Matansa moves on top

Matansa Football Club and Shirley’s FC players exchange high-fives after their U11 game at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Matansa Football Club jumped to the No. 1 rankings in the team standings in the boys U15 division of the 2018 NMIFA Fall Youth League after easing past Shirley’s Football Club, 6-1, last Friday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Lolobeyong Benito towed Matansa to the lopsided win after making three goals. His goal in the 11th minute kicked things off for Matansa and he completed the hat trick in the second half after scoring in the 46th and 56th minute.

Razeff Altamirano added two goals for Matansa with his first one recorded in the 52nd minute and the last in the 60th. Romel Mendoza also hit the board in the second half (50th minute) to hand Matansa a 2-1-0 win-draw loss record for the top spot in the standings of the five-team field. Shirley’s, which drew its lone goal from Josh Joson in the second half, fell to a 0-0-2 slate and is at the cellar behind MP United (1-1-1), TanHoldings (1-0-1), and Kanoa (1-0-1).

In the other U15 division match last Friday, Kanoa notched its first win this season after beating MP United, 2-0.

Ian Maniago canned the pair of goals for Kanoa, registering his first in the fifth minute and the second in the 27th.

In other results last weekend, MP United and TanHoldings are tied for the early lead in the boys U18 division.

MP United outclassed Matansa last Saturday, 3-1, for a 2-0-0 record. MP United got one goal each from Anthony Fruit and Oliver Lee, who scored in the 74th and 76th minute, respectively. MP United was earlier credited with an own goal in the 68th minute, while David Mafnas gave Matansa its only goal in the game when he found his target in the 77th minute.

TanHoldings duplicated MP United’s 2-0-0 record after edging Kanoa, 2-1.

Mark Esalan hit the dagger for TanHoldings with about a minute left in the close match. He also posted the winning squad’s first goal in the fourth minute, while Andruw Omelau put Kanoa on the board in the 49th minute.

Meanwhile, there will be no games in the boys U18 and U15 and co-ed U13A divisions tomorrow, as Northern Mariana Islands Football Association is preparing for the Marianas Cup that will take place this Sunday at the training center. Only the girls U16 squads will play this Saturday and matches will be held at the Koblerville Elementary School Field.