ROYALS WIN ROVERS BATTLE

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The Rovers Royal’s Pedro Walls carries the ball up field as Rovers Gold’s Eladio Manansala looks to call in an additional defender. (courtesy photo)

PRESS RELEASE- The Rovers Royal stamped its authority as the Bud Light Masters Co-Ed League leaders with a convincing 4-0 shut out win over the Rovers Gold Saturday evening at the Guam Football Association facility in Harmon.

The Rovers Royal, the only undefeated team in the league with a 6-0 record with only two matches left to play in the season, clinched first place with the win. The Rovers Gold, the league’s current second-place team, drops to 4-2 with the loss. Both of the Rovers Gold losses came against its Royal counterparts.

The Rovers Royal’s Take Inoue struck first in the contest after connecting on an Ian Lawton corner kick in the 14^th minute to give his team the early advantage. Two minutes later, the Rovers Royal found the goal again, this time on a Lawton free kick sent with enough arch to sneak in past Rovers Gold goalkeeper Dave Bush.

The crucial second half for the Rovers Gold wouldn’t be without controversy. In the 68^th minute, the Rovers Gold expected to be awarded an indirect free kick on a back pass violation on Rovers Royal goalkeeper Dr. Saied Safa, but with no whistle blown on the play, the Rovers Royal carried on. In the ensuing play, the Rovers Royal’s Kieron “Pip” Ward carried the ball up field and found teammate David Drews for the goal despite vocal protests by their opponents for an offside call on the play.

The Rovers Royal’s Ian Lawton sends a pass to a teammate as the Rovers Gold’s Ramona Nelson prevents him from turning toward the goal. (courtesy photo)

Inoue later scored the final goal of the game in the 89^th minute taking a pass from teammate Byung Choi and bulldozing his way toward the goal.

In the evening’s late game, Big Blue nabbed a 6-0 shut out victory over the Toyota 4Runners to move into fourth place in the league rankings. Earlier in the season, the teams battled to a draw and entered Saturday’s contest with identical records.

Big Blue’s Pepito Bedia, Jr. scored twice and teammates Dennis Amuan and Young Chang scored one each to take a commanding 4-0 lead before halftime.

Big Blue’s Rhoda Bamba scored from the right wing in the opening minutes of the second half off a Susan Lupola forward pass.

About 30 minutes later, Big Blue was awarded a penalty kick on a hand ball violation on the 4Runners in the box. With the Big Blue team chanting “Roger!” on the play, Roger Sachdev stepped up to take the shot. Sachdev’s initial shot went straight to 4Runners goalkeeper Timothy Shields, but the play was recalled after Sachdev had taken the shot before the referee whistle. Sachdev didn’t disappoint on his next go, aiming his shot for the upper center of the goal. Shields managed to get his hands on the ball, but it went above and behind him for the score.

League matches continue Saturday with the Paintco Strykers taking on the 4Runners at 6 p.m. The Rovers Gold play the late game at 8 p.m. against Big Blue.

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