Teen Ayuyus drop U16 opener

The CNMI U16 National Team lost its opening game in the AFC U16 Championship India 2016 Qualifiers after bowing to Timor-Leste, 0-8, last Saturday at the National Sports Complex Stadium in Vientiane, Laos.

The Teen Ayuyus had their defensive game going the majority of the opening half before Timor-Leste managed to scored goal in the closing seconds of the first 45 minutes of play. Timor-Leste went on to find its form in the second half to cruise to victory.

“The boys did not allow a goal almost the entire first half until the last 30 seconds when Timor-Leste was able to break through our defense. The second half was not as kind to the CNMI, as Timor-Leste scored seven more goals. They were not easy goals for Timor-Leste though. They had to work very hard to get past our defense,” team manager Derek Chambers said.

“Our goalie Chris Aninzo played especially well. At breakfast today (Sunday), one of the coaches from Philippines came to our table to say how impressed he was with our goalie. He thought Chris was very skilled and confident,” Chambers added.

Aninzo made a lot of saves in the first half that the crowd began cheering for him after each defensive stops, according to the Teen Ayuyus team manager.

Aninzo played without relief and was joined in the starting 11 by Euly Ermitanio, Jonathan Capayas, Alan Hinson, Mareko Tekopua, Alex Park, Louie Calayag, Emmanuel Aniana, Sunjoon Tenorio, Edwin Kim, and Chad Shankweiler. Joshua Abragan, Thaiphi Austria, and Anthony Fruit also suited up for the CNMI as substitutes in the second half.

The second half was another busy one for Timor-Leste, which pulled away early after scoring three goals in 12 minutes. Forward Danilson Araujo gave the former Portuguese colony its second goal in the game in the 49th minute, while fellow forward Armindo Vieira knocked in back-to-back goals in the 51st and 57th. Defender Jelito Corte-Real scored the first goal for Timor-Leste at the 44:37 mark of the opening half.

Forwards Joao Da Sila Freitas and Yafet Barros, defender Orcelio Moises, and midfielder Dom Lucas were the other scorers for Timor-Leste with the former finding the back of the net in the 66th and 88th minute. Lucas hit the board in the 70th minute, while Barros and Moises got their goals in the 72nd and 81st, respectively.

Meanwhile, Laos won the other game in the opening day after dominating the Philippines, 1-6. The five teams in Group G of the qualifiers took a breather yesterday and matches will resume today with the CNMI taking on Malaysia at 4pm (7pm Saipan time) and Timor-Leste facing the Philippines at 7pm.

The top finisher in the group after the pool play will advance to the championship.