Football dominated the Weekend Sports

Good evening, I’m James Adderley. Welcome to Sports Monday.

The PLB playoffs got off with a bang over the weekend with all 4 teams seeing action in a bid to reach the finals as the league seeks to produce a champion to represent the Jewel in this year’s UNCAF Champions Tournament. So we take you to the MCC Grounds where FC Belize played host to the red hot Police United yesterday intending to use the home field to get a jump in this home and away series. It certainly was a brilliant start for FC as we’re only a minute in when Ian Gaynair throws in to Jeremy Bermudez who gets this ball across the face of the goal to Jeremy James who gives his team a quick 1-zip lead. The Police responds immediately by ramping up the pressure and it pays off when Evan Mariano finds Bernard Linares who punches this grasshead burner into the far corner to tie the ballgame at 1 apiece. 7 minutes later, Police takes the lead when Orlando Jimenez gets this ball in front of the goal to Evan Mariano whose right away attempt that was going wide bounces off Ivor Arriola for the dreaded auto goal and Police goes up 2 to 1.

This corner kick fired by Francisco Briceño gives FC Belize a chance at the equalizer but courageous defending by the Police stifles the attempt. A minute later when Ivor Arriola picks out Jeremy James, the striker should have delivered the tie; instead he unleashes a high riser. James tries to make amends with this header but it would be snatched up by Glenford Chimilio Jr. So Francisco Briceño decides to test him from outside the 18 with this left foot bomb but again Chimilio handles the occasion. FC Belize does get a break when Thomas Castro is taken down inside the box forcing referee Irfan Basdemir to point to the penalty spot. Cristobal Gilharry gets the call and serves up a beauty to tie the ballgame at 2 apiece at the 60^th minute. Police United then took to regain the lead off this corner kick kept alive to Bernard Linares whose launch forces Rawley to punch and he nearly concedes with an auto goal when the ball bits the far upright. Game 1 of the series ends in a 2-2 tie.

In other semifinal series, the B.D.F. and Placencia Assassins battled to a scoreless stalemate at Placencia yesterday. So Week 2 of the playoffs must produce winners this Sunday, April 28^th even if it means going to penalty kicks. Police United will now host FC Belize at the Isidorio Beaton Stadium while the B.D.F. will be inside the Norman Broaster Stadium against Placencia Assassins. Only 2 teams will move on so lookout for major fireworks.

Turning to the Belize Female Football League, Dangriga Pumas headed to Esperanza on Saturday for its date with Gentle Touch. It’s the visitors with the 1^st real chance to score when Dorita Ramos gets this look at an open goal only to raise the ball over the crossbar. A few minutes later, it’s Ashanti Velasquez with this center to Miss Mejia who converts it to the 1^st goal of the ballgame as the visitors go up 1-zip. In the meantime, Shereen Vasquez should have handled this ball before the bounce—she doesn’t so Kimberly Perez ties the ballgame at 1 apiece. Off this spot kick, Gentle Touch gets at least 3 opportunities to score but nevertheless Dorita Ramos pounces on this pass in front of an empty goal and drills it home for the 2-1 score.

A few minutes later, this corner kick causes confusion in the Griga defense as the ball bounces into the net for the 2-2 score so credits Shanell Gentle with the goal. It’s late in the ballgame when Gentle deals to Marilyn Flores who pushes the ball past Shereen Vasquez and it turns out to be the game winner in a 3-2 score.

In other football news, results from Orange Walk Compeition shows that in Week 3, Progresso pounded Douglas 5-zip, Sinbad crushed San Juan 5-1, Otro Benque edged San Estevan 4-3 and Crystal FC doubles Trial Farm 2-1. In the South Zone, San Cruz blanked Chan Pine Ridge 2-nil, Yo Creek and Palmar battled to a 3-3 stalemate, August Pine Ridge lashed LA Boys 2-zip and Tower Hill handles Trinidad in a 5-3 finish.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.