Kanoa rallies past Matansa

Jim Kurt Maniago, right, dribbles during one of Kanoa Football Club’s game in the spring season last year. Kanoa won its season debut in the boys U16 division match in the 2020 NMIFA Spring Youth League after edging Matansa Football Club, 3-2, last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Saipan Tribune)

Kansa Football Club averted a season debut loss after pulling off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Matansa Football Club in their boys U16 division game in the 2020 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Daniel Mar Pablo saved the day for Kanoa, as he delivered one of the three goals for the squad in the second half. Pablo’s conversion in the 53rd minute forced the deadlock, which he eventually broke when he found the back of the net anew in the 67th minute. Jaydee Jose scored the other goal for Kanoa, as he finally put the team on the board in the 36th minute after being shut down in the first half.

With Kanoa off to a rough start, Matansa managed to stun its favored foe in the first half, leading at 2-0. Gabriel Arkoh registered the pair of goals for Matansa with his first one coming early in the third minute and the second in the 18th.

Matansa then failed to hang on to the lead, as Pablo anchored Kanoa’s rally in the second half.

In the other match in the division, TanHoldings outclassed MP United, 3-1.

TanHoldings opened with a 2-0 advantage after the first half and remained on top, as MP United players continued to struggle on offense.

Kohtaro Goto gave TanHoldings an early goal in the fifth minute, while Oliver Fajardo made it two in row for the eventual winners after hitting his target in the 25th minute.

A shot from Andrew Chung in the 44th minute moved MP United within one, but TanHoldings got the goal back 18 minutes later, courtesy of Goto’s conversion.

GIRLS U17 DIVISION
MP United 6, Kanoa 2
Mauryzon Tybaco and Audrey Castro led MP United Football Club’s rousing start, as they teamed up in dominating Kanoa Football Club last weekend.

Tybaco and Castro scored three goals apiece, delivering the killer blows in the second half for MP United’s season debut win. Tybaco recorded the first goal in the match in the sixth minute and had back-to-back in the second half (37th and 61st minute). Castro, on the other hand, posted MP United’s last two goals in a span of three minutes (66th and 69th minute), while her first came in the 20th.

Kanoa got its pair of goals all in the second half with Donna Kapileo hitting the board in the 28th minute and Lynzey Green doing the same a minute later.

TanHoldings 4, Southern United 0
TanHoldings also notched an easy win in its first game of the season after blanking Southern United.

Four different players scored for TanHoldings with Rizza Relucio drawing first blood in the 28th minute. Tamia Hix, Katrina Costales, and Christina Atalig also found the back of the net for TanHoldings.