Shirley’s FC, Matansa prevail in opener

The women’s division of the M-League kicked off its spring season last Saturday with Shirley’s Football Club and Matansa Football Club downing separate foes at the Oleai Sports Complex.

MP United’s Kyla Ito beats a Tan Holdings FC player for possession during the first half of their game in the Women’s M-League last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Matansa started the hostilities in the women’s competition and was awarded a 3-0 win via default after Independents Football Club failed to field enough players for its opening game. Players available from the opposing squads then settled for a scrimmage with Matansa still winning after drawing goals from Bernadette Horey and Katrina Castro.

Joining Horey and Castro on Matansa’s roster are Pinyarat Shankweiler, Maile Adrich, Bunruang Brasuell, Cristy Villaflor, Jumlonh Inno Horey, Elna Curate, Roxe Lazaro, Carla Ballesteros, Sabrina Santos, Agnes Mongami, Ratree Ditwiset, Tawny Barcinas, Pratoon Stoffer, Justice Norman, and Chrishia and Yokomaria Leon Guerrero.

Listed on IFC’s lineup are Sarah and Terra Allen, Melisa and Chutima Borja, Laurea Briosos, Mula Capilitan, Shawn Davis, Erica Dela Rosa, Farleen Esmundo, Temary and Vanessa Gramlich, Lina Manalili, Cleo Nening, and Jhie Vallo.

In the third game, both Shirley’s and Paire Football Club had enough players to suit up for their debut matches and the former proved to have a deeper roster as seen in its 8-0 demolition of the latter.

Jeraldine Castillo started things out for Shirley’s with her back-to-back goals in the first half, while five of his teammates also made it to the board. Diana Maniacop chipped in two goals, while Pearl Jan Santiago, Gabrielle Race, Alexa Vergara, and Negahr Rastguiy contributed one apiece.

Meanwhile, the other game in the opening of the Women’s M-League ended in a draw with Tan Holdings FC and MP United FC scoring three goals each.

Kyla Ito saved MP United from an opening day loss after hitting the equalizer in the 73rd minute.

Earlier in the first half, Chloe Salvosa knocked in two straight goals in a span of five minutes (53rd and 58th) to put Tan Holdings on top, 3-2, after facing a 1-2 deficit at halftime. Salvosa also drilled Tan Holdings’ lone goal in the opening frame for the first hat-trick of the season. Michelle Ann Masga and Jayda Mendoza scored for MP United in the first half with the former finding the back of the net in the ninth minute and the latter also hitting her target 13 minutes later.

Meanwhile, Kanoa Football Club was scheduled to play its first game of the season last night against Independents FC, but results of the match were unavailable at press time.

There will be no games this Saturday and action will resume on Feb. 17 with Paire taking on Tan Holdings at 7:15pm.