Yabra takes game one in P.M. Cup

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and it’s a privilege to welcome you to this latest dish of Sports Monday. Eight teams started the hunt for the Prime Minister’s Knockout Cup Tournament, but at this juncture only two remain standing. These two teams met at the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday as Kulture Yabra of Belize City hosted the San Pedro Seahawks.

The opening minute of this confrontation demonstrates how crucially competitive this face off would be, but referee Ruperto Vicente eventually takes charge right here.

Yabra’s first serious attack on goal comes off this spotkick from Norman “Tilliman” Nunez that forces Charlie Slusher into a big time save.

San Pedro responds with a spotkick of its own with this floater from Harvey Alvarez, but Mario Sikonga can’t get enough of it to make it count.

Off this corner kick the Seahawks somehow squander yet another scoring opportunity adding to the tension. Things almost spill over to the unnecessary when this incident flares up without warning. But before it gets too ugly, Referee Vicente takes control and at the end of first half we’ve still got a scoreless ballgame.

Folks, if first half was an extended feeling out process, then things changed considerably after intermission as Pinelo sets table for Sikonga, but he can’t pull the trigger.

We’re ten minutes into second half when Deon Frazier in heavy traffic finds Emory Nunez and the left foot explodes into the net for the 1-zip Yabra lead.

The Seahawks try to come back immediately. Landi Pinelo raises into the danger zone, but for a second time in the match Mario Sikonga cannot execute the conversion.

Now let’s ask the big question. Is this really attractive football or will it drive away the fans from the game? (Fighting) Both players get yellow cards when they should have been run out of the park.

Nevertheless, the Seahawks still seek the equaliser, but they’ll simply have to get past Shane Moody. At the other end, Charlie Slusher is asked to make a crucial save again, and he does.

Of course, today Shane Moody in invincible today as he displays on this serious San Pedro thrust. Now, controversy enters the fray when Deon Frazier pushes this ball past Slusher. Celiz can’t make the initial stop, does on the second try, but did the ball pass the goal line? The linesman says it’s so, for which he gets mobbed and finds he gets immediate police protection. Take a look at the slow-mo and you make up your own mind as the goal stands.

Meanwhile folks, for Mario Sikonga, it’s no goal day today as he does everything right, but impress the scoreboard. Three minutes to long whistle Daniel Thomas catches up with this misplay and taps it into the goal for a 3-zip Yabra big W.

Game two goes to La Isla Bonita this Sunday at three-thirty p.m. where the Seahawks must win by a four-goal margin to wrest the Prime Minister’s Cup title from Kulture Yabra.

In cycling news, Ernest Meighan took Saturday’s fifty-five mile Sibun Water Project Elite race on the Western Highway in two hours, forty-five minutes, forty-nine seconds, beating out Ariel Rosado who finished second and Mateo Cruz who had to settle for third, from a field of nineteen.

On Sunday Santino’s Bikeland Non-Elite Masters race attracted some forty riders for the forty-mile ride. Lindy Gillette took top honours, Ray Cattouse finished second, Charlie Lewis, the living legend, third, while Kenneth Butler rounds out the top four. For sure we’re gonna keep you posted for cycling, you’ve got to be looking out for June fifteenth, when FM 2000 presents the Father’s Day Cycle Classic. Stay tuned to Sports Monday.

That’s it for now. We thank our cameramen for their great work over the weekend, Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.