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CNMI needs to win last two matches
Members of the CNMI Boys U16 National Team’s starting unit against Tuloy gather for a photo before challenging the hosts in the Inaugural Tuloy XO Cup last Wednesday in Alabang, Philippines. (Contributed Photo)
The CNMI Boys U16 National Team is pressed to sweep its last two games in the elimination round of the Inaugural Tuloy XO Cup to make it to the title match this Sunday.
The Teen Ayuyus hold a 2-1 record going into the final day of the elims, missing on their bid for a perfect record after losing to Makati Football Club, 1-4, yesterday at the Tuloy XO Field in Alabang, Philippines. Today, the CNMI U crew will face Don Bosco Technical College Cebu in the first game at 8am and then will end the round-robin tournament with a collision against Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong at 2pm. Chelsea vs MFC, Tuloy vs LSS, and MFC vs Don Bosco Cebu are the other crucial pairings on Day 3 of the tournament.
Two victories today will ensure the Michiteru Mita-coached squad one of the Top 2 spots in the team standings and a ticket to the finals. A split means the Teen Ayuyus’ finals chances will depend on the standings of the other teams.
Meanwhile, Rintaro Miyawaki also scored in the CNMI’s 5-1 victory over Tuloy in their second game in the opening day. The forward, who had a brace in the Teen Ayuyus’ 4-1 triumph over Luen Thai Soccer School last Wednesday, hit the board in the 24th minute of their match against the host off a follow-up from a missed attempt by John Michael Rojas.
Miyawaki’s goal came after Joshua Waldo drew first blood for the CNMI in the fourth minute, giving their team a 2-1 halftime lead. Tuloy got its first goal in the 15th minute off a controversial non-offside call.
Razeff Altamirano then made it a 3-1 advantage for the visitors when he also went for a follow up from a corner kick in the 32nd minute. For the Teen Ayuyus’ fourth goal, it came from a drive from Kirt Andon, while the fifth and last was courtesy of Kaden Church.
