Juventus clinch win over Bandits in overtime
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. It took the final match on the B.P.F.L. playoffs to determine which two teams would make it on to the three game championship series in Regent’s Cup tournament. With three teams showing nine points apiece going into the last weekend of play, it became very obvious that the playoff battle at the People’s Stadium featuring Builder’s Hardware Bandits and Fabro’s Juventus Starts yesterday at Orange Walk would prove severely crucial to the championship ambitions of both ballclubs.
And of course, the security concerns of the game officials are adequately addressed by the law for this critical showdown in semi-pro football.
To the delight of screaming Juventus fans, Rudolph Flowers looks to open the scoring immediately, but he’ll have to find a way to keep down the pill.
At the other end, Jair Perera provided nuff excitement for the Belmopan crew, but the push is swatted away by Geovanni Rodriguez.
Off this set piece, Raul Celiz hooks this right foot punch, but Geovanni Rodriguez leads it all the way. On this press, Derys Benavides sets table for Edmund “The Buzzard” Pandy, whose left foot launch lashes against the crossbar as Orange Walk dodges the bullet.
Just before the half concludes, the Juventus rooster is reduced to ten when Mark Leslie is chased off the field after receiving a second yellow card on this foul play.
We don’t know if this was supposed to be half time show, but this ageing gentleman sure know how to control a pellota doesn’t he.
Out of intermission, the Bandits jump on Juventus off this spotkick, but Deon Frazier does not get enough of the ball to maximise the damage. Sugar City responds with this run from Rudolph Flowers, but Charlie Slusher comes up with a fine save.
We’ve got to admit, Derys Benavides has skills, but he’s also got to get some help if the Bandits are to make it to the finals. Meanwhile, we can only call this a late whistle because Perera does beat Ian Henry, but the whistle rules off side.
This centre from off the left wing brings about a clash of bodies between the Orange Walk keeper and Julio Valle. Action resumes only after Rodriguez’s bloody nose was remedied and Julio Valle is chased off the field of play for his role in this crash.
And at the end of regulation we have a scoreless draw.
So we go to overtime play and sudden death, and its Belmopan with the first opportunity to move up the scoreboard when Perera centres to “Buzzard” Pandy, who squanders what should have been a sure thing.
This ups the ante, so Roberto Burns tries something at the other end, but we’re not sure if it’s a shot or a pass. What we do know though, is that this is the sequence that brings success to Sugar City. The Bandits had ample opportunities to clear the ball from the danger zone and did not. So off the left wing, Roberto Burns makes them pay the maximum price and Juventus wins 1-nil in the crucial showdown.
Roberto Burns, Juventus
“It’s my first time. I came out hard, I dedicate myself to team, and I try to put the winning goal. I dream about this last night and it’s a dream come true for me now.”
Juventus will now go on to face Kulture Yabra in the three game championship series, set to kick off this Sunday at the M.C.C. Grounds, since the defending champion hurt Griga United 4-2 at the Barracks yesterday.
Turning to the cycling scene, Quinton Hamilton of Belize proves to be the baddest in yesterday’s hundred and twenty kilometre ride at Chetumal, Mexico. He beat out teammate Andrew Smiling and Herman Requeña; Ariel Rosado took fourth, while Rafael Castillo of Cancun rounds out the top five. Hamilton was clocked at 2 hours, 50 minutes, 56 seconds.
In the junior eighty kilometre race, Edwin Ramos Sanchez of Chetumal beat out Chris Galvez of team Red House Belize for top honours in a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes, 35 seconds.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today we certainly invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
