Courtesy: Saipan Tribune


Futsal league starts playoffs tomorrow

by Roselyn Monroyo

Playoff games in the 2010 NMIFA Women's Futsal Fall League will begin this Saturday at the Marianas High School.

All teams will be playing in the single-elimination playoff round in the A and B leagues. The B league, which is for recreational players, will kick off the playoffs with Paire Football Club taking on MP United 2 at 8am. Paire topped the eight-team B league with its 6-0-2 win-loss-draw record. In eight games, Paire scored 29 goals and gave up 16 to gain 20 points and take the No. 1 seeding in the playoffs.

MP United B is seeded last in the playoffs with its 0-7-1 slate. MPU 2 scored only nine goals and allowed its foe to make 34 goals.

In the second B league playoff game at 9am, it will be a battle of U18 teams with Matansa taking on Marianas High School. Matansa's U18 squad finished second in the B league with its 5-2-1 card, 31 goals for and 16 goals against, while MHS U18 team ended up in seventh place with its 1-7-0 record, 18 goals for, and 35 goals against.

The third playoff game of the night at 10am will pit A league top-ranked Paire against fourth placer Independents Football Club 2. Paire was unbeaten in the league (for advanced players) with its 6-0-1 slate. The A league leader collected 29 goals and gave up only nine. IFC 2 failed to make it to the win column in the regular season, dropping six matches and drawing one. IFC 2 scored 11 goals, 17 more of the goals it gave up in the regular season.

The other playoff game in the A league between third-ranked MP United and second seed IFC 1 is set for 1pm. IFC 1 earned four wins, one loss, and one draw in the regular season, tallying 24 goals and giving up eight. MP United placed third after gaining two wins, dropping five games, and drawing one match. MPU logged 22 goals and gave up 27.

The remaining two matches in the B league are scheduled for 11am and 12pm. At 11am, No. 3 Shirley's Coffee Shop will take on No. 6 Matansa. Shirley's had a 5-2-1 mark in the regular season against Matansa's 1-3-3 slate. Shirley's had 31 goals for and 16 goals against over Matansa's 16 and 23.

In the last B league game, Tan Holdings FC will duel MP United 1. Tan Holdings placed fourth in the regular season, sporting a 5-3-0 slate against the fifth-ranked MP United 1, which earned a 3-4-0 card. In eight games, Tan Holdings tallied 33 goals and gave up 23, while MP United 1 scored 22 and allowed 24 goals.

Winners of the four playoff games in the B league will advance to the semifinals on Jan. 22, while victors in the A league this Saturday will square off for the championship, also next Saturday. The A league title match is set for 12pm, followed by the championship game in the B league at 1pm.

Each game in the playoffs will be played in two 25-minute halves and teams are advised to strictly follow the schedule. Matches starting late will be shortened.


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