16 Dec NAPA Rovers to Face Guam Shipyard in 2017 GFA Cup Final
[May 20, 2017 – Harmon, Guam] – Defending champions NAPA Rovers FC will have another go at the Bank of Guam GFA Cup title following the team’s 5-0 shutout of the Bank of Guam Strykers in a semifinal match of the 2017 tournament played Friday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
The Rovers’ top scorer, Ashton Surber, led the team with a hat trick and teammates Jan Flores and Jorge Hellu also scored in the win.
The Rovers, four-time champions of the Budweiser Soccer League Premier Division, will take on No. 2 Guam Shipyard in the GFA Cup final to be contested May 28 at GFA beginning at 7 p.m.
Shipyard managed to edge Quality Distributors 4-3 in the tournament’s other semifinal match also played Friday evening.
Despite starting the match with only the minimum seven players required, Shipyard managed to hold down a full Quality squad to just two goals – one each to Jared Pangindian and Barinedum Bakor – before a few more players entered the match to help fill the playing field.
Shipyard cut its deficit to one in the 25th minute on a Donovan Reyes finish on a through ball from Mark Chargualaf but three minutes later, open gaps in the team’s defense allowed a third Quality goal off a Takefumi Inoue strike.
Ten minutes later, Budweiser Soccer League Premier Division Golden Boot winner Min Sung Choi took on a trio of Quality defenders and found enough space to slot one past Quality keeper Brett Maluwelmeng for the eventual 3-2 halftime score.
Shipyard found the equalizer about 10 minutes into the deciding half on a finish by Donald Weakley in a goalmouth scramble and five minutes later, Tae Min Kim drilled a long-distance shot from the right side to the opposite post for the eventual game winner.
The Rovers lead Shipyard in head-to-head competition for this past soccer season, winning three out of four Premier Division fixtures.
Both teams also were finalists in last year’s tournament, with the Rovers coming out on top 2-1. Shipyard last won the GFA Cup in 2015 in a penalty kick shootout against the Strykers.
Bank of Guam Strykers Aidan Dickson (No. 11) looks to needle his way with the ball to the goal between NAPA Rovers’ Nathan Sablan (left) and Eddie Lee Lorenzo (No. 13) in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Rovers won 5-0 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against Guam Shipyard.
NAPA Rovers’ Jonahan Romero sends a cross into the box ahead of Bank of Guam Strykers’ Bradley Dickson in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Rovers won 5-0 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against Guam Shipyard.
NAPA Rovers’ Natsuki Recella carries the ball through the midfield against the Bank of Guam Strykers in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Rovers won 5-0 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against Guam Shipyard.
Bank of Guam Strykers’ Scott Spindel gets tripped on the way to the goal against the NAPA Rovers in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Rovers won 5-0 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against Guam Shipyard.
Quality Distributors Barinedum Bakor tries to stay in control of the ball facing defensive pressure from Guam Shipyard’s Anthony Babauta in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Shipyard won 4-3 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against the NAPA Rovers.
Guam Shipyard’s Christopher Santos plays the ball down the right side as Quality Distributors’ Scott Leon Guerrero stays close on defense in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Shipyard won 4-3 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against the NAPA Rovers.
Guam Shipyard’s Tae Min “Daniel” Kim manages to slide in to clear the ball away from Quality Distributors’ Joshua Pangelinan in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Shipyard won 4-3 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against the NAPA Rovers.
Guam Shipyard’s Donovan Reyes takes one last look at the ball before kicking it into the goal for his team’s first score against Quality Distributors in a semifinal match of the Bank of Guam 10th Annual GFA Cup Friday evening at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. Shipyard won 4-3 to advance to the tournament’s championship match against the NAPA Rovers.