BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 17, 2015–It is 5:00 p.m. right now, and three hours away from game time for Belize’s Verdes FC, who are getting ready to take the field at 8:00 p.m. for their CONCACAF Champions League return match against Mexico’s Queretaro FC in Queretaro, Mexico. They drew 0-0 in their first meeting at the FFB Stadium on August 18.
Of some concern going into tonight’s Champions League match is that Verdes’ defense has not pitched a shutout yet in 4 games so far in the PLB Opening Season tournament, conceding a goal in each of their first three encounters, and 2 in their last outing against the young Wagiya team. But on the bright side is that their star striker Deon McCaulay is in fine form, exploding for a hat trick, including an injury time strike, to secure the 3-2 win for Verdes over Wagiya this past Saturday.
Reviewing the past weekend’s Week 4 PLB games, there were two Saturday night games and one on Sunday.
At the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Saturday night, home standing Wagiya twice jumped out in front, with goals from Kyle Valerio (14’) and Brandon Cacho (46’); but each time, Deon McCaulay hit back for Verdes (37’, 78’ & 90+’), netting the 3-2 game winner in injury time. Meanwhile, at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, the home team was again disappointed, as Belmopan Bandits fell by a 3-1 margin to the visiting Placencia Assassins FC. Placencia got a goal apiece from Alexander “Pleck” Peters (41’), Daiyon Coradon (48’) and Lionel Cabral (85’); while Highking Roberts (58’) got the sole tally for the Bandits.
In the only PLB game on Sunday, it was home standing Police United, 1-0, over BDF, on a second half goal by Devon Makin (72’).
The Placencia Assassins vs Police United back match will be the only PLB game this weekend, as Verdes returns from Mexico to face San Francisco FC of Panama on Tuesday, September 22, at the FFB Stadium in another Champions League encounter.
Saturday, September 19
7:30 p.m. – Placencia Assassins FC vs Police United FC – Michael Ashcroft Stadium