BELIZE CITY, Mon. May 28, 2018– The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Inter-District Club Competition 2018 completed its 2nd leg of quarterfinals with all 4 games played yesterday, Sunday.

At the MCC Grounds, it was 1-1 between FC Elite and Valley United FC from Belmopan.  Jason Sanchez (2’) put the visitors in front, but Tyriq Ciego (23’) equalized from the penalty spot for FC Elite, who advance by 3-2 aggregate to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, in an all-Orange Walk affair at the Louisiana Field, it was Progresso FC, 3-0, over Trinidad FC, with goals from Walter Robles (36’ & 46+’) and Gabriel Perez (71’).  Progresso advances on 3-0 aggregate.

At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, regulation ended 3-3 between Penarol FC and the visiting Kelly Street FC from Belize City. With a 1-1 draw last week, this meant it was a 4-4 aggregate, with Kelly Street having the advantage by the “away goal rule.”  But, inexplicably, the referee reportedly insisted on overtime. Fortunately for Kelly Street, they prevailed with 3 more goals in overtime for the 6-3 final score. Kelly Street goals were by Francisco Briceno (2’) and Steven Baizer (20’, 86’ PK, 105’ & 119’) along with an own goal by Penarol’s Axel Quewell (99’ OG); while Penarol got a goal each from Joel Guzman (10’), Roy Cano (52’) and Seannon Defour (66’).
And at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, B&B Landshark FC got the 1-0 win over P.G.’s Tribal FC, with a goal from Carl Seravia (66’). B&B Landshark FC advances on a 3-0 aggregate.

The 4 aggregate winners now move on to the home-and-away semifinals. Whether by luck or design, the semifinals schedule has the two Belize City teams, Kelly Street FC and FC Elite clashing in back to back weeks at the MCC. While this format means it is impossible for both Belize City based teams to advance to the finals, it also means that, whatever the outcomes in the semis, at least one City team will be in the finals. In the other semifinal, Dangriga’s B&B Landshark FC tangles with Orange Walk’s Progresso.

Upcoming semifinals schedule (home team named first):
Sunday, June 3, Semifinal 1st leg
4:00 p.m. – B&B Landshark FC vs Progresso FC  –  Carl Ramos Stadium
4:00 p.m. – Kelly Street FC vs FC Elite  –  MCC Grounds
Sunday, June 10, Semifinal 2nd leg
4:00 p.m. – Progresso FC vs B&B Landshark FC  –  Louisiana Field
4:00 p.m. – FC Elite vs Kelly Street FC  –  MCC Grounds.

(Amandala Sports Ed. Note: We await a statement from the FFB Secretariat on the application or not of the “away goal rule” to avoid possible controversy at the end of 2nd leg in the semifinals.)