Verdes and Wagiya draw in R.F.G. Cup Football
Good evening. I?m James Adderley and we certainly welcome you to this portion of Sports Monday.
The drums herald the message that league leading Wagiya of Dangriga is inside the Norman Broaster Stadium at San Ignacio for its seventh week face off with the host team Hankook Verdes in a battle for Regent Cup Supremacy.
We?re just eight minutes in when Orlando Jimenez gets this one on one chance against Griga?s goalkeeper Woodrow West, but Jimenez will have to do better than that.
Talk about doing better than that we can only holler at Jorge Dorado. Que pasa boy? As he botches a totally open look at goal.
At the thirty-sixth minute Julio Valle centre is interrupted by Jorge Dorado, whose clearance goes only as far as Dean Flowers, who gets the pill to Khalil Velasquez and Wagiya takes a 1-zip lead.
Five minutes later Khalil Velasquez returns the favour as he somehow sets table for Dean Flowers in heavy traffic and the former O.W. star makes no mistake as Wagiya extends to a 2-zip lead.
Verdes tries to cut the deficit in half before intermission, so Marlon Mesa goes to Jorger Dorado but his left foot screamer is contained by West. At half Wagiya boasts a 2-zip lead.
Folks it?s a more determined Hankook Verdes that returns for part two and Jose Lara?s header in early second half play almost puts the host team on the scoreboard.
Ricardo Jimenez then offers this grass head burner from outside the eighteen only to see it streak past the goalmouth.
In the meantime, scoring chances are woefully missing for Wagiya in second half. But this one should have given the south a 3-zip lead except for the timely intervention of the Cayo keeper.
The Verdes pressure finally pays off when Ricardo Jimenez deals to Marlon Mesa and the host team gets on to the scoreboard.
Now keep your eyes on number fifteen Linlork Tate as he is deemed to have been taken down by Harrison Tasher and referee Jones rules penalty.
Marlon Mesa steps up and truly embarrasses Woodrow West for his second goal of the match and we have a 2-2 tie.
In the closing moments Wagiya thinks they had a penalty too, when Julio Valle is shouldered to the ground by Smart Omoryuwi. But the men in the middle disagrees with that sentiment and at whistle we have a 2-2 final score.
In other action around the league, Belmopan Bandits double Alpha 2-1 at O.W., while at the M.C.C. Grounds F.C. Belize blanked Across Lake 2-zip.
Thus after seven weeks the standings looks like this undefeated Wagiya leads with 17 points, Verdes is next with 13, F.C. Belize and Belmopan are tied with 11 points a piece, while Acros Lake and Alpha are tie but in the cellar with 3 points each.
Weeks eight schedule finds Hankook Verdes hosting Alpha at Cayo on Sunday. Wagiya will get a visit from Acros Lake, while F.C. Belize will play host to the Belmopan Bandits at the M.C.C. Grounds.
Turning to the basketball scene, we had a glimpse of the Burrel Boom competition as B?Black clashed with Fresh Pond Punishers Friday night.
The Punishers gets off fast. Pensworth Tzul misses the shot but there?s Raymon Gongora with the rebound and the put back.
Daniel Castillo then gets his man up in the air and penetrates further for two.
Ray Gongora in heavy traffic gets the bucket, picks up the foul and would lead his team with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
At the other end Jeremy Flowers raises for three and gets three. Reneau Budd then runs the length of the court to get the easy two. He would lead his team with the game high of 18 and 8 rebounds. At the end of third it?s a 44-44 tie.
Okay we?re down to the final seconds with B?Black leading 59-57, when Raymond Gongora goes for the tie. He fails in the attempt. Possession goes to B?Black, who prevail over the Punishers by that exact score.
In cycling news, we take you in front of Leslie?s Imports for the finish of the Open Comfort Air fifty-six miler that attracted thirty-seven riders.
Today it?s a junior rider Darnel Barrow riding for Benny?s Megabytes, who streaks in to take first place in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 36 seconds.
The battle for second sees Santino?s Giovanni Leslie grab the position forcing Byron Pope into third and Colin Mehia into fourth, while Quinton Hamilton rounds out the top five.
Hey folks, that is it for now though. We invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah, over all I am James Adderley.