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\u00a0 The CNMI Men’s National Team avoided a shutout loss to Macau in the EAFF Asian Cup 2013 Preliminary Competition Round 1 after drawing a goal from Kirk Schuler last Friday at the Leo Palace Resort in Yona, Guam.<\/p>\n\u00a0 The CNMI Men’s National Team avoided a shutout loss to Macau in the EAFF Asian Cup 2013 Preliminary Competition Round 1 after drawing a goal from Kirk Schuler last Friday at the Leo Palace Resort in Yona, Guam.<\/p>\n
Schuler put the Commonwealth in the scoreboard in the 51st minute after the CNMI bets went scoreless in the first half. Schuler’s goal started on a free kick play for Joe Miller after Macau was called for a foul. Miller, who scored the CNMI’s lone goal in their loss to Guam last Wednesday, hit a high ball toward the goal and Schuler completed the play as he kicked the leather in.<\/p>\n
Schuler’s goal sliced Macau’s lead to one, 1-2, however the latter went on to nail three more goals for a 5-1 victory.<\/p>\n
The CNMI did a great job defending Macau’s attackers in the first 20-plus minutes of the match before Ho Man Hou found Chan Kin Seng open in the 27th minute for a shot to the right post and into the goal. Macau, which scouted the CNMI in the latter’s 1-3 loss to Guam last Wednesday, then got another one 13 minutes later, as this time Ho found himself near the goal.<\/p>\n
Down at 0-2, the CNMI equaled Macau’s aggressiveness on offense early in the second half, leading to a Schuler goal. However, that was the only time the Commonwealth bets scored, while Macau drained three more with one coming from a penalty kick.<\/p>\n
With the victory, Macau just need to beat host Guam to win Round 1 and advance to the next phase of the qualifier and face Chinese-Taipei and North Korea in Hong Kong in December.<\/p>\n
Guam and Hong Kong were playing in the qualifying decider last night. A Guam victory will move the host to the second round anew after making the cut in 2009. Guam drew Macau in the 2009 qualifier to barge into the second round. A draw in last Sunday’s crucial match this time will put Macau in the second round due to the goal differential.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hong Kong ruled the women’s division after beating Guam last Saturday, 4-3. Hong Kong also won over the CNMI last Thursday, 0-11. Guam finished second with one win (against the CNMI, 6-0) and one loss.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong barged into the second round competition that will be played in China also later this year. Other women’s qualifiers in the second round have yet to be determined.<\/p>\n
By Roselyn Monroyo
\nReporter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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