CNMI pounds Macau, 7-0

The CNMI’s Emily Maxberry fights for possession against a Guam player during their game in the Preliminary Round 1 of the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup at the Guam Football Association Training Centre in Harmon last Sunday. The CNMI lost, but bounced back against Macau yesterday, 7-0. (Guam Football Association)

The CNMI’s female strikers went on attack more early, muffing several attempts in the first 18 minutes of play, but remained persistent and were rewarded with a barrage of goals in the remaining minutes of the one-sided match.

Midfielder Alexa Vergara drew first blood for the Commonwealth in the 19th minute, ending the CNMI’s frustrations, as Jeralyn Castillo and Megan Silberberger earlier made two attempts each and were unsuccessful, while Emily Maxberry hit a wide shot. Maxberry tried anew in the 28th minute and this time she converted the header, giving the CNMI a 2-0 lead.

The Luam Khen Koo-coached squad kept Macau’s defenders busy, as Jeralyn Castillo, Megan Silberberger, Maxberry, and Carrie Schuler each made one attempt in a bid to pad the CNMI’s lead. Macau’s defense stood out in the next 10 minutes and change, but not until it was Gabrielle White’s turn to kick the ball in, right into the closing minute of the first half. Race’s goal lifted the CNMI to a 3-0 halftime lead and the advantage ballooned in the second half, as Macau could not find a way to counter the Commonwealth’s attack.

With the CNMI getting three goals in the first 45 minutes of play, Macau was forced to relieve its starting goalie. However, the goalkeeper change could not prevent the Commonwealth belts from securing the blowout, as it continued to dominate possession in the second half, while complementing their impressive offensive game with a strong defense to shut out Macau.

Maxberry opened the CNMI’s scoring in the second half, thanks to Melody Johnson’s assist. Maxberry lit up the board in the 65th minute and eight minutes later, Silberberger finally found her target, widening the gap, 4-0. Jeralyn’s younger sister Jeraldine also got into the spree with her goal in the 81st minute, while Schuler earned her second goal in an international competition (she had one in a similar EAFF event a couple of years ago) after firing one under the four-minute stoppage time to complete the big victory.

The win was a fitting follow-up on the CNMI Men’s National Team’s 2-1 triumph over Macau last Wednesday. Both teams recorded their first victory in an EAFF-sanctioned tournament.

Maxberry, the Castillo sisters, Schuler, Silberberger, Vergara, Race, Mikky Vargas, Marielle Gariguez, Dianne Pablo, and goalkeeper Jhaneeka Atalig were the starters for the CNMI, while Michelle Masga and Johnson were the substitutes.