Tan Holdings, MPU duel in deciding matches tomorrow

Tan Holdings FC and MP United FC collide in title-deciding matches in the two divisions of the 2015 NMIFA Youth Fall League tomorrow.

A Tan Holdings FC player faces two Paire defenders during the first half of their U12A division game in the NMIFA youth fall league last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

In the U12 division, Tan Holdings and MP United will play their rained-out game last Oct. 17 this Saturday at 1pm at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. Coming into the final match of the shortened season, MP United holds a 4-0-1 win-draw-loss record for first place in the team standings of the four-squad field, while Tan Holdings is lurking behind at second place with its 3-0-2 mark.

An MP United win will give the team the division championship this fall, while a Tan Holdings victory will force a two-way tie for the lead. In case of a deadlock, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association general secretary Ross Zapanta said the two tied squads will have to duel in a playoff game to decide the season’s champion.

In the other U12 pairing for the final week of the division, Kanoa will take on Paire at the same time on the other pitch. Kanoa is currently in third place with its 2-0-3 mark, while Paire is at the bottom of the standings with its 1-0-4 slate.

In the boys U18 division, Tan Holdings and MP United are in the same situation as their U15 counterparts.

Tan Holdings owns a 5-0-0 mark in the double-round robin contest and could take the division championship if it beats MP United in their 4:15pm game at the Oleai Sports Complex Field. A loss will allow MP United (4-0-1) to match Tan Holdings record and again a playoff tiff will be scheduled to break the tie.

The two other teams in the boys U18 division—Matansa and Paire—will also play their Oct. 17 rained-out match tomorrow at 2:30pm.

Meanwhile, the boys U15 division has two more playing weekends, including this Saturday’s triple-header.

In the first game at the Oleai pitch, MPU meets Tan Holdings-2 at 8pm, while Tan Holdings-1 faces Paire in the second match at 10am. Over the Hopwood pitch, Kanoa challenges Matansa at 10am.

For the final week (Nov. 28) of the division, the Oct. 17 rained-out games will feature the following pairings: Matansa vs Tan Holdings-2; MP United vs Tan Holdings-1; and Shirley’s vs. Paire.

MP United and Tan Holdings-1 are on top of the team standings with their identical 4-0-0 record, followed by Paire (3-0-1), Kanoa (2-0-3), Matansa (1-0-3), Tan Holdings-2 (1-0-3) and Shirley’s (0-0-5).