Both teams were leveled at first, with team CNMI focused on the defense. The match, hosted by the Northern Marianas Islands Football Association, consisted of three 30-minute periods.
No goals were made until the second period, when Keio University’s Haruhito Yagyu scored the first point in the 14th minute. Building momentum, he pushed for another goal three minutes later. Team Keio marked another point from Shohei Ota before continuing their onslaught in the final period.
“The first 40 minutes, they (CNMI) played really awesome holding the Keio players to zero points,” said NMIFA’s Edward Salas in an email.
“After that, the Keio players had the advantage due to their young age. The average age of the Keio players is 21 and 22.” he added.
Team Keio’s players are part of the university’s soccer club, and arrived last Sunday for vacation. A swift offensive gave them four more points in the third period, with goals from Yoshito Kami in the ninth minute, Ryuichi Shibuya (11th minute), Ryo Fukazawa (12th minute), and again from Yagyu (21st minute).
Team CNMI last played in June, during the 2010 Marianas Cup against Guam. Both teams tied 1-1. Playing last Monday’s game was a ‘great opportunity’ for them to ‘experience a high level of competition,’ according to Salas.
In addition, this may be the start of a tradition between Saipan and Keio University.
“After yesterday’s game and barbeque at the beachside of Fiesta Resort, some have expressed they would like to come back. This may turn out to be an annual event, we hope it would as it would be great for Saipan. Hopefully we can also invite other soccer clubs in other universities to spend their spring vacation in Saipan and have friendly matches with us,” said Salas.
“We are discussing it and it’ll be great to have them come back. We will continue to coordinate. They are definitely having a great time in Saipan,” he noted.
Leading Keio University’s soccer club was its team captain, Mikami Yoshitaka. His group will return to their Tokyo-based campus today, after several days of exploring, diving, and trekking around the island.
