THE NMI Women’s National Team and the Bangladesh Youth defeated their B Division opponents last week in the Men’s Soccer League Summer 2021 tournament at the NMI Soccer Training Center.
The NMI Women’s National Team or WNT managed to clinch a 5-3 victory with a strong second half performance against Shirley’s Football Club.
Shirley’s Jack Phan came in charging and found the back of the net just three minutes into the start of the game.
However, WNT slowly worked their way back after countless back-and-forth action with Jannah Casarino draining two consecutive goals at the 25th and 26th minute marks to give her team the lead, 2-1.
Shirley’s HoJin Woo retaliated five minutes later to even the score 2-2 by halftime.
In the second half, WNT’s Casarino delivered her third goal at the 37th minute mark to complete the hat-trick as her team regained control, 3-2.
At the 42nd minute mark, team-mate Summer Manahane found the back of the net to give WNT a two-point lead, 4-2.
Shirley’s Heng Guo Piao squeezed in their third goal at the 46th mark, but WNT’s Kaithlyn Chavez also scored a goal to seal her team’s victory, 5-3.
Bangladesh Youth vs Bangladesh Football Club
The Bangladesh Youth were likewise triumphant against an older team, the Bangladesh Football Club.
Both teams played as equals in the first half with Bangladesh FC drawing first blood at the very first minute. But the Bangladesh Youth answered back 14 minutes later to tie the score, 1-1.
In the second half, the Bangladesh Youth built enough momentum to take over the game.
At the 36th minute mark, Bangladesh Youth’s Shukqur Ali broke the ice with a goal followed by team-mate Rassel Rassel who scored at the 57th minute mark.
Bangladesh FC’s Md. Soheal Akanda fired his second goal at the 65th minute mark but Bangladesh Youth’s Hossain delivered his second goal four minutes later to give his team a 4-2 victory.
Saipan United vs Island Star
In their match, Saipan United got the better of Island Star 5-3.
Saipan United had their finger in the trigger right from the start with Michael Denevan connecting the opening goal in the first minute of the game.
Not too long after, team-mate Mark Esalan delivered Saipan United’s second goal and followed it up with another at the 32nd minute mark to give his team a 3-0 lead.
Although Island Star found their footing in the second half with three goals, Esalan retaliated with two more goals to complete the hat-trick and secure the win for Saipan United, 5-3.
Members of the NMI Women’s National Team celebrate after scoring a goal in a B Division game of the Men’s Soccer League Summer 2021 tournament at the NMI Soccer Training Center last week.
