Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

MP United hoists KFAS Cup

MP United won the KFAS Cup after outclassing Wild Bill's in a penalty shootout, 4-3, last Sunday at the Hopwood Junior High School Field.

The champion team is composed of forwards Yishan Wang, Jehn Joyner, Jireh Yobech, and Zheng "Messi" Xu, midfielders, Joe Miller, Joon Lee, Chris Park, Kim Feng Chun, Jake Lee, Evert Van Der Maas, Jinhan Yoon, and Daniel Lim, defenders Enrico del Rosario, Brad Ruszala, Kennedy Izuka, Greg Kim, Chris Camacho, Bob Kim, and Jeong Hwan Kim, goalies Ben Petersburg and Greg Sablan, and coach Norman del Rosario.

Joon Lee drilled the go-ahead goal for MP United, while Wild Bill's Jack Thoensaket missed the equalizer. Also scoring for MP United in the shootout were Miller, Kim, and del Rosario, while Wild Bill's goals came from James McAllister, Tanapon Unsa, and Dan Westphal.

The 40-minute finale went into a penalty shootout after the regulation ended in a deadlock, 2-all. MP United went up, 2-1, off Xu and Wang's goals in the first half. Thoensaket gave Wild Bill's its lone goal in the opening half. Then in the second half, Will Bill's got a break when it was credited with a goal off Brad Ruszala's error.

MP United had a chance to break the tie and win the finals outright with less than one minute left in the game, but was called for an offside. The play started with three MP United strikers going for an attack and passing the penalty arc while Wild Bill's defenders chased them and the ball. One of MP United players kicked the ball, which appeared to be rolling toward the goal, but Kim, who was near the goal line, decided to boot the ball. Kim ended up ramming into the net and the goal was nullified.

A few seconds later, the buzzer sounded and the finalists were forced to select five players each for the shootout.

First to step into the penalty mark was Miller and his shot went into the deep left side of Wild Bill's goalie Greg Borja. Wild Bill's McAllister was next and this time, he went for a looper to the right and Petersberg failed to catch the ball.

Joon Lee broke the tie when he also went to Borja's weak side with the ball rolling to the left. Unsa then evened up the count anew, when he went for a quick kick and Petersberg's lost his footing.

Del Rosario brought MP United back into the lead when he kicked the ball toward Borja's right side and the Wild Bill's goalie was a step slower in stopping the leather. MP United kept the driver's seat, as Adul Detdon's shot at the center was tapped out by Petersberg.

However, Wild Bill's forced another deadlock when Borja dove for the ball, preventing Jireh Yobech from scoring and Westphal's lob went in.

Joon Lee was MP United's last shooter and delivered under pressure. Thoensaket did not. After Lee's kick rolled in toward Borja's left side, Thoensaket trooped to the penalty mark, went for a quick kick, but the shot moved far left past the lower goal post.

MP United and Wild Bill's arranged their duel for the KFAS Cup after topping their respective pools. Also joining the Korean Football Association on Saipan-organized tournament were Docomo Inter, Tan Holdings, the host, and a guest team from Guam.