Pacific Ocean Cup XIII participants pose for a group photo at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville on Saturday.
JAPAN’S Vivid Blue edged Kanoa Football Club, 1-0, to win the Pacific Ocean Cup XIII at the NMI Soccer Training Center on Saturday.
Throughout the championship match, Vivid Blue and Kanoa FC displayed their thirst for the title with several exchanges made, but neither was able to find the back of the net in the first half.
The halftime break seemed to have rejuvenated Vivid Blue. Their constant pressure turned defense into offense and after several attempts, created the opening that allowed Fukawa Masaharu to slip a shot past the goalie for the first and only goal of the match.
Kanoa FC still had time to build momentum and even the score, but Vivid Blue stood their ground and protected their end of the field long enough to ensure victory, 1-0.
Kanoa FC finished second, Shirley’s FC came in third, and MP United FC was fourth.
Before the championship match, Vivid Blue silenced Shirley’s, 6-0. In the preliminaries, Vivid Blue also defeated Kanoa FC, 2-0; Shirley’s FC, 5-0; and MP United FC, 2-1.
Vivid Blue’s roster consisted of Reiru Okawa, Koharu Watanabe, Tominga Ryosei, Sato Keigo, Fukawa Masachika, Fukawa Masaharu, Futo Okawa, Adachi Kota and Kurebayashi Hayato. Their coach is Tahara Sachiko whose assistant is Soeda Manato.
Individual awards
The Team Most Valuable Player awardees were Taiga Namai-Scoggins of MPU, Kota Adachi of Vivid Blue, Aldric Antonio of Kanoa FC and Patrick McDonald of Shirley’s FC.
The Golden Boot was awarded to Vivid Blue’s Reiru Okawa while the Golden Glove went to Vivid Blue’s Okawa Masaharu.
The Fairplay awardee was Shirley’s FC.
MPU, host of the event, recognized and thanked all the sponsors and homestay families.
Sponsors
IT&E
Chong’s Corporation
Tan Siu Lin Foundations
NMIFA
Marpac
ISHOP
Shirley’s Coffee Shop
Sea Touch
Homestay families
Martin & Sarka Jambor family
Shawna & Nick Brennfleck family
Mika George family
Mrs. Song family
Jerry & Lydia Tan family
