Paire steals FA Cup from MP United

Paire U12 players and coaches are all smiles after beating MP United in a shootout, 3-2, during the finale of the 2014 FA Boys and Girls Challenge Cup yesterday at the San Antonio Elementary School Field.
(ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Marty Taisacan made the dagger as he went for a quick sweeping right kick that caught MP United goalie Jason Quimzon flatfooted.

“I was a bit nervous before I took the shot because the game was tied. Then right after I heard the whistle, I just kicked the ball strong,” said Taisacan, who was mobbed by his teammates after the game-winning kick.

Taisacan was the sixth Paire player to go for the kick. Raffi Lee was the first one and converted on the shot, taking some time before rushing to hit the ball that rolled to the right side of Quimzon. The next three players to step on the box for Paire faltered on their shots. Robbie Schorr’s attempt hit the top center post and bounced out, Jamin Elliot’s shot kick was way far right, and Quimzon caught Kaden Church’s shot.

As for MP United, Jon Villagomez made the first attempt and missed, while Tony Kim canned the equalizer with his looper going into the left side of Paire goalie Steven Kileleman. Kileleman went on to get two saves against Geon Ho Lee and Rintaro Miyawaki, as he tapped the ball out, and the exciting game remained tied, 1-all.

A shot from Eun Syu Hahn broke the deadlock and gave MP United a 2-1 lead. Hahn went a few steps away from the box to prepare for the kick with the ball going over the head of Kileleman and rolling down inside the net.

Now behind, 1-2, Blake Mister trooped to the box for the pressure-packed shot and the lefty delivered with a thunderous cross shot to keep Paire’s title hopes alive.

With the match still even, the shootout continued with MP United tapping Andy Kim to start the second round. Kim took some time before kicking the ball, which hit the bottom right side (goalie’s side) of the post and bounced out. The tough break put MP United’s title on the line and Paire went on to dethrone last season’s champion, thanks to Taisacan’s conversion.

The Paire-MP United title showdown went to the shootout after the match was tied at 1-all in regulation and neither team scored in the 15-minute extension period. MP United drilled the first goal in the game off Miyawaki’s shot, while Raffi Lee nailed the game-tying goal also in the first 30 minutes of play.

Yesterday’s close win avenged Paire’s 0-1 loss to MP United in the inaugural FA Cup three years ago. Tyce Mister is the champion team’s coach, while other members of the squad are Subin Cho, Gordon and Ignacio Demapan, Juan and Mateo Guerrero, Mia Hirsh, Hyeonbin Jeong, Andy Lee, Nolan Mariano, Mark Nam, Dan Christopher Salde, John Michael Navarro, Neil Brian Sagum, Dominic Torres, and Miku Torres.