Strong debuts for Paire, TanHoldings

Paire Football Club and TanHoldings FC hammered their respective opponents in the opening week of the 2018 Fall M-League.

Paire played in the first game of the season last Thursday at the NMI Soccer Training Center and shut down The Old B Bank in their Division A tiff, 5-0. Former CNMI men’s national team member Chris Nelson knocked in a pair of goals for Paire, which drew one each from Brad Ruszala and Danny Agulto. Nelson scored in the 16th and 34th minute and was also credited with the assists on Ruszala’s conversion in the 44th. Agulto hit the board for Paire in the 47th minute and the winning team had its last in the 88th off an own goal.

In the other Division A game played at the Koblerville facility, TanHoldings pounded Matansa FC last Sunday, 7-0.

Mark Esalan did most of the damage for TanHoldings after firing four goals. He nailed TanHoldings’ first to goals after finding the back of the net in the third and ninth minute and then delivered the last two with his shots in the 50th and 52nd. John Michael Rojas, Joshua De Leon, and Razeff Altamirano added one goal apiece after scoring in the 17th, 21st, and 35th minute, respectively.

MP United FC also played last Sunday and nipped Kanoa, 4-3, at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

MP United was on target in the first half, making all its goals in the opening 45 minutes of play to gain cushion against Kanoa’s comeback bid in the second. Timothy Tawanpiy handed MP United its first goal right in the opening minute of the Division A match, while Skyler Poon made it a 2-0 advantage for their squad in the 11th minute. A goal from Aloy Angeles in the 30th minute widened the gap, while Michiteru Mita closed out for MP United in the second half with his conversion in the 39th.

Kanoa was able to counter with only one goal in the first half, courtesy of Jether Yobech’s shot. Yobech had another one just two minutes into the second half, while Ronnel Ocanada gave Kanoa its third goal in the 57th minute.

Meanwhile, Sun Palace had a winning debut at the Koblerville pitch after dominating Pacific Islands Club in their Division B game last Sunday, 6-1.

Alan Wong towed Sun Palace to victory after making a hat trick, which he posted in succession after hitting the board in the 39th, 62nd, and 74th minute. Sun Palace’s two other goals came from Ronald Cheung and Jun Liu in the 14th and 23rd, respectively, while the first one was off PIC’s miscue. Brandon Tenorio handed PIC its lone goal in the 48th minute.

In the other Division B game at the training center, Shirley’s FC and CNMI Women’s National Team engaged in a scoreless draw.