MASAKADA PERFORMS WELL AT EAFF TOURNEY

PRESS RELEASE – After forcing a 1-1 draw in regulation time with the Masakåda, Guam Women’s National Team, Hong Kong-China eventually prevailed with a 4-2 penalty shootout score to finish in third place in the Women’s EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition Wednesday evening in Zhuhai, China PR.

“Overall, I am so proud of how the team played and how they represented the island well,” said Kristin Thompson, Head Coach of the Guam Women’s National Team, following the match. “Many of the opposing coaches were so surprised at the talent we had on our team and how we were able to have such chemistry on the pitch after only being together as a team for such a short time.

“The future is bright for the Masakåda and I can’t wait to see what is next for all of them,” Thompson added.

Guam kept Hong Kong-China on its back heel for most of the match, taking a 1-0 advantage in just the second minute of play off a Mariah Anaya goal. Rebecca Bartosh easily won a foot race with her Hong Kong opponent on a True Dydasco forward pass and had her shot from the right side stopped by Hong Kong goalkeeper Wai Nga Leung. After the parried ball hit the post and rolled to the opposite side of the goal box, Mariah Anaya calmly collected the ball at the face of the goal and finished her opportunity.

Hong Kong-China later equalized in the 65^th minute when long-time veteran player Wai Ki Cheung lost her defensive mark on a forward pass and slotted her shot past Guam goalkeeper Isabella Hara.

With the score level at 1-1 each at the end of regulation time, competition regulations called for a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner. In the ensuing shootout, Hong Kong-China was perfect from the spot, while Mariah Anaya and Lexi Taitague were the lone successful kickers from Guam.

Guam earned its spot in the third-place match after finishing in the second position of Group B in the group stage. In the group stage, Guam defeated Macau 6-0 on Dec. 2 with two goals from Rebecca Bartosh and one each from Anaya, Kaia Malakooti, Jenae Perez, and Inyssa Perez. Guam later fell to Chinese Taipei 3-0 to finish behind the winning team in group-stage standings. 

“The team saw great improvements in the overall team shape and chemistry over the three matches,” Thompson said. “We were able to see progression in the players from the beginning of the training camp in Guam right through the tournament. The team was learning to really connect through the lines and different areas of the pitch. We played attacking-minded football especially against Macau and added a more disciplined defense against a stronger Chinese Taipei team. Against Hong Kong-China, we were able to bring both aspects together to play a more balanced game.”

A total of 14 players made their debut for the Masakåda in the recently concluded EAFF tournament: Mariah Anaya, Rebecca Bartosh, True Dydasco, Mariana Gomez, Jada Han, Isabella Hara, Salora La Rosa, Kaia Malakooti, sisters Inyssa, Jenae, and Mihaela Perez, Sierra Ruehl, Lexi Taitague, and Kaia Villanueva. 

The Masakåda debuted the new women’s custom kits produced by Macron at the tournament. To purchase authentic jerseys and other merchandise to support the team, visit https://gufanshop.myshopify.com/