Ehime completes sweep of exhibition games

  Japan’s Ehime University proved to be a tough nut to crack for the CNMI.

The visiting school’s senior team swept its exhibition games here, capping it by defeating the CNMI Team, 8-0, last Tuesday night at the Oleai Sports Complex Field. Last week, Ehime’s junior squad crushed the CNMI Team, 7-0, and a selection of players from various local clubs, 22-0.

Ehime’s senior squad may not be as explosive as the junior team, but the former’s players positioned themselves well on the pitch and were faster and more aggressive than the hosts to cruise to the easy win despite having only 11 players and no coach.

Ken Takiguchi anchored Ehime’s offense with his five goals, while Takahiro Kondo and Mochiko Kimura added two and one, respectively.

Kondo got things going for the visitors when he attacked the right side of the box and was fouled by Brad Ruszala. The Japanese made the penalty kick to light up the scoreboard in the 23rd minute.

Takiguchi made it a 2-0 lead four minutes later when he canned his first goal from the center of the box against two CNMI defenders. Then two minutes before the first half ended, Takiguchi got his second goal to give Ehime a 3-0 halftime lead. The visitors dominated possession in the first half, denying the CNMI scoring opportunities.

In the second half, Ehime continued to keep the ball on its side most of the time and though it made inaccurate passes, they were long ones and the visitors managed to chase the ball and create scoring chances. Ehime often attacked from the weak side (left wing), catching CNMI defenders off guard.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Takiguchi earned his third goal after CNMI goalie Johann Noetzel dove for the ball twice and failed to prevent Ehime from scoring. Ehime’s play started with Kondo streaking from the left wing and kicking the ball. Noetzel then went to his right for a save, but the ball bounced off his hands and toward Takiguchi’s side, who went for the kick, while the CNMI keeper was still on the ground and scored.

Four minutes later, Ehime upped the lead to five when Kondo attacked from the right side and Noetzel decided to help out on defense and leave his post. Before Noetzel and his teammates collided with a driving Kondo, the Japanese had already made a shot and Raphael Zapanta was the last line on defense and failed to kick the ball out.

Ehime scored three more goals in the remaining 28 minutes of the match with the sixth goal coming off a penalty shot from Takiguchi, who also made a header two minutes before the game ended. Kimura had the last say in the game when he broke away from the CNMI’s defense and connected on a goal from the left side of the box against goalie Evan Hunsberger.