NOFA Ph Team Breaks Wall of China

CHINA’S great wall crumbled from the defensive pressure of a strong select team of the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) sponsored Philippine Boys 12 football team in the ‘Soong Ching Ling Cup’-ASEAN China Invitational football in Xianghe, China.

TEAM HURDLE BEFORE THE MATCH VS CHINA

The smaller Filipino kids surprised the host team with their skills and though defense to seal an emphatic, 3-0 win, and opened their week-long campaign in a high note in this eight-sided tournament.

Defender Earl Siconiegue of Bago City, Negros Occidental opened the scoring for the Filipino boys from the penalty spot after a handball foul inside the box.

Elijah Zedric, The ‘Whiz Kid’ from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental then put them two goals up front at the half with a smashing follow-up shot inside the box after corner kick.

PHOTO WITH THE HOST AFTER THE MATCH

The Filipinos then resumed their pressure in the second half as substitute midfielder Jax ‘Tiny Messi’ Peña of Muntinlupa, set up the 

the ‘Little Maradona’ from Kidapawan City, Kurt Sarip for the third goal.

Sarip, a prize find from Mindanao, then scored from a curling grounded shot that hit the right corner spot for goal number three to secure their first win.

Peña made the precise pass to Sarip after Julio Antonio Yoldi intercepted a pass from a Chinese defender.

The Chinese tried to stage a comeback but the solid defense of De La Salle Zobel boys Viggo Louis Herce, Adrian Bacolod and Lucas Andan and the goalkeeping  of Matthaeus Lim of Davao secured their win.

COMPLETE LINE-UP AFTER THEIR WIN VS CHINA

All the 14 players saw action against China which included Anthony Galve, Rafael Manuel Garcia, Miel Dee Marcon, Breindel Medina, Jan Emmanuelle Benedict Salceda, and Jed Amiel Tan.

Head of the delegation Andrew Infante was ecstatic about the performance of the boys but he gave credit to the coaching staff for the tactics.

“Our team put pressure from the start as per instructions of head coach Cocoy Treyes,’’ he said.

“The Chinese who were under European coaches were shocked by  the pressure. It gave the boys lots of confidence,’’ Infante added.

He also added that it was also a team effort and they are looking forward to clash against Indonesia in a few hours. (l.biantan@gmail.com)