BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 22, 2015–It was high-tension drama at the MCC Grounds this past Saturday, where Week 10 in the 2015 Smart 13 & Under Mundialito Tournament saw teams battling to claim a spot in the 4-team playoffs. Cellar dwelling Third World lost by default to Collet Strikers, and all the other games ended scoreless, with one exception, that between two teams in a quest for the #4 spot in the playoffs.
Three teams are already assured of a playoff berth; only their seedings are not yet final. But Ladyville Jaguars and Hattieville Youth FC had a lot on the line when they clashed in the opener on Saturday; and at the final whistle, Ladyville Jaguars claimed the 1-nil victory over Hattieville Youth FC on a goal by Jaguars’ star striker D’Jon Canelo, who has scored all of the Jaguars 8 goals so far in the tournament. Game 2 saw Collet Strikers pick up a default (3-0) win over Third World. It was the same score, 0-0, in all four remaining games: Young Warriors 0-0 Brown Bombers; Charlston Strikers FC 0-0 Face of Belize; Heights FC 0-0 City Boys; and Rising Stars 0-0 London Strikers.
One more regular season week remains, and it will determine the fourth playoff spot. (See Week 10 standings below.) It will all be decided in Week 11, the final regular season week this Saturday.
A draw is not enough for Hattieville; they need a win against undefeated Brown Bombers, and hope that Ladyville Jaguars draws or loses on Saturday against the other Ladyville based team, Rising Stars. If the Jaguars win, Hattieville would be automatically out of the playoffs, and could only play for the glory of being the only team this season to defeat the standings leader Brown Bombers.
Week 11 schedule at MCC Grounds:
Saturday, June 27
9:30 a.m. – Face of Belize vs Third World
10:15 a.m. – Ladyville Jaguars vs Rising Stars
11:00 a.m. – Young Warriors vs Collet Strikers
11:45 a.m. – London Strikers vs Heights FC
12:30 p.m. – City Boys vs Charlston FC
1:15 p.m. – Brown Bombers vs Hattieville Youth FC
Next week Saturday will be the knockout semifinals, #1 seed vs #4 seed; and #2 seed vs #3 seed.