By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE NMI Men’s National Football Team left a good impression in its first international game scoring two goals against Guam, which pulled off a close 3-2 win yesterday in the qualifier for the East Asia Football Federation Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex field.
Mark McDonald wrote his name in the NMI’s soccer history books, as the Marianas High School teacher drilled both of the host’s goals.
His first goal in the 57th minute tied the game at 1-all. Guam’s midfielder Alan Jamison scored the first goal in the game kicking one from the left side of the penalty box in the 9th minute.
McDonald made his first goal off a pass from Dale Roberts, who had a goal kick from the left sideline beyond the centercourt.
Roberts kicked the ball to the center with McDonald at the right place at the right time. He made a front header for the NMI’s first goal against two Guam players. Guam goalie Brett Maluwelmeng rushed forward to prevent McDonald from hitting the ball, instead of guarding the goal.
Guam midfielder Zachary Pangelinan broke the tie when he made his first goal in the 65th minute with a front header.
But McDonald tied it anew making his second goal in the 75th minute. Roberts started the play with a goal kick at the left sideline. Guam almost took the ball, but midfielder Elias Merfalen was caught warding off NMI midfielder Peter Charles Houk.
Houk then had a direct free kick closer to the penalty box and kicked it to the right side of the goalie box, on which McDonald made his second goal against two Guam defenders.
But after another three minutes, Pangelinan scored the winning goal. Guam played the ball on the left baseline, before Andrew Tacadina Gadia kicked it to Pangelinan on the right side inside the penalty box.
Pangelinan kicked the ball towards the left side of the goal and CNMI goalie Ross Benjamin Wood dove for it, but failed to catch it.
Guam’s defense held off NMI for the remaining minutes of the game, while fatigue started to affect the host I team. Three NMI players were carried off the field with McDonald leaving the field a few minutes before the match ended due to cramps.
The NMI team will be heading to Guam on April 1 to play the second game of the qualifier.
The team to score the most goals in two games will advance to the next round of the EAFF tournament, which will be held in Macau, China in June.