MP United takes early lead in U17 division

Matansa, left, and MP United players’ arms get tangled as they chase the ball during the first half of their boys U17 game in the NMIFA youth league last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MP United Football Club made it two in a row in the boys U17 division of the 2016 NMIFA Youth Spring League following a 1-0 victory against Matansa FC last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

With the victory that came after MP United won its season debut against Tan Holdings, 3-0, the former got the solo lead in the five-squad field. Matansa dropped to second place with its 1-0-1 win-draw-loss record, followed by Tan Holdings (1-0-1), Paire FC (0-0-1), and Kanoa FC (0-0-1).

Sun Joon Tenorio handed MP United its second win in as many games after drilling the lone goal in the match in the 60th minute.

In the other game in the U17 division, Tan Holdings bounced back from its opening-game loss with an impressive 5-0 victory over Kanoa.
Alan Hinson capped Tan Holdings’ demolition of Kanoa after knocking in the last two goals in the match. He got his first in the 71st minute and the second six minutes later. Tan Holdings three other goals were recorded in the first half with Jonah Pohl breaking the ice in the 24th minute. Angelo Bergancia and Rico Reyes canned the next two, lighting up the board in the 36th and 39th minute, respectively.

BOYS U14
Tan Holdings 7, MP United 3
Tan Holdings was also triumphant in the boys U14 division after beating MP United at the Koblerville Elementary School Field.

Tan Holdings broke away in the second half after clinging to a 4-3 halftime edge. It opened a 3-0 advantage behind Joshua Waldo, Taka Borja, and Mark Esalan’s goals in the second, 11th, and 14th minute, while MP United ended its silence in the 22nd, thanks to Go Sekiguchi’s shot.

MP United went on to score two more goals with both of them coming from Rintaro Miyawaki (23rd and 34th minute) to remain in contention, while Tan Holdings got only one off Kirro Batino’s conversion in the 31st minute.

Another goal from Esalan two minutes into the second half gave Tan Holdings more breathing room and it widened the gap anew as Batino and Borja also earned their second goal, while MP United’s offense went cold in the last frame.

With Tan Holdings winning, it equaled MP United and Paire’s records (1-0-1).

Paire 8, Shirley’s 1
Paire barged into the win column after crushing Shirley’s.

The rout was a product of Paire’s team effort as it had five different players scoring against Shirley’s. Kaden Church and Blake Mister had a pair apiece, while Jamin Elliot, Robbie Schorr, and Raffy Lee contributed one each. Paire got an own goal off a miscue from Shirley’s Richard Waldo.

Matansa 2, Kanoa 1
Matansa notched its second win in as many games after slipping past Kanoa.

Matansa hit the board twice in the first half to gain enough cushion and take the early lead in the six-team field. Justin Charles Achas and Joshua Malig found the back of the net in the 26th and 31st minute to lift Matansa to a 2-0 halftime advantage.

A goal from Ian Karl Maniago in the 66th minute boosted Kanoa’s chances for a comeback, but Matansa hung tough on defense in the closing minutes to keep the driver’ seat and the victory.