CNMI bows to Australia in AFC qualifier

CNMI U19 Women’s National Team assistant coach Jimmy Tang supervises the squad’s drills during a training session at the Oleai Sports Complex Field late last month. The CNMI players are in Nanjing, China, competing in the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

World-ranked Australia handed the CNMI U19 Women’s National Team a 16-0 beating during the opening game in Group A of the AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers last Wednesday at the Jiangsu Training Base Stadium in Nanjing, China.

The Aussies took the win right away at the end of the first half, leading 11-0, before the Commonwealth players regrouped defensively and limited the production of their heavily favored opponents.

“During the first half the girls were a bit overwhelmed by the hard pressure that Australia was giving. Australia is definitely a much stronger, skilled, and experienced team. They switch the ball from left to right very quickly and accurately so organizing our defensive unit was difficult to do. Our messy defense plus the difference in our physical strength compared to theirs cost us many goals in the first half,” team manager Mikky Vargas said in an email sent to Saipan Tribune.

With the Land Down Under bets pulling away, the CNMI’s coaching staff, led by Luam Khen Koo, had a pep talk with the players and necessary defensive adjustments were made.

“During half time, the coaches encouraged the girls and corrected them on their mistakes. Afterwards, the girls did an amazing job in the second half. It was as if a different team was playing. Their defense was organized and they started communicating. Though the girls were tired, they stayed disciplined. What made it hard for Australia to penetrate during the second half was our constant covering after one person was beaten, thus saving us many goals. The coaches set a goal of allowing no more than six goals for the second half,” Vargas said.

After the big improvement in the second half, one of the team’s assistant coaches—Jimmy Tang—commended the CNMI players.

“We are nothing. No ranking. Not even zero. We are below zero. They are ranked No. 7 in the world. In 45 minutes (second half) only five goals were scored. Between the two teams, who did the better job? Someone should put that in a plaque,” Tang was quoted as saying during a huddle with the team.

The Commonwealth’s tenacious defense against Australia in the second half cost them two players with goalie Chevy Kate Alipio spraining her deltoid and injuring her ankle and Samantha Manacop suffering from asthma attack. Both players are now fine and recovering.

Manacop and Alipio started out for the CNMI along with Elaine Enriquez, Krizel Tuazon, De Jana Muna, Lyka Sally, Pinyarat Shankweiler, Bernadette Horey, Chloe Salvosa, Diana Maniacop, and captain Dianne Pablo. Anela Duenas and Carla Ballesteros also played against the Aussies, replacing Manacop and Alipio in the final half.

The CNMI players took a break yesterday and will play their last match in the qualifier today against Jordan at 4pm (6pm Saipan time). Jordan and Australia will then close the Group A qualifier on Sunday, and the top finisher in the group will advance to the finals along with the winners in three other pools.