TanHoldings takes solo lead in MLS Cup

TanHoldings Football Club dislodged the NMI Boys U18 National Team from the top spot in the MSL Cup of the Marianas Soccer League Fall Season 2021 after escaping with a 2-1 victory last Sunday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Michiteru Mita hit the dagger for TanHoldings, as he scored in the fifth minute of the extra time off a penalty shot. With the win, TanHoldings improved its win-draw-loss record to 3-0-0 and moved up to solo first place in the six-team division, while the NMI U18 slid to second after absorbing their first loss in three games.

It was a come-from-behind victory for TanHoldings, as the NMI U18 hung on to the precarious 1-0 lead in the majority of the game before Jersh Angeles finally put the leading team on the board with his equalizer in the 89th minute. Mita then completed TanHoldings’ late rally with his PK conversion to extend the squad’s streak to three.

Earlier in the 37th minute, Kohtaro Goto gave the NMI U18 the advantage in the first half.

Meanwhile, only two three games were played over the weekend when the MSL resumed its season after taking a week-long lull as safety measure against the COVID-19 cases in the community.

In last Friday’s Hafa Adai Fun Cup, Saipan United and The One FC eased past their respective foes.

Saipan United played last Friday and dominated Kanoa, 7-2, for a 3-0-0 mark and to keep the No. 1 spot in the team standings of the 10-squad field. Kanoa is at the bottom half of the rankings, as it has yet to earn a win after two games.

Ichiro Borja and Soheal Akanda scored two goals apiece to help Saipan United rout Kanoa, which drew its pair of goals from siblings Ruselle and Raymond Zapanta.

The One FC also hammered Bangladesh FC in their duel last Sunday, 5-0, behind the hat-trick of Paul Jang. Don Cabrera and Qiwei Wang made the two other goals for The One FC.

Published by Saipan Tribune - Nov 10 2021