Local clubs hold the fort vs ZES FC

Kanoa Football Club players stay close on defense against a ZES FC striker during their game in the 2018 Spring Break Friendlies last Tuesday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field. (Contributed Photo)

Four local football clubs challenged the visiting ZES FC of Guam in a series of futsal matches last Sunday at the artificial turf at the TSL Sports Complex.

TanHoldings FC was the first to duel ZES FC 1 and rose to the occasion following a 3-1 victory. Three different players scored for TanHoldings to spoil ZES FC’s debut. The winning club drew goals from Anthony Bergancia, Ariel Narvaez, and Angelo Pulido. E.J. Manibusan made the lone goal for ZES FC 1.

Kanoa FC then picked up where TanHoldings left off, beating ZES FC 2, 3-1. Kanoa went at it right from the get-go after gaining a pair of goals from Markus Toves and one from Daniel Mar Pablo in the first half, while Riley Rama delivered the only goal for ZES 2.

Up next was the match between Southern United and ZES 1 with the latter taking an 8-0 triumph behind the hat-trick of Evan Flanajen.

For the fourth game in the series, it was Matansa versus ZES 2 and the local club held its own against the visiting team, forcing a draw, 1-1. J.R. Lopez drilled the equalizer, while Gavin Baker scored for ZES 2.

ZES 1 returned to the pitch and was handed a beating by Kanoa, 7-2. Toves anchored the demolition with his four goals, Devin Propst added two, and Pablo chipped in one. Raif Sablan knocked in one goal for ZES 1, which got its second goal off Kanoa’s miscue.

TanHoldings then duplicated Kanoa’s pair of wins when the former shut down ZES 2, 3-0. Bergancia made two goals in the victory, while Kaithlynn Chavez registered one.

The loss versus TanHoldings was ZES FC’s last, as the visiting group closed out the series with a 3-2 win over Matansa and 4-1 triumph against Southern United.

Meanwhile, ZES FC just won Game 1 of the finals against Kanoa (via penalty shootout) in the 2018 Spring Break Friendlies last Tuesday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field.

Kanoa had a twice-to-beat advantage in the title showdown after sweeping the preliminary games, including a 4-0 crushing of ZES FC. The deciding Game 2 was not played due to time constraints and organizers will still coordinate with the opposing clubs to resolve the finale.

TanHoldings and Matansa also played in the tournament and held their own against ZES FC, showing much improved skills and team chemistry against the off-island squad.