3-way title race in boys U14

TanHoldings FC’s Luis Claridades, left, and Kanoa FC’s Jaydee Jose battle for the ball during their boys U14 division game in the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Three teams are in for an interesting battle for the championship in the boys U14 division of the 2017 NMIFA Fall Youth League.

MP United Football Club is in the lead with its 4-2-0 win-draw-loss record and 14 points, but not far behind are Matansa FC and Shirley’s FC, which hold similar 4-1-1 marks.

MP United took the No. 1 spot from two-week leader Matansa after a 3-2 win last Saturday at the Koblerville Elementary School Field, while Shirley’s also prevailed in its Week 6 game, downing Paire FC, 5-3. Matansa, MP United, and Shirley’s all have four games left in the double-round robin competition and each match in the final half of the season is crucial in determining the three teams’ chances for the division title.

Rohan Basnet shoved MP United in front after scoring the winning goal against Matansa in the 59th minute. Rintaro Miyawaki posted the two other goals for MP United, making his first in the 23rd minute and the second four minutes later. Lolobeyong Benito registered the pair of goals for Matansa with his first tallied in the 15th minute and the last in the 37th.

In the Shirley’s-Paire tiff, the former built an early cushion en route to its fourth win in six games. Brandon Tenorio knocked in back-to-back goals (20th and 23rd minute), while Daniel Jay Duenas hit the board in the 23rd for Shirley’s 3-1 halftime lead.

Jon Villagomez recorded Paire’s lone goal in the first half with his shot in the 34th. Villagomez added one more in the 44th to threaten Shirley’s, but Rommel Mendoza countered in the 55th to give his team more breathing room. A minute later, Kaden Church scored to keep Paire in the game, but not for long, as Tenorio gave Shirley’s the insurance in the 62nd minute for a hat trick.

Meanwhile, TanHoldings improved its record to 2-2-2 for fourth place in the team standings after edging Kanoa, 2-1. Taka Borja and Oliver Fajardo delivered the goals for TanHoldings, while Brian Lubao scored for Kanoa.

BOYS U17
MP United 16, Paire 0
MP United kept the lead in the division after crushing Paire at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

Dai Podziewski, Sunjoon Tenorio, and Skyler Poon registered three goals apiece for MP United, which had four other players finding the back of the net in their lopsided win over Paire. MP United now has a 6-1-1 record to maintain its distance against Matansa (5-0-2) and TanHoldings (4-2-1).

Matansa 7, Kanoa 1
Matansa also earned an easy win against Kanoa.

Louie Calayag and Joshua De Leon logged two goals each to lift Matansa to its fifth win. Ronnel Ocanada, Brandon Delos Reyes, and Jether Yobech contributed one goal apiece, while Kanoa averted a shutout loss—thanks to Ian Karl Maniago’s shot.

TanHoldings 5, NDA 1
TanHoldings remained in contention for the division title after downing the National Developing Academy in last weekend’s final game.

Five different players scored in TanHoldings’ fourth victory with Mareko Tekopua starting things out for the squad in the 32nd minute. Jonathan Capayas followed suit five minutes later, while Emmanuel Aniana, Mark Esalan, and John Michael Rojas delivered in the 55th, 65th, and 67th minute. Joshua Galarion tallied the lone goal for NDA.