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MP United wins; Southern United on top
The Southern United Football Club goalie reaches for the ball during their girls U16 game against MP United FC in the opening week of the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
MP United Football Club banked on a strong start to pull off a 6-4 victory over Paire FC in the girls U16 division in the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
The win was the first for MP United, which dropped its season debut against Southern United FC, while Paire absorbed its second loss in as many games.
MP United scored three goals in the opening 35 minutes of play to gain cushion against Paire that was silent in the first half and failed to complete a comeback despite outgunning the former, 4-3. Lilian Podziewski lit up the board for MP United in the 19th minute, while her other teammate (player with jersey No. 50/name has yet to be confirmed by organizers at press time) made it a 2-0 lead three minutes later, and Katrina Costales added one more in the 28th.
A goal from Audrey Castro in the 38th minute, followed by Fiona Bucalig’s shot in the 41st widened the gap between MP United and Paire before the latter rallied back. Paire nailed the next two goals in the game with Summer Manahane and Aaliuah Indalecio hitting their target in the 46th and 50th minute, respectively. The same MP United player with jersey No. 50 gave their team insurance in the 53rd minute, as she negated the back-to-back goals recorded by Anisa Villagomez.
Meanwhile, Kanoa FC and TanHoldings FC engaged in a draw, 4-4, in the other girls U16 division match played at the NMISTC.
Kanoa forced a standoff after mounting a comeback in the second half, which started with TanHoldings holding a 3-1 advantage.
TanHoldings was in control of the first half of the game, thanks to Julie Anna Capayas, Mary Joy Aniana, and Allyssa Angeles’s goals in the seventh, 18th, and 21st minute, respectively. Shairmaine Francisco canned Kanoa’s lone goal in the first half a minute before the opening frame wrapped up.
Francisco also went on to hit the equalizer in the 61st minute, while Paulynn Joyce’s goals in the 42nd and 54th sparked Kanoa’s rally. TanHoldings lost the lead and settled for the draw, as only Rizza Relucio found the back of the net in the second half (44th minute).
In other results, Southern United got a free win—its second in as many games—after Matansa failed to muster enough players for the match. With the victory, Southern United gained the solo lead in the division.
