San Pedro Pirates FC
by William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
SAN PEDRO, Ambergris Caye, Sat. Apr. 19, 2025
Verdes FC is one game away from winning another Premier League of Belize (PLB) football championship, after they sacked the San Pedro Pirates FC, 2-0, at the Ambergris Stadium on Holy Saturday night, April 19, to win the first leg of the home-and-away finals series in the PLB 2024-2025 Closing Season.
Verdes FC
It was a gratifying victory for the Green Machine, who had struggled to a 2-2 draw with the Pirates in their last regular season visit to the island on March 1. As before, Krisean Lopez (6’) opened the scoreboard, and Desmond Wade and Bryan Lozano pressed the attack for more goals, supported by midfield general Jordi Polanco, Eldon “Tuncy” Reneau and Allence Ayala. Brian Chavez anchored the Pirates’ defense with Louis Valdez, Marlon Gutierrez and Devon Makin, to help their goalkeeper Selvin Sagastume not concede any more goals before the half.
(l to r) Pirates’ Moises Hernandez vs Verdes’ Krisean Lopez
Down at the other end, Keydenshay Bowen and Jaheim Mena led the host’s offensive, with the help of Brayan Vargas, Moises Hernandez, Jose Chimal and Gabriel Ramos, Jr. Verdes’ veteran defender Everald Trapp, Christian Sanchez Ramirez, Darrel Myvett, and Jaylen Lennan gave them short shrift, and goalkeeper Woodrow West denied all other challenges.
Christian Ramirez (52’) delivered the coup de grâce, and the Pirates had no comeback before the final whistle.
(l to r) Verdes’ Eldon “Tuncy” Reneau vs Pirates’ Gabriel Ramos, Jr.
Fans await to see what new strategy the PLB’s first female coach, Ada Cordova will devise, for the Pirates to equalize the score and take home the title, when Verdes host the rematch in the 2nd leg of the Finals at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo on Saturday night, April 26.
“It’s not over till it’s over,” and the San Pedro fans are well aware that it was on Verdes’ home turf at the Marshalleck Stadium some 5 months ago, after a 1-1 draw in their Opening Season semifinal Game One on the island, that the Pirates had rebounded with a 3-2 road win to disappoint the Verdes fans and seal a spot in the finals for the Pirates against Port Layola FC, who went on to win that championship series.
In this Closing Season, despite their Holy Saturday finals first leg 2-0 loss, the Pirates are not to be counted out, because in this year’s semifinals against defending champions Port Layola, after a 1-1 draw on the island, and trailing 2-0 at the Marion Jones Sports Complex, the islanders exploded for 4 unanswered goals to shock Port Layola, 4-2, and secure themselves a second consecutive berth in the PLB championship finals.
Will lightning strike twice for the San Pedro Pirates, or will the Green Machine exact sweet revenge at the Marshalleck Stadium this Saturday night?