Vallan Symns’ winning penalty kick rips the goal netting

It was a night of rare mid-week action last night at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, Cayo, the completion of Sunday’s second-leg match-up between Hankook Verdes and the number one team from Belize City, FC Belize. The match was stopped on Sunday evening with roughly about 17 minutes remaining in regulation because the stadium lights were not working properly.

The lighting problem was addressed; however, there was still reason for concern because San Ignacio was experiencing power outages during the day on Wednesday. Thankfully, Murphy did not impose any of his laws.

The seating capacity was filled to the max as Cayo fans flocked the Norman Broaster to show support for Hankook Verdes. To say that the action continued from where it left, off would be an understatement. The level of intensity and emotions had increased to immense proportions. It was a match of championship caliber.

Having used all three substitutions and playing one player down, FC had their backs in a tight corner. All Hankook Verdes had to do was to go for the kill. But FC Belize showed true grit and fought off all adversities.

Hankook Verdes went on the attack in the very first minute of the restart. Daniel Jimenez drove down the right side of FC’s defense and sent a pass to Marlon “El Matador” Meza inside the 18-yard box. But traffic was way too congested, and Meza was forced to make the outlet pass to Deris “Colombia” Benavides. After some bobbing and weaving, Benavides squared up and blasted a cannonball. FC Belize’s veteran goalkeeper, Charles Slusher, dove to his left and made an amazing save.

In the 3rdminute of the restart, FC Belize almost took the lead from a set piece taken by Norman “Tilliman” Pipersburgh. From about 35 yards out, Pipersburgh launched a scorching missile that curved around Hankook Verdes’ defensive wall. The missile was too hard for Hankook Verdes’ goalkeeper, Jaime Brooks, to handle. Brooks was well positioned to make the initial stop. FC Belize’s Deon McCaulay rushed into the danger zone and headed the rebound over the cross bar. That was the only break that FC Belize could come up with during the remainder of regulation play.

FC Belize were down to nine men when Ian “Coco” Henry had to leave the pitch to receive medical attention. By the time he was ready to re-enter the field of play, he spent almost 4 minutes trying to get the attention of the head referee for permission to re-entry. With less than a minute to go in regulation play, Henry came back into the game and immediately received a yellow card for voicing his displeasure about the time he spent on the sideline. Fortunately for FC Belize, Hankook Verdes failed to deliver the finishing blow.

In the first half of overtime, Hankook Verdes were a bit too careless with their attacks. FC Belize countered beautifully, going on the rampage and taking a total of 7 shots with 6 on target. After that all out effort in the first half of overtime, FC Belize had to dig deep into their reserve tank to hold off Hankook Verdes.

With the score still locked at 0-0, it was then onto the penalty shootout. Jose Lara failed to convert the first penalty attempt for Hankook Verdes as Charles Slusher made a kick save to the right. Tyrone “T-Bone” Muschamp had no problem converting the first penalty for FC Belize. In the second attempt for Hankook Verdes, Marlon “El Matador” Meza kicked the ball straight down the middle and Charles Slusher made the easy save. In the second attempt for FC Belize, Shannon Flowers sent his shot high over the crossbar. The third attempt for Hankook Verdes did not look pretty either. Trevor “Burger” Lennon’s penalty kick went wide left. FC Belize went up 2-0 when Charles Slusher outplaced the guessing Jamie Brooks. The young and talented Danny Jimenez, who is no stranger to pressure, kept hope alive for Hankook Verdes with his penalty conversion on the fourth try. Deon McCaulay could have won it all for FC Belize on their fourth attempt had it not been for Jaime Brooks’ diving save to his right near the upright. In the fifth attempt for Hankook Verdes, Javier “Cafu” Habet came through in the clutch to level the score at 2-2 with a beautiful conversion that had Charles Slusher going in the opposite direction.

It was then the moment of truth when Vallan Symns stepped up to the penalty spot for FC Belize’s fifth penalty kick. Symns is one of the deadliest and most efficient penalty kickers in Belize today. With ice in his veins Symns silenced the home crowd as his penalty kick literally ripped a hole in the goal net to clinch the 3-2 victory for FC Belize. Jamie Brooks did not stand a chance.

After the game a good friend told me that Charles Slusher’s performance in goal for FC Belize reminded him of Noel “Faggy” Ferguson back in 1976.

So now the question has finally been answered. And after a real hard uphill battle for FC Belize they finally made it to the finals to face a well rested Wagiya FC who have opted to give up their home field advantage.