Fake Madrid, Bruv deliver in finale

Bruv’s John Michael Rojas, left, is up against the defense of CTSI Petmalu’s Mia Carreon, center, and Britanny Wally during their co-ed U18 title game in Saipan Soccer School’s 2018 Youth Futsal Tournament last Friday night at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Top-ranked Fake Madrid and Bruv did not disappoint as they prevailed in their respective title matches in Saipan Soccer School’s 2018 Youth Futsal Tournament last Friday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Fake Madrid, which entered last weekend’s finale unbeaten, kept its unblemished record following an 8-3 triumph over Betde United in their co-ed U15 championship game.

Kaden Church towed Fake Madrid to the title victory, as he made more goals than the combined output of Betde United. Church was on target in the second half, firing four goals to bring his total to five.

Before Church’s explosion, Rintaro Miyawaki started things off for Fake Madrid as the latter knocked in a pair of goals. Katrina Costales added one for Fake Madrid’s 4-1 halftime edge. Brandon Tenorio registered the lone goal for Betde United in the first half.

Then in the second half, Church showed up and toyed around with Betde United’s defense to lift Fake Madrid to the easy win. Betde United drew its two goals in the second half from Taka Borja.

Meanwhile, in the co-ed U18 division finals, Bruv edged out CTSI Petmalu, 4-2.

Bruv was also undefeated coming into the title match, making the team highly favored against CTSI Petmalu, which finished third after the elimination and had to pull off an upset against the second-ranked Suplex City to advance to the finals.

The underdog CTSI Petmalu then caught Bruv off guard early in the championship game when Mia Carreon scored. However, CTSI Petmalu failed to keep the shaky lead when John Michael Rojas answered late in the first half, which ended in a tie as both teams hung tough on defense.

Then in the second half, CTSI Petmalu goalie Ronnel Ocanada gambled on moving away from his post to pick up the ball, but James Ermitanio was quicker and kicked it in just before the former caught it.

Down by only one, CTSI Petmalu stayed in the match and continued to attack, hoping Bruv to commit a mistake on defense. Bruv did, as John Bucayo opted to chase the ball and leave his post, allowing Joshua De Leon to move in for the equalizer.

However, that was CTSI Petmalu’s last goal, while Eun Syu Hahn broke the deadlock with a cross in between two defenders and Gillian Villagomez also hit the board in the closing seconds of the finals to hand Bruv the title win.