Eats Easy takes title

Eats Easy’s Emil Schultz, center, takes care of the ball during the first half of their title match against Paire Football Club in the 8×8 NMIFA Winter Masters League 2019 last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

Eats Easy completed its perfect run in the 8×8 NMIFA Winter Masters League 2019 with a 5-3 finals victory over Paire Football Club last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Emil Schultz, who has been on Eats Easy’s roster even before the short competition started, showed up in the last day of the event and made the most of his one-and-done performance in the tournament, knocking all five goals in the championship game.

With Paire focusing on stopping league No. 1 scorer, Martin Jambor, Schultz had their opponent’s defense paying the price for it, as the latter scored at will to power Eats Easy to the title win. The former player of Inter Bratislava in Slovakia and Queen’s Park Rovers in Sydney, Australia delivered the first two goals in the match, opening up Eats Easy’s scoring in the 12th minute and getting his second just seven minutes later.

Paire then finally countered in the 25th minute, thanks to Patrick McCallion’s shot, to remain in contention. East Easy kept the shaky lead at the break after frustrating Paire’s repeated attempts to knot the count in the first half.

When the play resumed, Schultz picked up where he left off. At this time, Paire’s had already knew his reputations and tightened up its defense, but still the visiting player found a way to fire back.

Eats Easy players and their supporters pose with their trophy after beating Paire Football Club, 5-3, in the finals of the 8×8 NMIFA Winter Masters League 2019 last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

The former pro lit up the board anew in the 42nd minute for Eats Easy’s 3-1 advantage, but Paire refused to give up and got the next two goals in a bid to spoil Schultz’ s CNMI debut. Ajani Burrell’s shot less than a minute after Schultz’s third goal moved Paire within one, while McCallion nailed the equalizer in the 50th.

The match remained in a standoff for a while before Schultz saved the day for Eats Easy. He broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with the highlight goal of the game, as he zigzag his way past two Paire defenders before unloading the shot just a few yards inside the penalty area. The visiting player then sealed the deal for Eats Easy with his fifth goal in the 70th minute.

Eats Easy finished the Winter League unbeaten in five games, as it swept the round-robin play and topped Matansa in the semis before outclassing Paire in the finals.

Meanwhile, Los Viejos won the battle for third place after outgunning Matansa in a penalty shootout, 2-0.