IFC, MP United complete semis cast

 Independents FC and MP United punched the last two semis tickets in the 2012 NMIFA Women’s Spring League after beating separate foes last Saturday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field.

MP United routed Tan Holdings FC in the first playoff game, 5-0, while IFC slipped past Matansa FC in the second match, 2-1, to join early semifinalists Shirley’s FC and Paire FC to the next round.

In the semis, which will be played this Saturday, IFC will take on Paire at 8:30am, while MP United will challenge Shirley’s at 10:30am. Both matches will be played at the Hopwood pitch. Shirley’s and Paire automatically marched into the Final Four after finishing in the Top 2 in the double-round robin regular season, while MP United and IFC were ranked third and fourth, respectively, and had to defeat the last finisher Tan Holdings and fifth-placed Matansa to remain in contention for the championship.

IFC boosted its chances for the women’s league title after recovering from a 0-1 halftime deficit. Matansa stunned the favored IFC with its aggressiveness on offense in the opening 45 minutes of the game and the former’s relentless effort was rewarded when Manami Tadokoro finally found the back of the net in the 29th minute.

Matansa continued to dominate possession in the remaining minutes of first half to keep the upper hand at the break.

At halftime, coach Greg Borja huddled with his wards at the shade and the mentor’s pep talk and short relief from the searing heat were all IFC players needed to bounce back.

Borja’s counterpart, Lee Epperson, also gave instructions to Matansa players, but they gathered under the heat of the sun at the sidelines and when the game resumed, exhaustion took its toll on them. It did not help that Matansa had a depleted roster for the must-win game, as only one player was available from the bench compared to eight more from IFC.

With the winded Matansa players trying to stay afloat in the second half, IFC’s Chuanthip Munthonglang found an opening on defense and made the equalizer just two minutes into the second period. Then six minutes later, it was Khankaew Boathiong’s turn to score for the go-ahead goal. IFC hung in there and capitalized on a worn-out Matansa crew to preserve lead and keep the win.

In the first playoff game, it was a one-sided affair for MP United, which drew twin goals from Kristle Ogbac and one each from three different players to shut out the hapless Tan Holdings FC.

Ogbac broke the ice just eight minutes into the first half and Amy Taylor made it a 2-0 advantage after lighting up the scoreboard, anew two minutes later. MP United went on to blank Tan Holdings FC at the break and stretched the lead to three after Ogbac got her second goal in the 54th minute. The fourth goal-from Michelle Masga-came early (56th minute), while the fifth and last, courtesy of Seong Hyun Lee, was made with still 20 minutes left in the match.

Meanwhile, winners of this Saturday’s semis will face off in the winner-take-all finale on June 16.