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Intense race for top two spots in Futsal groups

A Green Bay A player dribbles the ball as two PanSa opponents converge on him during Match Day 3 of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament at Samoana High School’s gym in Utulei on Saturday, May 20, 2017.  
[FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Bryman Levaula of Tafuna Jets 2 tries to control the ball against Lion Heart A’s Jordan Leilua on Match Day 3 of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament at Samoana High School’s gym in Utulei on Saturday, May 20, 2017.  
[FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Vaha Tua of Vaiala Tongan in action against Vaitogi United on Match Day 3 of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament at Samoana High School’s gym in Utulei on Saturday, May 20, 2017.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Tafuna Jets 1’s Harry Matau holds off Lion Heart B’s Charmaney Faatupuinati on Match Day 3 of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament at Samoana High School’s gym in Utulei on Saturday, May 20, 2017.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Green Bay B’s goalkeeper in action against Pago Youth 2 on Match Day 3 of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament at Samoana High School’s gym in Utulei on Saturday, May 20, 2017.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]

It is an intense race for the top two spots in both pools of the 2017 FFAS Futsal Tournament after Match Day 3 results from Saturday, May 20, at Samoana High School’s gymnasium in Utulei.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Championship bracket, and it is a clouded race with five teams in both Pools 1 and 2 having at least a mathematical shot at earning one of the four slots in the group that will determine American Samoa’s futsal champions.

POOL 1

In Round 5 games last Saturday, Lion Heart A beat Tafuna Jets 2 4-1, while in other results it was Green Bay A 3, Pago Youth 1 by forfeit; Utulei Youth 7, Black Roses 2 and Royal Puma 3, PanSa 0 by forfeit.

In Round 6 results, it was Royal Puma 3, Lion Heart A 1; Pago Youth 1 1 Utulei Youth 0; Green Bay A 3 PanSa 3 and Tafuna Jets 2 2, Black Roses 1.

Utulei Youth is ahead of Pago Youth 1, and Royal Puma by a point with 13 to the latter two’s 12. Lion Heart A is fourth with 11, followed by Green Bay A (seven), Black Roses (four), and PanSa (one).

Pago Youth 1 holds the goals differential tiebreaker against Royal Puma with an 11-6 edge.

This Saturday, the coveted top two spots will be contested heatedly between Pago Youth 1 and Royal Puma as both teams face one another. Lion Heart A is in play for one of the two spots also, but needs several scenarios to fall into place for them, such as a win against PanSa and possible tie between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds.

Utulei Youth will claim the top spot if they win their final match against the Jets 2 to maintain.

The final round will be played on Saturday and the playoffs scheduled for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 29.

POOL 2

Vaiala Tongan took the top spot away from the Jets 1 after the latest rounds in Pool 2 with 13 points, followed by the latter with 12, while Ilaoa & To’omata sits at third with 10. Lion Heart B is fourth with eight points, followed by Taputimu Youth with eight as well, Green Bay B at No. 7 with six and Vaitogi United in eighth place with one point.

In Round 5 games last Saturday, it was Jets 1 1, Lion Heart B 0; Pago Youth 2 6, Green Bay B 3; Vaiala Tongan 1, Vaitogi United 1 and a double forfeit for Ilaoa & To’omata and Taputimu Youth. In Round 6 games, it was Vaiala Tongan 3, Lion Heart B 1, Ilaoa & To’omata 5, Pago Youth 2 0, Green Bay B 3, Vaitogi United 1 and Taputimu Youth 4, Jets 1 3.

Jets 1 and Ilaoa & To’omata will battle for one of the top two spots this coming Saturday, while Vaiala Tongan hopes to maintain it’s No. 1 position with a win against Pago Youth 2.