14 Dec Big Blue Storms Into Quarterfinals of Bank of Guam GFA Cup
Big Blue stormed into the quarterfinals of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup following a pair of come-from-behind wins in Rounds 2 and 3 to face last year’s runners up, Table 35/Fuji Ichiban Espada FC Saturday beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
Big Blue’s latest victory, a stunning 5-4 extra-time win over Budweiser Soccer League Division II champions, the IP&E/Paradise Fitness Sidekicks, seemed unlikely until 15 minutes before the regulation time whistle.
After the Sidekicks’ Paul Atalig knocked in a goal off a rebound from Carlo Unpingco’s free kick to take a 4-2 lead in the 70th minute, the team looked to be playing a more defensive game to continue to frustrate Big Blue’s strikers.
Big Blue, already shown two yellow cards in the second half, still continued to fight for opportunities to move the ball into its attacking half. Jake Quichocho, barreling through the Sidekicks’ defense on the left side, managed to finish his shot to get within one at 4-3. Later, with just two minutes left on the game clock, Kevin Tainatongo connected on a through pass into the box, maneuvered around Sidekicks defenders and slipped his shot toward the inside post to level the match to force another 30 minutes of extra time.
Despite the excitement, Big Blue played a more cautious game in extra time, as coach Noel Casilao used the team’s fifth and final substitution minutes before the end of regulation time. After playing almost the entire two halves of extra time keeping a very physical Sidekicks team at bay, an opportunity opened up for Big Blue in the 118th minute when Tainatongo was fouled near the box on the left side. On the ensuing free kick, Joaquin Sablan connected on a header that went over Sidekicks keeper Merwin Quichocho for the game-winning goal.
The Sidekicks had numerous looks at the goal in extra time, including a shot from Joey Lopez that hit the crossbar.
Shawn Spindel finished with a hat trick for the Sidekicks and teammate Paul Atalig scored once. Tainatongo and Quichocho each had two goals for Big Blue in regulation time.
In other Round 3 matches, James Oh scored the winning goal for the Rovers DII off a header in the team’s 2-1 comeback win over FC Beercelona. Sean Evans also scored for the Rovers DII and Frank Shimizu scored Beercelona’s lone goal. The Rovers DII will next play Guam Shipyard at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The Paintco Strykers defeated Doosan FC 5-3 with two goals each from Hiro Asoshina and William Kerr and one from Romaine Loney. Dustin Alger, Cheyne Robles and Jeremy Hewitt scored for Doosan. The Strykers will play the Rovers DI 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The Southern Cobras advanced to play Quality Distributors on Mother’s Day after a 14-0 victory over a shorthanded FC Shotguns team. Ashton Surber scored four goals and teammates Austin Cruz and Gregorio Rodriguez each contributed a hat trick. Jeremy Copple scored twice and Nick Roberto and David John Cruz also scored.
Big Blue’s Kevin Tainatongo sprints through the IP&E/Paradise Fitness Sidekicks’ Matthew Sgro (17) and Jorge Roberto in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Big Blue defeated the Sidekicks 5-4 in extra time to move on to play Table 35/Fuji Ichiban Espada FC at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Doosan FC’s Wes Shiroma moves to keep the ball away from the Paintco Strykers’ Jeffrey Ho in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Strykers defeated Doosan 5-3 to move on to play the Rovers DI at 9 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
The Southern Cobras’ Ashton Surber looks for options in the box as FC Shotguns’ keeper Scott Smith begins to approach him in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Cobras defeated the Shotguns 14-0 to move on to play Quality Distributors at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the quarterfinals.
The Southern Cobras’ Nick Roberto maneuvers the ball around the defense of FC Shotguns’ defender Naoki Takahashi in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Cobras defeated the Shotguns 14-0 to move on to play Quality Distributors at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the quarterfinals.
FC Beercelona’s Frank Shimizu carries the ball up the left flank with defensive pressure from the Rovers DII’s Sora Recella in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. The Rovers DII defeated FC Beercelona 2-1 to move on to play Guam Shipyard at 6 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Big Blue’s Nathan Camacho carries the ball through the midfield as the IP&E/Paradise Fitness Sidekicks’ Matthew Sgro approaches him on defense in a Round 3 match of the Bank of Guam 7th Annual GFA Cup at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Big Blue defeated the Sidekicks 5-4 in extra time to move on to play Table 35/Fuji Ichiban Espada FC at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals.