Yabra and Griga tie in weekend clash
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’ve landed aboard this fanciful flight of Sports Monday. The mad rush to make the Regent Cup Football playoffs found the defending champion Kulture Yabra at Dangriga in action against league leading Griga United yesterday as week sixteen rolled in. It was a ballgame you shouldn’t have missed.
But first, we must tell you that the law enforcement agencies were well aware of the excitement this match-up would have created and were out in full force to maintain law and order.
On the field of play, it was the visitors looking to impose their will with this long pass, but Stanley Reneau takes care of biz for the host.
From long distance, Yabra’s Roberto Muschamp tries to open the scoreboard, but the ball inches over the crossbar. Orlando Pinelo then gets his turn to put Yabra on top, only the header sails high.
But don’t go nowhere because when Harvey Alvarez floats this centre into the danger zone. Oliver Hendricks catches up with it to lead the ball into the meanest corner as Yabra takes a 1-zip lead.
This spotkick from Tilliman Nunez exposes a poorly positioned Reneau, but the pill inches outside the sticks, much to the goalkeeper’s relief.
Down by one, Dangriga finally gets some firepower when Francis “Carcass” Arzu unleashes this right foot bomb, only to see it zip past the target.
It’s more Griga United offence on this press from the right side, but they nevertheless come away empty in two tries. Now check this grind on Hilberto Muschamp by Francis Arzu and naturally, the Yabra defender must be restrained from retaliating.
If timing is everything, then Assizi Suazo must be told he had the last opportunity before he actually took the shot. At the half, Yabra leads 1-nil.
In second half, Griga comes out attacking and this long distance shot looks good until it veers outside the sticks.
Keep you eyes on this kick-out by Stanley Reneau. It reaches an unattended Bent Burgess and he smokes it through Shane Moody’s outstretched legs for the 1-1 tie and his league leading sixteenth goal of the season.
Still happy about the Burgess goal, some two minutes later, the Griga defence is caught napping and Nunez’s shot at goal is heeled by Landi Pinelo for the 2-1 Yabra lead and the slickest goal of the season so far
But, hold on a minute. Denmark Casey deals with David Serrano, not to be confused with his brother Dennis Serrano, and his left foot push ties the ballgame at 2 apiece. Even this blackbird lands on the field in celebration, and we’ve just got to say that’s one brave flying creature.
Bird or no bird, Tilliman Nunez looks to steal the win late in the ballgame off this spotkick, but Stanley Reneau sails–well like a bird–to come up with the save.
Still, Yabra has one more chance to steal the W when Ervin “Bird” Flores fires at Reneau, who pushes the pill to Nunez, who somehow squanders from point-blank range. And when the long whistle blows, both teams seem contented with the 2-2 draw.
Bent Burgess, Griga United
“Well my tem came out aggressive today. I’m not hundred percent satisfied, but nevertheless this was the result of the game, a 2-2 draw. And I believe that in our upcoming games we will increase.”
James Adderley
“Are you satisfied with the performance of your team today?”
Norman Nunez, Kulture Yabra
“Well certainly we had to satisfy with a draw, but we could have win because we had numerous opportunity in the last part of the game. But that’s just how the games plays, we get the break and we didn’t capitalise on it. Griga played a good ballgame today, and when we play we usually a good ballgame, it’s always a tight match.”
James Adderley
“Was the breeze a factor in this one?”
Norman Nunez
“Well certainly not, like I said, we just missed our opportunity. We wasn’t capitalising on our opportunity, and that’s a big factor in the game because once you don’t capitalise then you cannot win the ballgame.”
In other results from over the weekend, Juventus double San Pedro 2-1, Corozal got past Acros Brown Bombers 2-1, Builder’s Bandits blanked Acros Verdes 2-zip, while Jacintoville F.C. and Lazio struggled to a 1-all stalemate.
Thus, with two weeks off regular season action remaining Builder’s Bandits returns to the top of the standings with 35 points, Griga shows 34, both Yabra and Juventus have 32 points apiece. Verdes stays at 27 Acros Bombers and Corozal F.C. are tied at 15 points apiece, Lazio F.C. and San Pedro both show 14 points, while Jacintoville has 4 points. Only the top four teams make it to the playoffs. Only the top six teams are guaranteed a spot inside next year’s semipro football tournament, so you know at the top and at the bottom the pressure is on. We are going to keep you posted, stay tuned.
But that’s it for right now, we want to thank our cameramen for their great work over the weekend. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
