BELIZE CITY, Wed. Dec. 15, 2021– Knockout semifinal football games were played simultaneously at two different venues this past Sunday in the National Amateur Women League (NAWL) 2021-22 Opening Tournament. Two groups, North Zone (5 teams) and South Zone (6 teams), played a single round-robin First Round of competition in each zone, with the top two teams from each zone being matched in the semifinals – #1 North vs #2 South, and #2 North vs #1 South. Both semifinals were played at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, one at the Norman Broaster Stadium, the other at the FFB stadium.
There had been some lopsided scores in both the North and South zones in the regular competition, but the semifinals were both very competitive, and the finale promises to be just as exciting.
At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, the home team, #1 North, Rebel Girls FC hosted #2 South, Rumberas FC from Independence. It was scoreless in first half, but early in the second half, Kelsey Polanco (52’ PK) converted a penalty to give Rumberas a 1-nil lead; and any hopes of tying the score were dashed in injury time when Kaite Jones (92’) sealed the 2-0 victory for Rumberas FC.
Meanwhile at the FFB Stadium, #1 South, defending champion Jewel Fury of Belmopan was hosting #2 North, San Pedro Pirates FC in another intense contest from whistle to whistle. The only goal of the match came early, as Zulma Ortega (10’) gave Jewel Fury the 1-nil lead, and that is how it remained through the intermission and until the final whistle; Jewel Fury 1-0 over San Pedro Pirates.
The stage is now set for the championship final which was previously scheduled for this coming Sunday at the FFB Stadium, but has since been re-scheduled to Saturday instead at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium.
NAWL 2021-22 Opening Tournament Final:
Saturday, December 18
3:00 p.m. – Jewel Fury vs Rumberas FC – Isidoro Beaton Stadium