Connect with us

GSPN

MATAO AND ARUBA PLAY TO A DRAW

Guam’s Matao fútbol team played to a draw against Aruba who is currently ranked #162 in the FIFA world standings. Guam is currently ranked #173 out of 207.

[useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=9,17 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]

PRESS RELEASE – Football fans around the world added to thousands present at the Complejo Deportivo Guillermo Prospero Trinidad that tuned in through an Internet live stream to watch Guam’s Matao use its dominating style of play against Aruba Thursday evening Aruba time.

The Matao, still adjusting to extremely windy conditions since the team’s arrival into Aruba, led 2-1 into the final minute of the match, but conceded a controversial penalty kick in the 90+ minute for the final 2-2 draw.

“I hope our younger players learn from this sting and further develop their ability to control and manage the game,” said Gary White, Matao head coach, after the match. “The reality is, in our game, lapses of understanding and focus can bring results that do not reflect the differences in quality on the field from 90 minutes.

“We played to our plan, possessed the ball well, and dominated much of the game as the possession statistics will show. Our second-half performance was our best yet under me in terms of movement and structure. I am very happy to see how much we are developing,” White added.

After Aruba’s Raymond Baten scored the match’s lone first-half goal in the third minute off a free kick, Guam turned up the heat in the second half. In the 65th minute, a series of good attacking combination plays by the Matao resulted in an obvious hand ball violation by Aruba in the box, awarding a penalty kick to Guam converted by captain Jason Cunliffe. A little over 10 minutes later, Cunliffe’s bicycle kick for goal put Guam up 2-1 up until the final seconds of the match. Aruba’s Annuar Kock was credited with the late equalizer with his successful penalty kick.

“Obviously, we will look to push for a win (in our next match against Aruba),” White said. “We will also utilize the next game to further analyze and evaluate some new and young players as we prepare for the EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary competition in July. We should see players working hard to impress in order to break into the squad for July’s tournament in Guam.”

Guam’s next match against Aruba will be played at 8 p.m. Aruba time Sunday. The match will be streamed live on the Internet at 10 a.m. Guam time Monday on Arubaanse Voetbal Bond’s pay-per-view channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/avb-aruba-live

AFC Jason Cunliffe

AFC Jason Cunliffe

AFC MNTO Gary White

AFC MNTO Gary White

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

November

December 2023

January
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
Events for November

1st

Events for December

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for December

3rd

Events for December

4th

Events for December

5th

Events for December

5th

No Events
Events for December

7th

Events for December

8th

Events for December

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for December

10th

Events for December

11th

Events for December

12th

Events for December

12th

No Events
Events for December

14th

Events for December

15th

Events for December

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for December

16th

No Events
Events for December

18th

Events for December

19th

Events for December

19th

No Events
Events for December

21st

Events for December

22nd

Events for December

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for December

23rd

No Events
Events for December

24th

No Events
Events for December

25th

No Events
Events for December

27th

Events for December

27th

No Events
Events for December

29th

Events for December

29th

No Events
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
Events for December

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

  • IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
  • True Grit Rugby Tournament
  • IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs

QUICK HITS

The Au Mana volleyball club claimed their 2nd straight Lady Triton Volleyball League champions with a straight set victory of the Guam Pro 1 team.
——————————————————-
Four fitness athletes recently represented Guam in the Tokyo Olympia Amateurs 2023 competition in Japan.
Danielle Reyes – Classic
Joel Tudela – Classic
EJ Rosete – Classic
Alexander Slomka – Men’s Physique

More in GSPN