Kanoa Football Club players pose with their medals and the championship trophy of the Marianas Soccer League 1 after defeating Matansa Football Club in the finals, 4-2, at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville last Sunday.
THE Kanoa Football Club won the championship of the Marianas Soccer League 1 by slipping past the Matansa Football Club, 4-2, at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Sunday night.
The first half was filled with back-and-forth action with Matansa controlling most of the possession. At the 22nd minute mark, Kanoa turned the tide by using long overhead passes to reach deep within enemy territory.
But their hunger for a goal came at a cost as Matansa quickly turned defense into offense with a long pass from one end of the field to the other allowing Unsa Tanapon to go for a low shot toward the corner and slip past the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match, 1-0.
Kanoa quickly went back to work and fought through another series of exchanges but to no avail.
However, at the 39th minute mark, coming off an inbound play in Matansa territory, Kanoa’s Merrick Toves decided to go for a lob pass followed by a header, which was denied but, in a split second, was countered by a quick shot by teammate Tyler Omelau who caught the goalkeeper off guard to even the score, 1-1.
Before the first half ended, Matansa managed to break down Kanoa’s line of defense once again and move within striking distance where Jonne Navarro delivered to regain the upper hand, 2-1.
In the second half, Kanoa managed to catch Matansa by surprise with a sudden offensive turn that left Markus Toves unguarded. He then connected the quick shot for the second deadlock of the day, 2-2.
Neither team could make a high-percentage shot attempt during the remainder of the second half.
In the overtime period, however, Kanoa managed to force Matansa to accidentally score in their own goal twice to secure the win, 4-2, and the Marianas Soccer League 1 championship.
For scoring a total of 14 goals during the tournament, Kanoa’s Markus Toves was awarded the Golden Boot trophy.
