27 Dec Rovers City to Play Quality in Futsal Final
The undefeated Rovers City team will take on Quality Distributors FC in the championship match of the Budweiser Futsal League 4 p.m. Sunday at the Guam Sports Complex Gym.
Rovers City won each of its regular season matches by an average of over 10 goals, but played a closer 7-2 match against the Southern Cobras in the first semifinal match of the league playoffs. The league’s Golden Boot winner Ian Mariano led Rovers City with a hat trick and teammates Jonahan Romero, Vinicius Rodrigues, Robert Putko and Jason Cunliffe also contributed a goal each in the win. Nick Roberto and Ashton Surber scored for the Cobras.
In the other semifinal match, Quality defeated the Paintco Strykers 11-3 led by Scott Leon Guerrero’s hat trick. Jan-Willem Staman scored twice and teammates Mark Chargualaf, Paul Long, Bradley Miller, Dylan Naputi and Scott Spindel also scored. Quality’s other goal came on a Strykers own goal. Min Sung Choi led the Strykers with two goals and Marcus Lopez scored once.
Cunliffe, Mariano, and Rodrigues return to the finals stage after helping Guam Shipyard take the futsal title last year against Rovers FC. This year, playing for Rovers City, the trio and their teammates are poised to bag another championship trophy after going undefeated through nine straight matches. Rovers City defeated Quality 13-5 in their regular season match up and finished with 107 total goals scored in eight matches.
Quality’s most recent finals appearance was in 2012 when the team won the championship against the Crushers FC. Quality (7-1) returns to the championship match this year after finishing the regular season with 95 goals scored in eight matches and placing four players in the Golden Boot race’s top 10.
The Strykers and the Cobras will play for third place at 3 p.m. Sunday. The teams battled to a 6-6 draw in the regular season, however, the Strykers (5-1-2) finished the regular season ranked ahead of the Cobras (4-2-2). The Cobras, however, are ahead in goals scored, with the team finishing 81 shots in eight matches compared to the Strykers’ 65 goals.
The last time the Strykers made the league playoffs was in 2012, when the team finished in third place winning against Guam Shipyard in the consolation match. The Cobras finished in third place last year after defeating Quality in that year’s consolation match.
Rovers City’s Ian Mariano and the Southern Cobras’ Ashton Surber fight for possession of the ball during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.
Rovers City’s goalkeeper Dave Bush leaps to punch the ball away from the Southern Cobras’ Ashton Surber during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.
The Southern Cobras’ Ashton Surber finds space to take a shot ahead of Rovers City’s Jonahan Romero, as goalkeeper David Drews attempts to stop the ball during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.
The Southern Cobras’ Donovan Reyes tries to maneuver the ball around the defense of Rovers City’s Ian Mariano during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.
Rovers City’s Jason Cunliffe controls the ball facing defensive pressure from the Southern Cobras’ Nick Roberto during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.
The Southern Cobras’ Gideon Tyquiengco and goalkeeper Keith Surber track the movement of Rovers City’s Vinicius Rodrigues across the goal during a semifinal match of the Budweiser Futsal League at the Guam Sports Complex Gym. Rovers City defeated the Cobras 7-2 to punch the team’s ticket to the championship match.