Matansa FC

Matansa
Full nameMatansa Football Club
GroundNMI Soccer Training Center
Capacity500
LeagueMSL1
2024 FallRegular season: 1st
Final Series: Champions

Matansa FC is a professional association football club from the Northern Mariana Islands, currently competing in the MSL 1. The club also fields women and youth sides.[1][2] It is one of the oldest football clubs in the Commonwealth.[3]

History

The club has previously participated in the Marianas Soccer League, including in 2016.[4] In 2023, the club won the Marianas Soccer League 2 championship.[5][6]

2024: Rise in top-flight

The 2024 Spring season saw the rise of the club, the club finished 3rd in the season earning them a spot in the season's playoffs. They were seeded against MP United in the semi-finals. The match was decided in a penalty shootout in which Matansa won with a score of 2–2 (5–3 on pens.)[7] earning them a spot for their first Marianas Soccer League 1 final. The club would face Kanoa in the finals where they would score two goals in the match, but would later lose with a scoreline of 4–2.[8]

The following 2024 Fall season showed no stopping for the club as they would top the league standings winning all of their 6 matches in the regular season and qualifying for the playoffs stage for the Fall league. They would be drawn with Marianas Development Team in the semi-final and trashing them 7-1 qualifying for the final in the Fall league. The club would face Kanoa once again for the title. The match saw a scoreline of 3–2 in favor of Matansa sealing the title for Matansa and winning their first title.[9]

Players

Current squad

As of 23 July 2023[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Jordan Ruiz
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Arif Khan
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Harry Kapwich
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Jacob Arkoh
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Andy Chen
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Amzad Khan
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Lar Wongapa
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Kamrul Kamrul
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Song Park
No. Pos. Nation Player
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Tom Linden
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Gabriel Arkoh
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Woynha Hwang
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Houston Cuohua
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Gabriel Arkoh
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Faycal El Karaa
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Derek Cutting
— Northern Mariana Islands NMI Ratol Robait

Honours

References

  1. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (March 31, 2023). "Matansa, Kanoa triumph in U12 boys soccer". Marianas Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Gases, Leigh (September 28, 2023). "Paire 1, Matansa win in intermediate women's soccer". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Mobil donates $800 to Matansa". Saipan Tribune. July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Monroyo, Roselyn (February 23, 2016). "Tan Holdings crushes Matansa". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Gases, Leigh (June 23, 2023). "Eleven Tiger, Matansa are MSL champs". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Sablan, Jr., James (June 22, 2023). "Matansa bag MSL 2 division title". Marianas Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  7. ^ RSSSF, Northern Marianas 2024 Spring playoff stage
  8. ^ "Kanoa FC bags MSL1 and MSL2 titles". Northern Mariana Islands Football Association. May 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Sablan Jr., James (November 20, 2024). "Matansa wins MSL1 title". Marianas Variety.
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