_{Photo: OWFA chairman Rafael Avila presents Most Goals award to MVP Cesar Suazo}

by William Ysaguirre

ORANGE WALK TOWN, Sun. Aug. 18, 2024

The Honduras “Independiente” won the international invitational futsal tournament hosted by the Belize National Futsal Association at the Orange Walk Multipurpose Complex over the weekend, Friday – Sunday, August 16-18. Honduras remained undefeated against El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and the two host teams, Belize-1 from Belmopan and Belize-2 from Orange Walk.

Game 1: In the opener on Friday evening, the Belmopan men lost, 10-9, to El Salvador’s “Cojute.” Belmopan team captain Luis Avalos and Dani Alvarez each scored a hat trick, with other goals coming from Sean Maas, James Gonzalez and Santos Machado. Avalos almost tied the score with a penalty shot into the net, but the referee disallowed the goal, as a Belmopan player had stepped into the area.

Game 2: In the nightcap on Friday, Michael Cruz and Enrique Valdez scored 2 goals each in Orange Walk’s 11-4 loss to Independiente. MVP Cesar Suazo led the visitors’ attack with 6 goals.

In Game 3 on Saturday evening, Bryant Villalta’s brace led El Salvador’s “Cojute” to a 6-4 win over Mexico.

In Game 4, MVP Suazo’s beaver hat trick led “Independiente” to a 7-4 win over San Jose Futsal of Guatemala.

Game 5: Belmopan Futsal (Belize-1) enjoyed their first win, 9-4, over Mexico, led by Edwin Huezo’s hat trick. Santos Machado and Dani Alvarez each scored a brace, and other goals came from James Gonzalez and Luis Avaloe.

Game 6: In Saturday’s nightcap game, Orange Walk (Belize-2) also tasted victory, 8-4, over Guatemala, as Justin Cardenas and Ricky Valdez each scored a brace. Other goals were by Aldair Chan, Nazim Aldana, Rigoberto Cardenas and Michael Cruz.

Game 7: In Sunday morning’s first semifinal, Isaac Martinez’s brace led El Salvador “Cojute” to a 5-0 win over Orange Walk.

Game 8: In the other semifinal, MVP Cesar Suazo scored 5 goals in Independiente’s 12-2 win over Belmopan, as Dani Alvarez and Edwin Huezo scored a goal apiece for the Garden City.

Game 9, the consolation match for 3rd place, ended in a 4-4 draw between the two Belize teams, as Dani Alvarez had a hat trick along with a goal by Santos Machado for Belmopan, while Justin Cardenas scored a brace for Orange Walk along with a goal each from Rigoberto Cardenas and Jairo Aleman. Belmopan took 3rd place by the tie-breaker rule of goal difference.

In Game 10, the championship final, Honduras “Independiente” prevailed, 8-5, over El Salvador’s “Cojute”. MVP Cesar Suazo’s beaver hat trick (4 goals) led Independiente along with a brace from Cristian Argenal and a goal each from Daniel Mendoza and Jeremy Ramos; while Cojute got a goal apiece from Edwin Chavez, Hector Martinez, Alexis Panameno, Jonathan Platero and Walter Arias.

Orange Walk Futsal Association chairman Rafael Avila presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions – Independiente, sub-champions – Cojute, and 3rd place winners – Belmopan Futsal. Cesar Suazo won the Golden Boot award for most goals (19) as well as the Most Valuable Player award. Honduras’ Eduardo Antonio Reyes won the Best Goalkeeper award.