Just a day after the Northern Mariana Islands’ men’s football team made history by winning its first-ever international match in the EAFF East Asian Cup Round 1 tournament, the team’s female counterparts followed suit with a convincing 7-0 performance against Macau at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Thursday. With the 7-0 rout over the tournament debutants, NMI not only won its first-ever international match, but also managed to zero out its goal difference in the tournament after its 7-0 loss to Guam, eventual champions of the women’s tournament. “I am extremely happy (with the win),” said Jhaneeka Atalig, goalkeeper for NMI’s women’s team. “We were in Macau’s position a few years back, so this win truly shows ourselves and our island how much we’ve grown individually and as a team, but most importantly, it is also testament to the upward development of football in our island, which is quite exciting.” After Macau managed to deny an NMI shot opportunity on a corner kick in the 18th minute, Alexandria Vergara retrieved the loose ball on the play and what seemed to have been a cross curved directly into the upper right corner of the goal, giving NMI the 1-0 lead. About 10 minutes later, NMI doubled its advantage with an Emily Maxberry shot in the box and Gabrielle Race later scored on a right-side strike from about 25 yards out to put NMI three goals ahead moving into halftime. The second half was no different as NMI continued to pound in shots, converting four in the half from Maxberry and teammates Megan Silberberger, Jeraldine Castillo and Carrie Schuler. “Macau played a very packed defense, which made it quite hard to penetrate in the middle – but when we started using the flanks, we started getting some goals in,” Atalig said. “My initial reaction when Alexa first scored was that of relief. I knew that if we scored first that our team would gain confidence and the momentum would shift our way. The job, though, was far from over, as we still had to keep working hard until the final whistle. “I’m extremely proud of the result because the team had just made history for our island, and it is something we can bring back as a result of all the hard work and sacrifices that the players, coaches, officials, and executives have made,” Atalig added. Among those in the crowd who shared the pride was NMI Football Association president and EAFF Executive Committee member Jerry Tan, who witnessed the historic wins by the NMI men’s and women’s teams, both over Macau, and was on hand to personally congratulate each team member after the matches. In the NMI women’s previous performance during the 2012 edition of the tournament’s Round 1 competition, the team finished in last place, losing 6-0 to the Guam Masakåda, and next, an 11-0 loss to eventual champions Hong Kong. This year, the NMI women’s team finished in second place behind Guam. The Northern Mariana Islands' Emily Maxberry manages to needle through the defense of Sara Vaz Madeira Da Fonseca (No. 10) and Chan Ka Hei (No. 8) en route to the goal during an EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. Macau's Sara Vaz Madeira Da Fonseca tries to keep back the Northern Mariana Islands' Alexandria Vergara from the ball on the left wing during an EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. The Northern Mariana Islands' Carrie Schuler races to the ball in the box facing defensive pressure from Macau's Hoi Ka Kei during an EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. Megan Silberberger controls the ball in the midfield ahead of Macau's Sara Vaz Madeira Da Fonseca (No. 10) and Heong Hio Tong (No. 19) during an EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. Macau's Fong Iok Wa clashes with the Northern Mariana Islands' Megan Silberberger for possession of the ball during an EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. Members of both the Macau and Northern Mariana Islands women's team and coaching staff pose for a large group photo after their EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 match Thursday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center. NMI won its first-ever international match in the EAFF tournament - a 7-0 shutout of Macau. Members of the Masakåda, Guam women's national football team, proudly pose with the EAFF Women's East Asian Cup Round 1 trophy during the awards ceremony held at Samurai Restaurant Thursday evening. Guam finished as the lone undefeated team in the tournament to advance to the semifinal round, racking up 18 goals in two matches and conceding none for the Round 1 championship title.