BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 17, 2018– Home standing Verdes FC were shocked, 4-2, by visiting Belmopan Bandits SC at the Norman Broaster Stadium yesterday in the first leg of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2018-2019 Opening Season championship series.
After a convincing 4-1 semifinal game-1 win against San Pedro Pirates FC at the Ambergris Stadium on Saturday night, Verdes had barely survived a San Pedro offensive in the return match on Verdes’ home turf in a mid-week clash on Wednesday night, when San Pedro jumped to a 2-nil lead with Verdes a man short from an ejection. But the Green Machine got a header from captain, Elroy Smith off a free kick by Darwin Bermudez, and they held the score at 2-1, eventually advancing to the finals with the 5-3 aggregate advantage. But after injuries suffered in game 1, Verdes was without star midfielders Denmark Casey and Brazilian Roberto de Silva Lima, as well as multi-talented Jarret Davis for the second semifinal, and they remained on the injured list for game 1of the final yesterday.
The Bandits took a commanding 2-nil lead through Kevin Guevara Vicente (3’) and Georgie Welcome (16’), before Elroy Kuylen (45’) cut the lead in half. Welcome re-opened the gap to 3-1 with his second tally at the 64th minute. Verdes refused to “say die,” and just returning from a long layoff due to injury, midfielder Nahjib Guerra (68’) cut the lead to 3-2. But again the Bandits established a 2-goal lead when last season’s MVP, Trimayne “Peppa” Harris shook the net at the 73rd minute, and it remained 4-2 till the end.
It’s not an impossible hurdle for Verdes to overcome in game 2; but it is a mighty tall order still against the best goalkeeper in the tournament, Shane Orio in goal for the Bandits. Verdes will need a return to the line-up of one or more of their sidelined stars, Denmark Casey, Roberto de Silva and Jarret Davis.
All roads lead to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium for the 2nd leg of the championship and awards ceremony following the game on Saturday night.