Sun Palace wins; TanHoldings stays on top

Sun Palace notched back-to-back victories, while TanHoldings Football Club rolled to its third straight triumph after outclassing their respective opponents in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Sun Palace edged out the CNMI Women’s National Team in the curtain-raiser in Division B, 3-2, to gain its second win in three games. Young Ha Hwang, Dong Min Kim, and Sangpil Cheon delivered the goals for Sun Palace, which dropped its season debut (against Shirley’s last March 3) before barging into the win column with the victory over Pacific Islands Club last March 10. Sun Palace, PIC, and Shirley’s hold similar 2-0-1 win-draw-loss records after Week 3 of the competition, while the WNT has yet to get a victory in three matches.

Hwang put Sun Palace in the board in the 18th minute and their team posted a 2-0 advantage four minutes later, thanks to Kim’s shot. Lilian Podziewski then cut the deficit to one when she found the back of the net in the 37th minute. However, Cheon’s goal right in the 47th minute made it another two-point lead for Sun Palace, while the WNT scored the last goal in the match, courtesy of Guine Borja’s conversion in the 48th.

Meanwhile, TanHoldings FC kept its unbeaten record after downing Kanoa FC, 5-2.

Mark Esalan towed TanHoldings to its third win in as many games after scoring four goals, while Kaden Church registered the other goal for the division-leading squad.

Church’s shot in the 24th minute gave TanHoldings the lead, while Esalan upped their advantage to two six minutes later. It took a while before Kanoa managed to light up the board, as Andruw Omelau knocked one in with just four minutes left in the first half.

After clinging to a shaky lead at the break, TanHoldings pulled away behind Esalan whose second goal came in the 65th minute, while his last two were made in the 85th (off a penalty kick) and 88th. Terrance Evan Belcher posted the lone goal for Kanoa in the second half, as their team absorbed their second defeat in three matches.

NMI U18 4, Old B Bank 0
Also maintaining an unblemished record in Division A was the NMI Boys U18 National Team after it eased past Old B Bank.

Sunjoon Tenorio powered the NMI U18 to the blowout win with his three goals. His goal in the 42nd minute broke the NMI U18’s long silence and put the squad in the driver’s seat.

Then after a slow first half, the NMI U18 got into the groove in the second with Razeff Altamirano scoring in the 55th minute and Tenorio nailing back-to-back goals (70th and 76th) to complete his hat trick.

PIC 5, Shirley’s 4
Pacific Islands Club banked on a strong start to hand Shirley’s its first loss.

PIC zoomed to a 3-1 lead at the break after drawing goals from Floyd Muna, Albert Bergancia, and Bailey Spaeth in the fifth, 19th, and 33rd minute, respectively. Shirley’s got its only goal in the first half from Hojin Woo (25th minute). Woo went on to make two more in the second half (46th and 63rd) as he teamed up with Jerry Tan (who scored in the 63rd minute) in trying to bring Shirley’s back into the game. However, one goal apiece from Brandon Tenorio (47th minute) and Logan Mister (66th) gave PIC enough cushion to preserve the win.