TanHoldings secures U18 crown

TanHoldings Football Club’s Thaiphi Austria kicks the ball during an earlier game against Matansa in the boys U18 division of the 2019 NMIFA Fall Youth League at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

TanHoldings Football Club has clinched the boys U18 championship and zeroed in on the co-ed U12 crown with still a few games left in the 2019 NMIFA Fall Youth League.

TanHoldings topped Matansa, 5-2, in the boys U18 division game last Friday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville for a 6-1-0 win-draw-loss record—three victories ahead of spring season champion MP United (3-1-3).

Only two playing weeks are left in the three-round robin competition and there is no way that MP United could catch up with TanHoldings in the team standings. TanHoldings will have its last two matches against Kanoa on Nov. 1 and MP United on Nov. 8. MP United’s other game is versus Matansa tomorrow.

Taka Borja and Mark Esalan scored two goals apiece in TanHoldings’ division title-clinching victory over Matansa. Borja hit the board in the 13th and 72nd minute, while Esalan’s goals came in the 69th and 75th, and John Paul Cruz recorded the other goal for TanHoldings. Brandon Tenorio and Razeff Altamirano posted the two goals for Matansa, which is still searching for its first win this season.

MP United 5, Kanoa 5
The other game in the boys U18 division ended in a draw.

John Michael Rojas made the equalizer for MP United in the 70th minute to finish the close match with four goals. His three other goals were registered in the 30th, 37th, and 56th minute, while Skyler Poon contributed one with his conversion in the 58th.

Markus Toves knocked in a pair for Kanoa, scoring in the 48th and 55th minute, while Jim Kurt Maniago, Brian Lubao, and Andruw Omelau found their target in the 27th, 35th, and 39th, respectively.

CO-ED U12
TanHoldings 5, Kanoa 2
TanHoldings is likely to win the co-ed U12 division crown, too after sweeping the first two rounds of the three-round robin competition.

TanHoldings defeated Kanoa last Saturday for a 6-0-0 record, two wins ahead of Kanoa. The division leading team has three games left and will need only a draw in one of it remaining matches to secure the season championship.

Mark Ryan Costales had a hat trick for TanHoldings after lighting up the board in the 16th, 28th, and 42nd minute, while Kaithlyn Chavez added a brace (48th and 52nd minute).

Tyler Omelau made both goals for Kanoa after scoring in the 61st and 66th minute.

Shirley’s 3, MP United 3
Jayvin Bisek drilled a pair of goals for Shirley’s FC, including the game-tying one in the 45th minute.

Jayvin’s other goal was delivered in the 34th minute, while his brother Jurvin scored Shirley’s first in the 25th.

Miles Linden tallied all three goals for MP United with his first two registered in the fifth and sixth minute and the last in the 16th to complete an early hat trick.

TanHoldings Football Club’s Tamia Hix, left, tries to beat Kanoa Football Club’s Isaiah Chargualaf to the ball during their co-ed U12 division game in the 2019 NMIFA Fall Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)