Acros and San Pedro battle to draw
Good evening?I?m James Adderley and welcome to this portion of Sports Monday. The BFL playoffs brought a pivotal showdown to La Isla Bonita on Sunday as the mighty San Pedro Dolphins played host to undefeated Acros of Belize City in an effort to keep its waning title hopes alive. It?s only three minutes into the ball game when this outside launch from the Dolphins wakes up Edmundo Funes in the Acros goal.
Acros first real attempt at scoring comes off this spot kick but it?s right at John Brooks who makes the stop. But it?s all San Pedro so far and Landi Pinelo certainly knows he should have put the Dolphins on to the scoreboard with this push so the Acros fans breathe a sigh of relief.
The Dolphins threaten again off this spot kick but Funes makes the initial stop while Clifford Usher comes up with the clearance and at the halfway point it?s still a scoreless ball game. So we go to the second half action as Acros look to go offensive — Puntus Gentle leaves the shot for Jose West but the ball rolls feebly to Brooks.
Again Acros goes for the goal as West deals to Clifford Usher who shoots, but directly at Brooks. If football is a game of inches then Edmundo Funes covered enough, to make this big save against a speedy Landi Pinelo.
Hey folks, Funes looks impressive in goal today as he intervenes against John Trapp to calm a situation fraught with danger for Acros. By the way, Landi, this should have been a right away left foot bashment as he fails to execute the intended beat.
It?s getting late so again Acros goes to the spot kick to get something going but again the launch is righted by John Brooks and at the end of regulation play it is a scoreless stalemate. Both clubs came away happy with what they?ve accomplished.
Let?s join Patrick Jones for the post-game conversations.
Orlando Pinelo, San Pedro Dolphins
We had good opportunities to score but bad luck on our side. That?s the way that the ball game goes. Everyone can?t score at all the opportunities.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Q: Joe, it was a nil-nil score at the end. Was this a disappointment for you all?
Joe West, Acros
Well, I would not call it disappointing but I believe the team could have played a little bit better. We didn?t get our act together in the first half, we didn?t warm up properly and we came onto the field 10 minutes before three o?clock and the game should have started three o?clock. But I believe the team more or less got its act together in the second half and I believe that Martin Nolberto got a major hurt and that caught us off guard. We are satisfied with the draw because we took four points out of San Pedro and I think that?s good enough — four points out of six points.
Patrick Jones
Q: A nil-nil score today. Was this a disappointing game for you all?
Al Westby, San Pedro Dolphins
Most naturally. We needed this win to get on top of things where we wanted to get. Unfortunately in the first half we missed all the breaks. I told my defense that we had to tighten up and we can?t give up any goals because those goals will come back to haunt us, definitely.
Patrick Jones
Q: It definitely does not make it any easier going into next week?s game.
Al Westby
Of course not, because we are on the road and then we need to win that and then we have two games at home which we need to stay on top with to keep in the top two series.
Patrick Jones
Q:In terms of executing today, did you execute the game plan?
Hilberto Mushcamp, Acros
No, not really. We reach out here late, didn?t warm up before we entered the field of play and we didn?t play up to mark , but fortunately, we did not lose this game.
Patrick Jones
Q: In terms of getting closer to a championship, do you think you?re well on your way?
Hilberto Muschamp
Yes, I?m very much sure. If the team is confident and playing hard, I think with time we?ll get there and Belize City hasn?t gotten a championship in the last four years and I think this year is the year for Acros to get their championship again.
Meanwhile in the other BFL playoff match-up Juventus of Orange Walk dished out a 5 — zip lashing to the Builders Hardware Bandits of Belmopan.
I?m James Adderley. Jah over all!
