ZES FC outlasts Kanoa

Players and coaches of ZES Football Club and Kanoa FC pose for a photo after playing in the championship game in the 2018 Spring Break Friendlies yesterday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field. (Contributed Photo)

Guam’s ZES Football Club went home victorious after outgunning Kanoa FC in a penalty shootout, 5-3, during their championship game in the 2018 Spring Break Friendlies yesterday at the Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Field.

All five players that ZES FC assigned to take the crucial PKs delivered with E.J. Manibusan starting things off for the visiting team. Beav Perez, Gavin Baker, Donovan Moss, and Riley Rama also scored on their PKs. Eli Sanchez is ZES FC’s goalkeeper, while other members of the Jonathan Romero and Jason Cunliffe-coached squad are Raif Sablan, Landon Diaz, Noah Legaspi, Evan Flanajen, Luis Salas, Tai Castro, Arjan Sachdej, Robert Mou Ithrop, and Richie Sanchez.

Rama and Gavin scored for ZES FC in regulation with the latter’s shot in the second half forcing the deadlock. Rama’s goal also came in the final frame, while Markus Toves registered Kanoa’s first goal and Jim Maniago made the second one. In the deciding penalty shootout, Kanoa drew goals from Daniel Mar Pablo, Taehun Hahn, and Toves.

The tough victory over Kanoa allowed ZES FC to atone for its 0-4 loss to the same team in their first meeting last Monday.

Maniago tallied two goals in Kanoa’s win, while Gil and Toves chipped in one apiece. Matansa also won over TanHoldings FC, 8-7, to make it to the finals. Toves had a hat trick in the close victory, while Maniago and Pablo contributed two apiece, and Hahn made one.

Mark Roque led TanHoldings’ losing cause with his four goals, while, Anthony Bergancia, Mary Joy Aniana, and Ariel Narvaez registered one each. TanHoldings finished the tournament with a win to its credit, thanks to a 1-0 triumph over Matansa. Kaithlynn Chavez scored the lone goal in the match.

TanHoldings also played ZES FC last Monday with the visiting squad earning a 2-0 victory. Baker and Moss made it to the board for the eventual champion. ZES FC’s other win last Monday was against Matansa, 1-0, with Manibusan scoring.

Meanwhile, the Guam club also played futsal games at the artificial turf at the TSL Sports Complex last Sunday.

ZES FC split its players into two teams with ZES 1 winning over Southern United FC and Matansa. Versus Southern, ZES 1 eased its way to an 8-0 victory, behind the three goals of Flanajen. Moss added two goals, while Manibusan, Sablan, and Diaz got one each. Against Matansa, ZES 1 eked out a 3-2 win with Sablan drilling all the visiting team’s goals. Sherwin Gin and Alex Megino recorded the pair of goals for Matansa.

ZES 2 also prevailed against Southern United, 4-1, with Rama tallying two goals and Baker and Perez posting one each. Kenneth Palacios delivered the lone goal for Southern United. ZES 2 faced Matansa, too, and settled for a 1-1 draw, while the former lost to TanHoldings, 0-3. TanHoldings and Kanoa defeated both ZES 1 and 2.