By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
KANOA Football Club continues to solidify its seat at the top of the U17 boys division standings in the TakeCare Youth Soccer League Fall 2025, earning its seventh win of the season after defeating Latte Football Club, 2-0, in a match held Saturday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
It was an evening of defensive strength displayed by both teams. Despite the low score, the match was not without action, as both sides showcased disciplined defensive formations, with particularly intense midfield battles.
For Kanoa FC, the backline — anchored by players like Adrian Lubao and Zion Ulloa — managed to shut down most of Latte FC’s offensive attacks. Latte also proved formidable on defense, with Travis Jr. Kileleman Hix and Napu Pangelinan making several key interceptions, managing to hold a scoreless deadlock through the first half.
However, after settling into their rhythm, KNFC’s morale picked up as the team began creating more offensive chances. After several attempts, the scoreboard was finally opened by Paul Lizama, who found the back of the net in the 53rd minute to break the deadlock, 1-0.
The second and final goal came shortly after, when Aldric Antonio scored in the 66th minute, giving KNFC the cushion it needed to control the tempo and cruise through the remainder of the match to secure the win, 2-0.
Drawn match
In another match, the Women’s Development Team managed to force a 1-1 draw with MP United Football Club.
Both goals came late in the second half, with MPU’s Matthew Hwang drawing first blood in the 49th minute, before WDT’s Jannah Casarino equalized in the 68th to even the score and seal the draw.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.