Courtesy: Marianas Variety


Strykers sink Guam Shipyard

Thursday, 01 July 2010

by William Martin

As the burgeoning 2010 Calvo Insurance Men’s Futsal League continues, the Paintco Strykers last night picked up their first season win against Guam Shipyard at the Agat Gymnasium, 8-6.
Mark Chargualaf said his team’s win came as a result of their strategy to respond rather than react.

“We just moved it around and came back with defense,” he said. “That’s the main thing, just come back with ‘D’ and we based our attacks on counter attacks and just passed the ball around, making them chase after us.”

The win lifts up the Strykers after a week one, 5-5 draw against the Cobras on Friday – and sees the Shipyard take their first loss after a Friday win over Team Devo, 9-2.

Shipyard’s Napu Borja said that with a little fine tuning, the Shipyard should put together a commendable season, despite the loss.

“I think we played well,” he said. “We just need to concentrate a little bit more on defense and teamwork. We come out with a lot of intensity, which should be good. This is only the second game and we’ve been playing together for years so it’s just a matter of us gelling.”

Coming out of the gate with a definite resolve, it wasn’t long before the Strykers’ Chargualaf sent the ball sailing past Thomas Diaz’s (Shipyard’s goalie) hands.

Shipyard answered moments later with a goal by Kiko Santos, tying up the score despite the Strykers’ masterful display of ball control.

Masaya Kawauchi made the Strykers’ second goal, which was followed up with another by Chargualaf.

Successfully keeping Shipyard out of scoring position, the Strykers went on to nab another quick shot on a free kick by, Hiro Asoshino which Tatsuya Kawauchi tapped in just short of it being no good.

Not content to be counted out just yet, Shipyard’s Ian Mariano made a straight shot from midcourt, which caught the Strykers’ goalkeeper, Joseph Cruz off guard for the team’s second goal in the fast-paced game.

Chargualaf was able to sneak another shot past Diaz just before the match’s halftime buzzer sounded, paving a solid lead for the Strykers entering the second portion of the battle.

A short break gave Shipyard what they needed to come out for the second half with a new strategy, allowing for more goals for them – and less for the Strykers.

Chargualaf commended his team’s opponents on the strong second half, adding that it nearly spelled the Strykers’ defeat.

“They knew they had to come out harder or we would take the game,” he said. “They came out harder and we had to adjust -- they almost caught up but we adjusted well.”

Asoshino and Chargualaf were able to get the ball beyond Shipyard’s new goalie, Joseph Laanan, for another two points, though the team’s stepped-up defense proved much more difficult for the Strykers to be effective.

Shipyard’s Santos nailed the ball toward the net, which shot just above Cruz’ head for the team’s third goal, followed by a goal for Joseph Lopez on an assist from Mariano.

Fired up with little time left, Shipyard pulled out another two quick goals from Mariano on an assist from David Manibusan, followed by another one from Mariano, though there was no time left for the team to make up the additional two-point spread.

Chargualaf said the victory breathed some much-needed fire into the Strykers, hurting a bit from Friday’s uneventful draw.

“After today’s performance we feel really confident,” Chargualaf said of the win. “The first game was pretty sad, but after today we’re getting better team chemistry.”


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com