Yabra tops Bandits in B.P.F.L. playoffs
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’ve logged on to the deal we call Sports Monday. Week two of the six game Belize Premier Football League playoffs brought the two remaining undefeated ball clubs to a showdown at capital city Saturday night, where defending champion Kulture Yabra of Belize City, was hosted by the Builder’s Hardware Bandits of Belmopan.
The Belize City team opens the confrontation with this trick shot from Landi Pinelo, but he doesn’t quite get hold of it. At the other end, the Builder’s reply with a trick shot of its own from the flying Julio Valle, but no impression to the scoreboard. This spot-kick from David Trapp is fraught with danger, but Shane Moody calmly hands this situation.
Now you make the call, Oliver Hendricks appears to take down Nelson Lucas inside the eighteen. Referee Leroy Clother rules penalty and it creates a firestorm of protest from the Yabra team. However, when things do calm down, the referee’s decision remains unchanged. Dennis Alvarez steps up for the conversion–Shane Moody makes the stop for Yabra, but a hustling Julio Valle bullets it home for a Belmopan 1-zip lead.
Four minutes later, this spot-kick provides Yabra with a set piece at goal, and Edon “Yellowman” Rawley comes up with a beauty that ties the ballgame at one apiece. By the way ref, unless you establish your authority, every goal will bring this kind of reaction from the players. And yes, we do have a 1-1 game at the half.
In second half play, Belmopan bids for the lead off this spot-kick, but Nelson Lucas fails to get the header between the sticks. Now here’s the big moment of the ballgame, Norman Nunez frees himself up for a shot–the defender Smart Osoboro tries to intervene, but comes up with the dreaded auto-goal as Yabra takes a 2-1 lead.
It’s getting late so Julio Valle tries for the equaliser with this nice turn around left foot, but Shane Moody stands firm in goal.
Downfield the defending champion looks to seal the deal, but the right-away right foot by Rawley is contained and then Daniel Thomas can’t catch up with the pill.
Still, it’s the Builder’s with the push for the equaliser and this spot-kick from David Trapp is potent, but not good enough to beat Shane Moody. And when the long whistle blows, it announces the 2-1 win for Kulture Yabra who have 2-0, in only team in the playoffs with that record, while Belmopan drops to 1 and 1.
In other match-ups on the schedule, Sagitun survived at the penalty spot to beat the host team San Pedro Turquoise Sunday. This is after one hundred and twenty minutes of football, which finished in a 1-1 tie. Thus, Sagitun moves to one win, one loss, they are tied with Bandits of Belmopan, while San Pedro shows two losses.
That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
