The race is on and, after three weeks of football, the pack has already begun to stretch out. FC Belize and Tex Mar Boys are currently the front-runners in group A, while San Pedro Costa Del Sol Nairi’s and Suga Boys Juventus currently share the top spot in group B. The leaders are not safe, as the contenders are not far behind.
Tex Mar Boys vs Belmopan Bandits
On Sunday, at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium, Tex Mar Boys bombed the visiting Belmopan Bandits by the score of 5-0.
Bandits held on desperately to that proverbial straw, and practically limped into the halftime break without conceding a goal. But in the second half, it was open duck season.
Ashley Torres began the scoring in the 47th minute of play, followed by a strike by Gary Young in the 51st minute, and then Arnold Torres in the 60th minute. Gilmore Palacio also scored 2 goals of his own in the 70th and 75th minute of play, to bring the score to 5-0.
This is now the second consecutive home victory for Tex Mar Boys. What a way to show off in front of your home fans. The Belmopan Bandits are struggling with 1 point to show from 3 games. They have already given up 9 goals and have yet to score 1 of their own.
HanKook Verdes United vs Toledo United
Meanwhile, at the Norman Broaster, HanKook Verdes had their hands filled with the upstart Toledo United, who were hungry for their first victory. Verdes twice had to come back from a goal down to salvage the 2-2 draw.
Kenton “Microwave” Galvez first put the visitors on the scoreboard with a goal in the 22nd minute. The 1-nil lead for Toledo lasted until the 63rd minute in the second half, when Shamir Pacheco scored the equalizer for Verdes. But 10 minutes later James Sanchez scored, to put Toledo on top once more. However, Orlando “Leech” Jimenez snatched the would-be victory from Toledo with a late goal in the 83rd minute of play, to salvage the draw.
FC Belize vs Wagiya FC
The game of the week, a rematch of the last RFG Insurance Cup tournament, the RFG Insurance Cup champion FC Belize hosted sub-champion, Wagiya FC, at the MCC Grounds.
Things were not the same this time around, as FC Belize was without several key players who are nursing injuries at the moment. Furthermore, Norman “Tilliman” Nunez had left FC Belize to join the Revolutionary Conquerors of Dangriga.
All in all, this was Wagiya’s game for the taking. But Jeromy “Jarro” James spoiled the show with a wicked shot to the far corner of the net in the 37th minute of the first half, which proved to be the ultimate game winner for FC Belize.
The game was not without its share of controversy, as several goals were called back for some infraction or the other. Wagiya finished the game with 10 players, after Jason Santos received a red card and was subsequently ejected from the game.
FC Belize has now won 3 straight, and have yet to concede a goal. Their amazing unbeaten streak extends back into the last RFG Insurance Cup tournament, with their last defeat coming in week 2.
After last week’s routing of Belize City’s Lake I, the San Pedro Costa Del Sol Nairi’s were in the friendly confines of the Ambergris Stadium, as they hosted Santel’s, from San Ignacio.
Nairi’s have now won 2 straight and are now unbeaten in their 3 games, following Sunday’s 2-nil victory over Santel’s.
The match was scoreless throughout the first half. But 3 minutes into the second half, a penalty was called in favor of Nairi’s, and Felix Alvarez made good with the conversion. Kenny Witzil then scored in the 63rd minute to give Nairi’s that extra cushion. Santel’s were unable to shake the net, as Nairi’s goalkeeper, Hilberto Caliz, posted his first clean sheet with the 2-nil victory.
Revolutionary Conquerors vs Lake I
On Sunday, at the Carl Ramos in beautiful Dangriga, Revolutionary Conquerors hosted the struggling Lake I from Belize City. After last week’s heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Suga Boys Juventus, Conquerors had every intention of taking it out on anyone who dared to step in their way.
It seemed as though Lake I had never recovered from last week’s crushing 4-2 defeat to San Pedro Costa Del Sol Nairi’s. Conquerors had a field day and had no problem in disposing of Lake I. Lennox “Criminal” Castillo scored 3 goals for Conquerors in the 14th, 41st and 57th minute of play, to register the game’s hat trick. Conquerors also got a little help as Lake I scored an auto goal in the 72nd minute. Dennis “Girl Problems” Serano also got in the action with a late goal in the 85th minute, to make it 5-nil in favor of Conquerors.
After 3 outings, Lake I remains the only team yet to register a point in the tournament.
Suga Boys Juventus vs Alpha Glitters
In the final game, played on Sunday at the People’s Stadium, Suga Boys Juventus and Alpha Glitters faced off in the classic Orange Walk derby.
Both teams were riding streaks of their own. Juventus had won 2 straight, while Alpha had managed 2 consecutive draws.
The match was as intense as it could be, with each party refusing to give in to the other.
After a scoreless first half, Merlin Teck finally broke the ice in the 55th minute, to put Alpha up 1-0. But with 5 minutes remaining in regulation play, Dean Flowers scored the equalizer for Juventus, to salvage the 1-1 draw.
With the result, both teams remain unbeaten in 3 outings. Alpha Glitters has now drawn 3 straight, and cannot afford to become complacent.