MP United enters semifinals

Enrico del Rosario, left, seen here stepping in for defense during their game against Manila Soccer Academy last Tuesday, scored on a header against University of Batangas in their U17 division game in the 2014 Pilipinas Cup yesterday in at the Nuvali Evoliving Field in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. (Contributed Photo)

The club’s U17 squad sealed a seat in the Cup Playoffs after sweeping its pool play games in Group C. The Norman Del Rosario-coached team played back-to-back games yesterday and kept its perfect record (4-0) after dominating University of the Batangas in the morning match, 3-0, and Iriga City-USANT in the afternoon tiff, 5-1.

Tanapon Unsa drilled twin goals in MP United’s blanking of University of Batangas, including a corner kick in the first half, while Enrico Del Rosario recorded the other goal off a header right in the third minute of the match. MP United posted all three goals in the first frame and played relentless defense to shut down Batangas.

Before facing MP United, Batangas won its first three matches and was expected to give the Saipan-based team a run for its money. However, MP United proved to be ready for the challenge, as it attacked early in the game and stood its ground on defense all throughout the match to secure the shutout win.

After its morale-boosting win over the then unbeaten University of Batangas, MP United had more gas left on its tank, as it zoomed past Iriga City-USANT. Again, Unsa, who scored MP United’ s first two goals in their two previous victories, was unstoppable on offense, as he nailed a hat-trick against Iriga City. Jehn Joyner and Ryu Tanzawa registered the two other goals for MP United, which will face the formidable Ateneo De Manila University in the semifinals today. The other Cup Playoffs pairing will feature Far Eastern University Diliman and University of Batangas. Only the top team in each of the three pools gained semis entry, while the fourth Final Four berth was awarded to the second best team from the combined three groups.

Meanwhile, in the U14 division, MP United ruled Group A to march into the semifinals, too.

MP United’s 14 crew forced draws in its last two games to remain unbeaten in the five-team field. The club first drew FC Forza Academy, 0-0, in the morning match and then tied FC Nasugbu in the afternoon tiff, 1-1. Sun Joon Tenorio scored the equalizer for MP United, bringing his goals total so far to three.

Tenorio and company finished the pool play with a 2-2-0 win-draw-loss record for 8 points to place ahead of FC Nasugbu, which gained 5 points from its 1-2-1 card.

According to MP United U14 team manager Lydia Tan, the club is likely to face Don Basco College Canlubang in the semifinals.