F.C. Belize tops Hankook Verdes in RFG Cup play
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re certainly welcomed to this segment we Sports Monday. Week eighteen in the RFG Cup Tournament should have decided who makes the four team post season but week twelve; a full back match fixture of weekend games has yet to be staged. Nevertheless, we are inside the Norman Broaster Stadium yesterday where league leader Hankook Verdes is hosting F.C. Belize, who are cognizant of the need to win today. Of course the home team has plans of its own and they do get a good look here but Ricardo Jimenez fails to capitalize. In the meantime, this shaky punch out by goalkeeper Elroy Rawley gives Jimenez another chance to provide the lead and this effort joins his previous attempt in the squandering department. All right, we forty-tow minutes into the action when Cristobal Gilharry stays with this ball on the left side to push it past the Verdes keeper and the city team takes the 1-zip lead just like that. Just before the half, Orlando Jimenez tries for the equalizer with this long distance off wing that Rawley certainly handles.
Immediately into the second half Paul Nunez goes to the long distance dial but it’s right at the keeper. Now check this out people. The Verdes team should have gotten the equalizer right here. Instead Vallan Simms, fresh back from injury, goes all out for the save. He tweaks something in the successful effort but Simms would be able to continue. Verdes then goes to the set piece triggered by Shamir Pacheco, it’s a beauty delivery and guess what: Elroy Rawley does shine. At the other end F.C. Belize gets to display its try at the set piece and it’s a good one only header from Germane Zuniga flies wide. Of course we do like the aerobics from Mark “Kello” Leslie. It would have been a spectacular goal, which is a conditional tense in this instance. Verdes continue to push for the equalizer and things go their way when Ian Gaynair takes down Daniel Jimenez inside the eighteen. Referee Williams rule penalty. The striker steps up to pull the trigger himself and he leaves Rawley looking as he ties the score at one a piece seventy-five minutes into the ballgame. We’re at the ninety-first minutes it’s the waning moment in this drama when this corner kick is mishandled by the Verdes defense the ball bounces to Jeremy James and it’s the game winner for F.C. Belize in a 2-1 final score.
In other action around the league the B.D.F. marched over Santels 2-nil. Revolutionary Conquerors and Suga Boys Juventus battled to a 2-2 stalemate and the San Pedro Dolphins, well they sunk former league leader Wagiya 1-zip. Thus, with only week twelve’s schedule remaining to complete the regular season schedule; Hankook Verdes leads the pack with 26 points, the B.D.F. is next with 25 points and both these clubs make the four team playoffs regardless of what happens on the week twelve’s fixture. F.C. Belize has 24 points, Wagiya 23, San Pedro 21, Georgetown Ibayani 19, Juventus 17, Revolutionary conquerors 15 and Santels 14 points. This means Wagiya must beat Ibayani on week twelve’s schedule or San Pedro gets in with a win over Revolutionary Conquerors. Santels will battle F.C. Belize and the B.D.F. faces Hankook on this card for which no date has yet been confirmed.
You see the National Football Team of Belize will be on the road or at Guatemala World Cup qualifying home game match against St. Kitts scheduled for the sixth February. Despite the outcry about the big, big embarrassment it has become. Fact one – we as Belizeans do not have a football venue approved for FIFA matches and fact two – whether we play or not, we are already losers on the real scene. Think about it a minute.
In Super League of Belize football play over the weekend Forever Strong Kraal Road crushed Texmar Boys 3-1, Belmopan Bandits burned Barrio Fino 1-zip, Benque D.C. United bombed Alpha Barcelona 3-nil and Estrellas F.C. blanked Roots F.C. 2 to nothing. On this weekend’s schedule in the Super League of Belize Texmar Boys meets Benque United and Belmopan takes on Roots F.C. both these ballgames will be staged on Saturday. On Sunday, Alpha Barcelona will host Estrellas F.C. and Kraal Road will be at the M.C.C. Grounds against Barrio Fino.
In closing, folks we just want to remind you that there’s only fifteen days remain to blast off in the 2008 M&M Tour and this is one cycling show you certainly can’t afford to miss people. Hey, that’s it for now though. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
