Kanoa takes third straight win

TanHoldings Football Club’s Oliver Fajardo is surrounded by Kanoa Football Club defenders during the first half of their boys U16 division game in the 2020 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kanoa Football Club extended its winning streak in the boys U16 division of the 2020 NMIFA Spring Youth League after dominating TanHoldings, 6-2, last Saturday morning at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Markus Toves powered Kanoa to its third victory in as many games after making a hat trick against TanHoldings. He posted his first goal in the 27th minute, while Daniel Mark Pablo knocked in one five minutes earlier to hand Kanoa a 2-0 halftime lead.

Toves scored anew in the 43rd minute, while his older brother, Merrick, hit the board 11 minutes later bringing Kanoa’s advantage back to 3, 4-1. TanHoldings got into the board in the 44th minute, thanks to Kohtaro Goto’s shot.

Despite ending its silence, TanHoldings failed to mount a comeback in the second half with Mark Joseph Roque becoming only the second player to score for the losing squad, while Markus got his third goal in the 68th minute, just a minute after the former found the back of the net. Jaydee Jose then wrapped things up for Kanoa with his conversion in the 70th minute.

With the victory, Kanoa took the solo lead in the division, while TanHoldings fell to the No. 2 spot.

In the other game, MP United forced a 1-1 draw against Matansa.

Andrew Chung registered the equalizer in the 63rd minute, while Jose Rafael Lopez logged the first goal in the match, as he gave Matansa the precarious lead in the 50th minute.

GIRLS U17
TanHoldings 6, Kanoa 3
TanHoldings and Kanoa also crossed paths in the girls U17 game last Saturday evening with the former prevailing.

Jannah Casarino and Kaithlyn Chavez fired two goals apiece to give TanHoldings a 2-0-0 win-draw-loss record and the lead in the division. Katrina Costales and Rizza Relucio chipped in one goal apiece, while Khristelle Itaas, Sharmaine Francisco, and Irish Benig scored for Kanoa, which is still searching for a win this season.

Kanoa looked good in its duel against TanHoldings before folding up in the second half. Kanoa missed hitting the board in the final half of the game.

Southern United 4, MP United 1
Southern United notched its second straight win after outclassing MP United.

Southern United, which dropped its opener (against TanHoldings), drew two goals each from Nathanette Blas and Keisha Deleon Guerrero to move up to second place in the team standings.

Blas logged her pair of goals in the first half (third and 13th minute) and Southern United went on to post a 3-0 lead, as Deleon Guerrero got her first goal in the 17th minute. MP United averted a first half shutout when Fiona Bucalig scored in the 18th, however Southern United got the one goal back late in the second half to complete the easy win.

Kanoa Football Club’s Markus Toves, left, tries to keep the possession against two TanHoldings Football Club defenders during the second half of their boys U16 division game in the 2020 NMIFA Spring Youth League last Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)