MP United, Matansa triumph

Paire Football Club’s David Duenas, left, beats MP United’s Jonathan Capayas to the ball during the second half of their title game in Division A of the 2018 Spring M-League last Sunday at the Hopwood Middle School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MP United Football Club and Matansa clinched the title in their respective divisions in the 2018 Spring M-League last Sunday.

Matansa was the first to be crowned champion after shutting down Shirley’s FC, 3-0, in the Division B finale at the Koblerville Elementary School Field. In Division A, MP United needed an extra time to pull off a 1-0 triumph over Paire FC at the Hopwood Middle School Field.

Louie Calayag delivered the dagger for MP United, making the goal with just two minutes left in the first half of the overtime.

With the title on the line, the MP United-Paire duel featured a lot of physical plays, as neither team wanted to give their opponent’s an inch, resulting in a scoreless game at the end of the regulation.

Then in the extra time, MP United finally found a way to trick the pesky defense of Paire when Joel Fruit went for a corner kick and Calayag beat all the players who jumped into the play, converting a diving header.

Meanwhile, Matansa had an easier finals win in Division B despite playing with only an 11-man roster.

Amzad Khan, Jacob Montes-Sabino, and Al-Amin Fnu stepped up in the title game to foil Shirley’s’ bid for an upset. Coming into the winner-take-all finale, Shirley’s was hoping to ride on the momentum of its 13-1 stunner against elimination round top finisher Korean Football Association on Saipan.

However, Matansa prevented Shirley’s from recording another big win after drawing goals from three different players. Montes-Sabino broke the ice early with his goal in the seventh minute, while Khan and Fnu scored in the 41st and 74th, respectively.

Meanwhile, KFAS saved face after slipping past Sun Palace in the battle for third place, 6-5.

Edwin Kim powered KFAS to a Top 3 finish after making four goals, including the go-ahead in the 75th minute. He knocked in his four goals in succession with the first three posted in the 46th, 51st, and 62nd minute. Oliver Lee registered the two other goals for KFAS in the 16th and 42nd minute.

Guo Ha Hou also had a brace for Sun Palace, lighting up the board in the third minute and the 66th, while Miko Pido, Feng Yu, and Daniel Pablo added one each in the 23rd, 29th, and 34th, respectively.

In the Division A consolation match, TanHoldings blanked the Teen Ayuyus, 5-0.

Joshua De Leon scored a pair for TanHoldings, while Martin Jambor, Mark Eslan and Matthew Epstein chipped in one apiece.