Kanoa stays clean; MPU triumphs

Kanoa Football Club-1’s Rigel Devey kicks the ball during the second half of their co-ed U12A division game in the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kanoa Football Club crushed Shirley’s FC, while MP United FC got back at TanHoldings FC in the co-ed U12A division games in the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center.

Kanoa eased its way to a 9-1 triumph over the winless Shirley’s to remain undefeated after five matches in the three-round robin competition.

Paul Lizama jumpstarted Kanoa’s juggernaut after drilling three consecutive goals in the first half. He scored in the third, ninth, and 16th minute, while Isaiah Chargualaf and Taehun Han’s conversion in the 21st and 23rd, respectively, handed Kanoa a 5-1 halftime lead. Shirley’s drew its lone goal in the match from Jayvin Bisek, who hit the board in the 12th minute, while Kanoa was not done yet despite dominating the first half after delivering four more goals in the second. Tyler Omelau contributed a pair, while Han and Izeah Jolo chipped in one each.

In the other game in the division, MP United outclassed TanHoldings, 3-1, to avenge its first round loss (3-5).

Three different players scored for MP United with Moshe Sikkel finding his target in the eighth minute and Kelly McCallion and William Sosa doing the same in the 17th and 45th, respectively. TanHoldings averted a shutout loss after getting a goal from Morico Claridades in the 58th minute.

BOYS U15 DIVISION
TanHoldings 6, Shirley’s 3
TanHoldings moved up to third place in the team standings after downing Shirley’s in the curtain-raiser.

It was a come-from-behind win for TanHoldings, as Shirley’s was on top at the break, 3-1. Rakib Hassan made a pair for Shirley’s, while Gabriel Arkoh nailed the other goal for the squad in the first half before it collapsed in the second.

Mark Joseph Roque tallied TanHoldings’ only goal in the first half and added one more in the second, while four of his teammates also did their share in the comeback. Lowell Manalang, Kohtaro Goto, Oliver Fajardo, and Mark Joshua Roque scored in the 37th, 41st, 46th, and 52nd minute, respectively.

Matansa 12, Kanoa-2 1
Matansa made it to the win column after routing Kanoa-2.
Jose Rafael Lopez and Xun Wen Jin teamed up in Matansa’s demolition of the hapless Kanoa-2 after firing four goals apiece. Maui Johnson, Alex and Philip Megino, and Chan Yang Woo registered one goal apiece for the winning squad., while Allen Choi handed Kanoa-2 its only goal in the lopsided match.

Kanoa-1 3, MP United 1
Kanoa won the battle of the Top 2 teams and kept its perfect record in the division after prevailing against MP United.

Jaydee Jose powered Kanoa-1 to its fifth win in as many games after scoring in the 48th and 58th minute. Earlier in the 14th minute, Andrew Sablan found the back of the net to put Kanoa on top at the break, while Richard Steele broke MPU’s silence with his shot in the 40th.

BOYS U18 DIVISION
Kanoa 3, U15 NT 1
Kanoa also triumphed in the second boys U18 match last Friday.

Andruw Omelau earned two goals to lift Kanoa to victory over the CNMI U15 Boys National Team. Sebastian Manabat posted the other goal for Kanoa, which got its first win of the season.

The CNMI U15 Boys National Team’s only goal in the game was courtesy of Jim Maniago and the squad is still winless this season.

Matansa 4, TanHoldings 1
Matansa climbed to second place in the standings after defeating erstwhile leader TanHoldings.

Romel Mendoza gained two goals, while Jether Yobech and Raffy Lee chipped in one apiece for Matansa’s third victory.

TanHoldings was stuck to two wins and dropped to third spot, as only Mark Esalan scored last weekend.

MP United Football Club’s Kelly McCallion, right, is closely guarded by a TanHoldings FC player during their co-ed U12A division game in the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)