Shirley’s FC-1 takes solo Division B lead

A Shirley’s FC-1 player, right, steps in on defense while a Kanoa FC striker gets ready to kick the ball during the second half of their Division B game in the M-League last Sunday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s Football Club-1 is now alone at the top spot in the team standings in Division B of the M-League following a 1-0 victory over Kanoa FC last Sunday at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

Shirley’s-1 is still undefeated this season, holding a 5-1-0 win-draw-loss record to lead Shirley’s-2 (4-1-1), Kanoa (3-2-1), Korean Football Association (3-2-1), Sun Palace (2-1-3), Matansa (1-1-4), Women’s National Team (1-0-5), and the Thundercats (0-2-4).

Alvin Takai made the winning goal for the division leader as he hit his target in the 33rd minute.

In other Division B results, Shirley’s-2 edged Sun Palace, 2-1, to lurk behind Shirley’s-1. Dhiraj Chhetri and Louis Ryu scored for Shirley’s-2 with the former finding the back of the net in the fifth minute and the latter knocking in the go-ahead goal in the 36th minute. Qiwei Wang nailed the lone goal for Sun Palace in the 15th minute.

Duplicating Shirley’s-2’s close win was KFAS, which slipped past Matansa, 2-1.

Dong Gu Lee handed the victory to KFAS with his goal in the second half. Edwin Kim logged the other goal for KFAS in the first half, while Kamrul Kamrul registered the equalizer for Matansa, also in the first frame.

In last Saturday’s Division B game, the Women’s National Team finally broke into winning column after downing the Thundercats, 4-1.

Irish Pagarao recorded a hat trick in WNT’s first victory of the season, while Jeralyn Castillo hit the other goal for the pool. Don Cabrera scored the only goal for the Thundercats, which are still winless in six games to remain at the bottom of the team standings.

In Division A, the CNMI National Boys U18 Team regained the lead in its group after dominating Kanoa FC, 6-1.

Sunjoon Tenorio fired three goals, while Thaiphi Austria, Jonah Pohl, and Anthony Fruit contributed one apiece to give the Teen Ayuyus a 5-0-1 mark. Tenorio and company are ahead of MP United (4-1-1), TanHoldings (4-0-2), Paire/Hawaiian Rock (2-0-4), Kanoa (1-1-4) and Sun Palace (1-0-5).

Austria lit up the board first for the Teen Ayuyus with his shot in the 11th minute, while Tenorio had back-to-back goals, scoring in the 13th and 25th before completing the hat trick in the 52nd. Pohl and Fruit had their goals in the 33rd and 53rd minute, respectively, while Kanoa’s lone goal came from Daiki Monzen in the 29th minute.

In other results, TanHoldings won over Paire/Hawaiian Rock, 5-3, while MP United got a free victory (via forfeiture) against Sun Palace.

Martin Jambor and Sean Perez knocked in a pair of goals for TanHoldings, while Mareko Tekopua chipped in one. Yuya Kunimune posted all three goals for Hawaiian Rock.