NMI loses in AFC qualifiers, snags goal against home team

Although the NMI U20 Women’s National Soccer Team lost in the Asian Football Confederation U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers held last Friday to Sunday, they managed to snag a goal against host country Palestine.

The team went into a frenzy after Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez scored a goal against Palestine in their first game of the Asian Football Confederation U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers last Friday. However, Palestine came back and won, 3-1.

In their game against Nepal on Sunday, they were blanked, 0-6.

Team manager Catherine Attao-Toves said in an email that “As we saw in the Palestine vs Nepal game, Palestine was more physical than technical. It took some time for the team to adjust to the physicality of the game, with no whistle. Going into the locker room at half time, we were still at 0-0. Unfortunately, Palestine came out scored at the 50th minute and 61st minute—both on our errors. However, it was [in the] 87th minute when Kaithlyn Chavez found the back of the net that started from a throw in play from Audrey Castro to Jannah [Casarino], who passed it to Rizza [Relucio.]”

The team consists of the aforementioned Chavez, Castro, Casarino, and Relucio and also includes Mia Abuan, Allyssya Angeles, Christina Atalig, Joselynn Atalig, Nathanette Blas, Erish Carreon, Aubrey Castro, Julie Chavez, Megan Elayda, Stephanie Flores, Tamia Kileleman-Hix, Tyana Kileleman-Hix, Deseha Mendiola, Pia Ngewakl, Sophia Quintos, and Cassie Regan.

They were joined by Attao-Toves; Luam Khen Koo, head of delegation; Chi Ming Tang, head coach; Mae Ito, assistant coach; Ronnel Ocanada, assistant coach; Mikky Vargas, communications manager; Hazel Mabasa, team doctor; and Yu Hung Lee, assistant team manager.

There were eight groups in the qualifiers and the top finisher in each group will advance to the 2024 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup to be hosted by Uzbekistan in March 2024.

Published by Saipan Tribune - Mar 14 2023