Last-second goal lifts MPU past Kanoa

MP United U12A’s Rohan Basket dribbles past a Kanoa U12 defender on his way to scoring the winning goal in their title victory in the 2016 FA Boys and Girls Challenge Cup last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MP United Football Club’s co-ed U12A team escaped with a thrilling 1-0 win over Kanoa FC U12A to rule the 2016 FA Boys and Girls Challenge Cup last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field.

Rohan Basnet made the dagger in the last 30 seconds of the closely fought finale. The winning shot came after Jaydee Jose hit a back kick past midcourt with the ball landing in from of Basnet and Jim Maniago, who also went for the kick. Basnet then chased the ball after his shot and had two Kanoa defenders running after him as he dribbled toward the right center defense before unloading a shot that rolled to the right corner of the goal post past the hands of Kanoa keeper Merrick Toves.

After Basnet’s conversion, Kanoa was left with a little time to attempt for an equalizer, which did not came, as MP United held its defense, preventing its foe from getting clear possessions in the dying seconds of the match.

MP United was awarded the perpetual trophy after the tough win. It was the club’s third title victory since the inception of the annual tournament in 2011. MPU’s second championship came in 2013 and all three titles were from the squad’s U12 crew. Matansa’s girls U15 team topped last year’s tournament, while Paire was the champion in 2014 and the former’s U12 squad ruled the 2012 competition.

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association general secretary Ross Zapanta presented the perpetual trophy to MP United, its coaches Chris Aninzo and Joshua Abragan and manager Randy Steele. Joining Basnet on the champion squad were goalie Richard Steele, Fiona Bucalig, Andrew Chung, Jeremiah Diaz, Julianne Hall, Akira Kadokura, Dylan Kim, Jerrick Quimzon, and Rintaro Miyawaki,

Earlier under the last two-minute mark of the title match, Miyawaki let go of a similar shot near the same spot, but his attempt went wide to the right. However, MP United kept trying and this time its persistence paid off as Basnet’s kick rolled in.

MP United advanced to the finals and foiled an all-Kanoa title duel after beating the latter’s girls U15 team, 1-0. Andrew Chung posted the winning goal for Kanoa as he found the back of the net in the 18th minute. Kanoa U12A, on the other hand, needed a penalty shootout to oust Shirley’s FC girls U15 in the other semis pairing, 4-1.

Kanoa U15 went on to settle for the third place honors after downing Shirley’s U15 in the consolation match, 3-0. Britanny Wally, Rushell Valino, and Paulynn Grace Joyce knocked in one goal apiece for Kanoa U15.

In the elimination round matches, MPU’s girls U15 team defeated MPU U12B, 3-1, to force a quarterfinal showdown against Kanoa U12. Gillian Villagomez had a pair of goals, while Grace Choi added one in the victory. MPU U12B drew its lone goal from Sean Gill.

In other results, Jasmine Phan’s goal in the 20th minute lifted Shirley’s U15 past Paire’s girls U15, while Kanoa U12 got goals from Jose and Maniago to boot out MPU U15 and move into the semis on the west side of the draw.

On the east side, MP United marched into the semis after blanking Paire U12. Miyawaki drilled the two goals for the eventual champion. Tan Holdings U12 also tallied two goals—one each from Anthony Bergancia and Angelo Pulido—to eliminate Shirley’s U12, which logged only one, courtesy of William Celeste.

Tan Holdings U12 was then pitted against Kanoa U15, which got a lucky break in its 2-1 quarterfinal victory. Kanoa made it to the board of two own goals in the second half, while Tan Holdings’ lone conversion came from Bergancia in the 23rd minute.