MPU ahead; TanHoldings snaps skid

TanHoldings Football Club’s Kohtaro Goto takes a shot in front of the Kanoa Football Club-2 goalie during their first round meeting in the boys U15 division of the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Contributed Photo)

MP United Football Club is still on top, while TanHoldings FC is back on track following their easy victories in the boys U18 division of the 2019 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Friday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

In the curtain-raiser, MP United whipped Kanoa Football Club, 8-1, while TanHoldings also cruised past the CNMI Boys U15 National Team in the second match, 6-0. The win was MP United’s fifth in as many games, keeping the squad in the lead in the five-team field, while TanHoldings got victory No. 3 and snapped its two-game losing skid.

Before downing the CNMI U15, TanHoldings first bowed to MP United and Matansa late last month. Mark Esalan and John Canape helped TanHoldings regain its winning form after scoring two goals apiece, while Jonathan Capayas added one. The winning squad got an own goal in the opening minutes of the first half to take the lead, while Canape and Esalan made it a 3-0 halftime edge after hitting the board in the 17th and 20th minute, respectively. Capayas then kicked off TanHoldings’ offense with his conversion in the 49th minute, while Esalan and Canape followed suit in the 58th and 66th, respectively, to complete their domination of the winless CNMI U15.

In the other lopsided game in the division, Oliver Lee towed MP United to victory after firing four goals. He delivered a hat trick in the first half after finding the back of the net in the 12th, 20th, and 34th minute, while his last goal came in the 65th. Kaden Church added a pair, while Jon Villagomez, and Gaeul Kim contributed one apiece.

Ian Karl Maniago scored the lone goal for Kanoa Football Club, which has only one win this season.

BOYS U15
Kanoa-1 8, Matansa 0

Kanoa extended its winning streak to six after blanking Matansa in the second game in the division last Saturday.

Jaydee Jose starred in Kanoa-1’s crushing of Matansa after making three goals. He then drew enough support from his teammates with Jim Maniago and Merrick Maniago adding two goals apiece and Daniel Mar Pablo recording one.

With its perfect record, Kanoa sits on top of the standings in the six-team field.

TanHoldings 13, Kanoa-2 0
TanHoldings also posted a shutout win over Kanoa-2 in the first game last weekend.

Kohtaro Goto jumpstarted TanHoldings’ well-oiled offense after notching four straight goals in the first half (second, 13th, 17th, and 22nd minute). He added two more in the second half and the rest of his teammates took over in finishing off the hapless Kanoa-2.

Oliver Fajardo chipped in three goals, while Ariel Narvaez, Mark Joseph Roque, Tyler Macaranas, and Anthony Bergancia logged one apiece for TanHoldings, which is in third place in the team rankings.

MP United 3, Shirley’s 1
MP United is still ranked second, breathing down Kanoa’s neck following a victory over Shirley’s.

Dylan Mister delivered two goals for MP United, getting his first in the sixth minute and the last in the 43rd. Shirley’s, which has only two wins this season, briefly knotted the count, as Gabriel Arkoh scored three minutes after Mister earned his first goal. However, Shirley’s eventually lost when it failed to counter against MP United in the second half. MP United’s other goal in the second half was courtesy of Richard Steele in the 52nd minute.