirata FC, Coquimbo Unido, Audax Italiano, Raja and FC Akron Tolyatti are all involved in the battle for playoff places.
The biggest winners of the round include Toronto FC, Viking FK, Raja, Pirata FC, Audax Italiano, Chaco Petrolero and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.
The biggest setbacks came for AS Dakar Sacré-Coeur, Deportes Iquique, Coquimbo Unido and FC Akron Tolyatti, all of whom entered Round 9 in or around the playoff positions.
With 41 rounds still to play, nothing is settled yet. But Round 9 has shown that the promotion race is going to be extremely competitive, with even the leading clubs vulnerable to dropped points.
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