Fake Madrid II, Kanoa Mighty Orange triumph

Kanoa Ali’I’s Jaydee Jose, right, tries to steal the ball from a Kanoa Mighty Orange player during the first half of their co-ed U12 division game in the 2016 SSS Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament last Monday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Fake Madrid II and Kanoa Mighty Orange gained two victories apiece in the co-ed U12 division of the 2016 Saipan Soccer School Christmas Youth Futsal Tournament after the first two days of competition at the TSL Sports Complex.

Fake Madrid II opened the hostilities in its age group last Monday and shut down Gene Weaver’s Team, 7-0, while Kanoa Mighty Orange topped Kanoa Ali’i in the second game, 6-2.

Rohan Basnet had a hat trick in Fake Madrid II’s demolition of Gene Weaver’s Team, while Kohtaro Goto and Rintaro Miyawaki contributed two goals apiece.

Markus Toves, Paulynn Joyce, and John Mark Anastacio also had two goals each in their first game in the division to hand Kanoa Mighty Orange the victory against Kanoa Ali’i. Jaydee Jose and Brian Lubao registered one goal apiece for the losing squad.

Kanoa Mighty Orange then got its second win as it defeated Gene Weaver’s Team yesterday, 6-3. This time, it was Merrick Toves who led the squad’s second win after firing three goals. Anastacio had another brace, while Merrick’s younger brother Markus chipped in one.

Sean Gil gave Gene Weaver’s Team’s two goals, while Leo Naraja recorded one.

Kanoa Mighty Orange played back-to-back games yesterday, but bowed to Fake Madrid II in the earlier match, 10-3, giving the latter the early lead in the four-team field.

Again, Basnet was on target, knocking in five goals, while Goto backed him up, logging four. Jeremiah Diaz also lit up the board once for Fake Madrid II, while Kanoa Mighty Orange drew two goals from Markus and one from Joyce.

The four teams competing in the co-ed U12 division will play in a double-round robin preliminary and all squad will advance to the single-elimination playoffs, which will have the No. 1 and 4 teams colliding for the first finals berth and the No. 2 and 3 battling for the remaining finals ticket.

In other results, in the last co-ed U16 match, Newcastle FC whipped Kanoa Ali’i, 16-0.

Mareko Tekopua hammered Kanoa Ali’i with his eight goals, while Guinevere Borja recorded four, and Diana Maniacop and Joshua Abrahan posted two apiece.

Seven teams are playing in the co-ed U16 division with Astig, Malo Fatu, Vetde, Evan FC, and Elite FC also on the list. The age group has a round-robin format in the elimination and only the Top 4 teams will advance to the playoff round, which will take place this Friday.

Three co-ed U16 division games were played yesterday and results of these tiffs, along with the morning matches today, will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition.