Two in a row for Teen Ayuyus

Coach Michiteru Mita gives instructions to the CNMI Boys U18 National Team players during the halftime break in their training match against Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong U18 last Tuesday night at Tuen Mun Sports Ground in Hong Kong. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI Boys U18 National Team made it back-to-back following a 2-0 triumph over Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong U18 last Tuesday night at Tuen Mun Sports Ground.

Starters Sunjoon Tenorio and Sebastien Manabat scored against Chelsea FC to hand the Teen Ayuyus another win. The visiting team edged Kitchee Sports Club U8, 1-0, last Monday night at the Mong Kok Stadium for a good start in their five-day, three-training match camp in the former British colony.

With just a day to recover after a tough match versus Kitchee and prepare against another highly competitive team in Chelsea FC U18, the Teen Ayuyus surprisingly had lots of gas left on their tank to win their second training match.

Manabat put the CNMI on the board in the 34th minute after he sent a hard cross in the penalty box and the shot was deflected by a Chelsea defender and went into the goal. Tenorio made it a 2-0 count nine minutes later as he battled a Chelsea player for the possession and won the fight en route to scoring past their opponent’s goalkeeper.

“The match started on a high note and ended even higher with our consecutive win. I would say the team is much more confident, trust among the players is growing on the pitch and it reflected in their play,” team manager Ruselle Zapanta said.

“The boys were moving the ball much better, building up play from the back and trying to create chances moving forward. Possession of the ball felt quite even between the two teams as they played end to end soccer. Movement as a unit improved and individual players were going into their tackles with confidence, allowing the team to regain possession in key areas,” he added.

Chelsea HK players tried their best to break the ice and prevent the CNMI bets from getting win No. 2, but the former simply could not penetrate the Teen Ayuyus’ defense.

“The Chelsea boys were no doubt just as skilled or better than our boys as they tried to put the ball over our defenders but the unity of the players was tough to breakdown,” Zapanta said.

The team manager also noted that no CNMI player got injured during the one-hour match and they were free from cramps. Last Monday, starter Thaiphi Austria had to be relieved in the second half due to a calf injury, while Joshua De Leon is still nursing an ankle injury.

Joshua Abragan, who scored the goal in the Teen Ayuyus’ victory over Kitchee, started anew for the squad in their game versus Chelsea and was joined in the first 11 by Tenorio, Manabat, John Michael Rojas, Anthony Fruit, James Ermitanio, Eun Syu Hahn, Hark Galarion, Ryan Relucio, Dai Podziewski, and goalie Christopher Aninzo. Kirt Andon, Joshua Mendez, and Jonathan Capayas were the substitutes.

Meanwhile, the CNMI crew will close out their series of training matches today when they face the All Blacks—an adult team that has players who suited up or are still with Hong Kong’s professional squads. Yesterday, the Teen Ayuyus had a team-building and sightseeing activity.

“Our fourth day here was for team building and finally some recreation for the boys. The coaches have devised a race/competition for the boys. With the team in good spirits and I am sure feeling even better at the end of the game against Chelsea, hopefully we can come up with a great result against our toughest opponent in this trip—the All Blacks. We hope to end the camp without a loss,” Zapanta said.