First season win for KFAS

Matansa Football Club, left, and Korean Football Association on Saipan players get tangled up as they fight for the ball during the second half of their Division A game in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Korean Football Association on Saipan finally broke into the win column this season following an 8-2 triumph over Matansa Football Club in the Division A game in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Junsik Kim towed KFAS to its first win after scoring four goals. He drilled all four in the first half to lift KFAS to a 5-1 advantage. The striker had back-to-back for his team after hitting the board in the ninth and 28th minute, while his last two were also in consecutive fashion—33rd and 35th. Bada Lee recorded the other goal for KFAS in the first half with his shot in the 30th minute, while Matansa’s lone goal was courtesy of Jacob Montes-Sabino in the 15th minute.

In the second half, two other KFAS players scored with Juan Oh making a pair (77th and 82nd minute) and Scott Kim firing one in the 67th. Again, Matansa countered with only one goal, which came from Kamrul Kamrul in the 82nd minute.

While KFAS finally snapped its losing skid, Matansa’s struggle this season continued, as it absorbed its sixth defeat in as many games.

NMI U18 4, Paire 1
The CNMI Boys U18 National Team won the battle of the Top 2 squads in the division.

Sunjoon Tenorio knocked in a pair of goals, while John Michael Rojas and Sebastien Manabat added one each for the NMI U18, which is still undefeated after six matches. Daniel Agulto delivered the lone goal for Paire, which absorbed its first loss of the season.

Before bowing to the NMI U18, Paire notched its fifth victory last April 11 after outclassing Kanoa, 5-3.

Agulto had a hat trick in that triumph, scoring in the 18th, 42nd, and 72nd minute, while Joe Miller and Alan Gudino hit the board in the 54th and 84th, respectively.

Kanoa’s three goals all came from Andruw Omelau, who got his first in the 24th minute and then completed penalty kicks in the 66th and 76th.

Old B Bank 4, TanHoldings 1
The Old B Bank gave Japanese player Dan Ito a win in his very short stint in the league.

Ito, who played in 22 countries in Asia and the Pacific, suited up for the Old B Bank and got a brief taste of Saipan football, teaming up with Hwapyoung Kim and Kosuke Sato in handing their squad the victory.

The former J League player scored the Old B Bank’s last goal (86th minute), while Kim registered two (15th and 36th ) and Sato added one in the 67th for their team’s third win.

Mark Esalan posted the lone goal for TanHoldings.