Kanoa-1, MP United boost title bids

MP United Football Club and Shirley’s FC players collide as they fight for possession during the second half of their boys U14 division game in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kana Football Club-1 and MP United moved closer to their respective division titles after recording similar wins in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday.

In the co-ed U12 division, Kanoa-1 defeated TanHoldings at the Hopwood Middle School Field, 5-2, while over at the Koblerville Elementary School Field for the boys U14 age group, MP United shut down Shirley’s FC, 3-0.

With the victory, Kanoa-1 now has a 7-0-1 win-draw-loss record to lead MP United (6-1-1), TanHoldings (3-1-4), Matansa (4-0-4), Paire (2-0-6), and Kanoa-2 (1-0-7). Kanoa-1 has two games left and needs a sweep to seal the fall season crown. The division leader will face Paire—the team that handed Kanoa-1 its lone loss so far this season—in its penultimate match this Saturday before battling MP United in another important game on Nov. 11.

Kanoa-1 boosted its title bid in the co-ed U12 division after drawing two goals each from Andrew Sablan and Markus Toves during their duel against TanHoldings. John Mark Anastacio contributed one goal for Kanoa-1, while John Anthony Bergancia and Mark Joseph Roque scored for TanHoldings.

In other results in the division, MP United routed Kanoa-2, 11-4, while Matansa edged Paire, 5-4.

MP United eased past Kanoa-2 behind the six goals of Andrew Chung. Richard Castro and Kristoffer Pascual chipped in two goals each, while Cody Shimizu added one. Edison Kay Viana made a pair for Kanoa-2, while Leland Isaiah Deleon Guerrero and Rommel Cadag posted the two other goals for the losing squad.

In the boys U14 division, MP United kept its distance against Matansa as the win against Shirley’s gave the former a 7-1-0 mark. Matansa is two wins behind MP United with its 5-1-2 slate.

Three different players scored in MP United’s victory with Rintaro Miyawaki hitting the board first and Rohan Basnet and Richard Steele following suit. MP United will secure the division title this season with a win over Paire (0-0-8) this Saturday, while the former will play its last game on Nov. 11 against Kanoa (2-0-6).

In other results in the division, TanHoldings (4-2-2) nosed out Matansa, 2-1, to move to No. 3 in the team standings, while Kanoa outclassed Paire, 7-2.

Taka Borja and Oliver Fajardo delivered the goals for TanHoldings, while Maui Johnson registered the lone goal for Matansa. In the Kanoa-Paire tiff, Merrick Toves fired four goals in the former’s easy win. Jhoey Noble chipped in two, while Luke Mersai tallied one. Blake Mister and Kaden Church scored for the winless Paire.