Rousing debut for Shirley’s FC

Shirley’s Football Club’s Jedidah Peteru steps in on defense in an attempt to deflect the shot of Kanoa Football Club’s Ruselle Zapanta during the first half of their Division B game in the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s Football Club opened its campaign in Division B of the 2019 Spring Men’s M-League with a 7-3 victory over Kanoa Football Club last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

A hat trick from Hojin Woo right in the first half powered Shirley’s to the convincing win. Woo delivered his first goal in the 18th minute and the second one five minutes later. His third came late in the first half—42nd minute—allowing Shirley’s to take a 3-1 advantage at the break.

Kanoa’s lone goal in the opening 45 minutes of play came from Andruw Omelau, who hit his target in the 34th minute.

Then in the second half, Shirley’s again lit up the board first, thanks to Woo’s goal in the 47th minute. Shirley’s pulled away further as it recorded two more goals in a span of six minutes—the first coming from Brandon Tenorio in the 52nd minute and the second from Irish Pagarao in the 58th.

While Shirley’s had three quick goals in the second half, Kanoa countered with only one, courtesy of Ruselle Zapanta’s conversion in the 63rd minute. Shirley’s then retaliated in the 69th minute off Ariel Jinang’s goal before JC Piring closed out for Kanoa in the 79th minute.

Island Star 6, NMI Women’s 0
In the other opening week match in Division B, Island Star also cruised to victory after dominating the CNMI Women’s National Team.

Saixian Bagsic lifted Island Star to the shutout win after scoring three goals. He notched a pair in the first half, posting his first goal in the 15th minute and the second one in the 37th before completing the hat trick in the 76th.

En San Cui, Ri Cheng Xian, and Xue Zhu Li were the other scorers for Island Star, as they hit the board in the first, 18th, and 62nd minute, respectively.

DIVISION A
TanHoldings 3, Old B Bank 2
The lone Division A game was decided by one goal with TanHoldings getting the game-winner from Oliver Fajardo two minutes before the close match ended.

TanHoldings led at 2-0 in the first half off Martin Jambor’s shot in the 26th minute and Kaden Church’s goal in the 34th. However, TanHoldings was nearly forced to a draw when the Old B Bank launched a comeback in the second half.

Floyd Muna moved Old B Bank within one with his conversion in the 59th minute, while Michiteru Mita drilled the equalizer seven minutes later.

The game remained in a deadlock for several minutes until Fajardo’s dagger in the 88th minute gave TanHoldings the win in its season debut.