Boys Soccer: Knights top Panthers in a nail-biter to capture title

Kadena’s Elijah Whipp plays the ball between CAJ’s Haruto Abe and Makoto Clark. (Photo by Isaiah Ramirez/Special to Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – In a Far East soccer tournament week that featured seven playoff matches going to penalty-kick shootouts, Christian Academy Japan saved the most dramatic of them all for last.

Rohan Ramirez-Thorne booted in the winning penalty kick and keeper Daigo Takakusaki stopped Kadena’s last shootout try, as the Knights dethroned the two-time defending champion Panthers 3-2 in Wednesday’s Boys Division I final.

“I have never seen a game like this in my life. This is unbelievable,” Knights coach Charles Smoker said. Rohan, that guy has fought through injury. Last year, he couldn’t come because of grades. He was determined to come through this year for the team.”

And come through he did in a match that featured a number of twists and turns, through 80 minutes of full time, 20 of extra time, 10 of golden-goal time and finally a PK shootout.