13 Mar Guam U15 girls conclude EAFF tourney with win over HK
[April 22, 2017 – Shanghai, China PR] The Junior Masakåda, Guam U15 women’s national team, wrapped up its campaign in the 2017 EAFF U15 Girls Tournament in Shanghai, China PR with a 1-0 win over regional rival Hong Kong Thursday at the Jinshan Sports Center.
“I’m super excited for the result and very pleased with the girls and their performance throughout the whole tournament,” said Maggie Phillips, Guam head coach, after the match. “With each game we played, we progressively got better. The girls figured out their positions particularly, adjusted what they needed to, and then (Thursday), came out and got the job done, just like I asked them to.”
Guam played the aggressor in the match, deploying a high press from the opening whistle and pushing Hong Kong defenders into panic mode early on in the 70-minute contest.
Hong Kong managed to keep the match scoreless through the first half, but the team’s defensive unit eventually collapsed under Guam’s pressuring attack. In the 64th minute, Jinae Teria leaped above three Hong Kong defenders in the box to connect on a Minami Rabago free kick with a header for the eventual game winner.
“A header has always been my dream goal to score,” Teria said after the match. “When I saw the ball go in, I was so excited. I didn’t know what to do at that moment, so I just did it – raised my arms up in excitement running down the field with my teammates. It’s one of those spontaneous moments that players have on the field and just hard to describe.
“We came as a team to the game. We passed to each other accurately, we ran together, we pushed together, we all wanted to score, we all wanted to win and it really showed. I’m really proud to be a part of this team,” Teria added.
The Rabago-Teria connection continues to haunt Hong Kong as the duo executed a similar set piece for a goal in the teams’ encounter in the 2016 AFC U14 Girls Regional Championship in Beijing, China PR. Guam also won 1-0 in that match.
In the EAFF tournament, Guam finished with one win against Hong Kong, one draw with Mongolia, and one loss to Chinese Taipei. Following the conclusion of all matches, the Junior Masakåda took part in a closing ceremony in the Jinshan Sports Center main stadium.
The team will participated in cultural activities in Shanghai with other teams in the tournament before returning to Guam Saturday.
The Junior Masakåda, Guam U15 Girls National team, celebrates after Jinae Teria scored a goal off a Minami Rabago free kick in the 64th minute in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam’s Jinae Teria rises above Hong Kong defenders in the box to connect with a header for goal in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam’s Jada Han and Hong Kong’s Sum Hiu Tung Natalie battle for possession of the ball in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam’s Yasmeen Lopez manages to send a pass into the box ahead of four Hong Kong defenders in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Hong Kong’s Chan Lok Lam (No. 20) attempts to stop Guam’s Jadyn Palomares from making a run down the right side in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam’s Kaia Malakooti races down the right side to send a cross into the box after getting past Hong Kong’s Tse Man Ching in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam captain Samantha Kenney shakes off Hong Kong’s Lily Kan Kwan Brewter to get to the ball in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. Guam won 1-0.
Guam’s starting 11 players pose for a photo ahead of its match against Hong Kong in a Day 3 match of the EAFF U15 Girls Tournament at the Jinshan Sports Center main stadiuam in Shanghai, China PR. In the bottom row, from left to right, are Olivia Leon Guerrero, Samantha Kenney, Jinae Teria, Jada Han, Minami Rabago, and Kaia Malakooti. In the back row, from left to right, are Jadyn Palomares, Isabella Clement, Kiarra Hutcherson, Celine Doronila, and Hallie Wigsten.