Tan Holdings, Sun Palace on top of M-League

Shirley’s FC, left, and World Resort players kick the ball during the first half of their game in Division 2 of the M-League last Sunday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tan Holdings Football Club and Sun Palace moved on top of their respective divisions after prevailing in separate matches in the 2016 M-League last Sunday at the Oleai Sports Complex Field.

Tan Holdings took the solo lead in Division 1 following a 3-0 victory against Paire/Inter Godfather’s. Tan Holdings now has a 4-1-1 win-draw-loss record to place ahead of Paire/Inter Godfather’s (3-2-2), Korean Football Association (3-2-1), MP United (2-3-1), and Matansa (0-0-7).

Mareko Tekopua, Joshua De Leon, and Martin Jambor delivered one goal apiece to the new division leader with the former lighting up the board first in the 11th minute. De Leon scored seven minutes later, while Jambor’s shot was also made in the first half, as he found his target in the 33rd minute.

In the other Division 1 game, Korean Football Association on Saipan forced a 4-4 draw against MP United.

Young Ju Lee registered the equalizer for KFAS in the 45th minute, while the team’s three other goals were posted in the first half. Jong Gu Gil tallied the first goal for KFAS in the 20th, while Jun Woo Lee recorded back-to-back (22nd and 26th).

MP United also collected three goals in the opening 40 minutes of play to hold an early 3-0 advantage, but failed to sustain its strong start. J.C Piring put MP United on the board right in the second minute and got his second goal in the fourth, while Sunjoon Tenorio made in three in row for the squad with his shot in the 12th minute.

After MP United dominated the first half of the opening frame, KFAS countered with its own three consecutive goals to end the half in a deadlock. An early goal from Jeong Woo Kim in the second half gave MP United the lead back before Young Ju Lee tied the match anew.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Sun Palace gained the No. 1 spot in its group following a 2-1 victory against the Thundecats and the 2-2 draw erstwhile leader Shirley’s got in its game versus World Resort.

Jun Sik Kim and Suehee Chung had one goal apiece for Sun Palace, which improved to a 6-1-1 mark. Josh Kim knocked in the lone goal for the Thundecats, who dropped to fifth place in the team standings with their 2-3-4 record.

Shirley’s, on the other hand, slid to second with its 5-1-3 card. Shirley’s was ahead in the first half, 1-0, off Kazuaki Togo’s goal, but had to settle for the draw after allowing World Resort to score twice in the second half.

Daniel Agulto and John Lewis posted one goal each for World Resorr (4-2-3) in the second half, while Wesley Bogdan scored for Shirley’s in the final period.

In other results, Kanoa pulled off a 2-1 victory against the CNMI Women’s National Team.

Raymond Zapanta recorded the winning goal for Kanoa, which is in fourth place in Division 2 with its 3-2-3 mark. Davy Laxa tallied the other goal for Kanoa, while Jeraldine Castillo got the only goal for the cellar dweller CNMI Women’s National Team (1-1-7).