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New kid on the block, Michael Palacio burns West

HeadlineNew kid on the block, Michael Palacio burns West

Photo: Port Loyola young striker, Michael Palacio.

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jan. 30, 2023

It’s only 3 weeks into the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2022-2023 Closing Season, and already there is a buzz in the air, as Port Layola FC’s young striker, Michael Palacio maintained his league goal scoring lead with a spectacular right foot blast past Verdes’ national team goalkeeper Woodrow West in Port Layola’s 2-1 victory over Verdes yesterday at the Norman Broaster Stadium. Palacio has scored in each of his team’s first three games of the Closing Season, starting with 2 goals in their season opener against Wagiya, and following up with a goal each against Bandits Sport and Verdes FC. A top goal scorer from his primary school days, Mikey is still a skinny kid, already getting roughed up by bigger opponents, and one veteran suggested that he may need to do some strength training if he is to survive the physical tackles sure to come his way. Hopefully, officials as well as opposing players will see the value in not ruthlessly damaging a blossoming talent that could help the Belize national team in the future.

Week 3 of the Closing Season started with 3 games played on Saturday night, January 28, and the other on Sunday afternoon, January 29.

On Saturday at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan, the home team Bandits Sports took a 6-0 shelling from San Pedro Pirates FC, after holding out nil-nil through the first half. Netting 2 goals apiece for San Pedro were Facundo Garnier (46’ & 78’), H. Avila (50’ & 57’) and Brayan Vargas (72’ & 90’).

Meanwhile, at the Marshalleck Stadium, home standing Police/Benque United FC also fell, 2-0, to visiting Progresso FC from Orange Walk. Progresso got a goal in each half, from Orlando Velasquez (6’) and Donnell Arzu (90+3’).

And at the M.A. Stadium in Independence, defending champion Altitude FC finally got in the winning column after a slow season start, with a 3-1 victory over Wagiya SC. Shaking the net for Altitude were Rene Leslie (9’), Luis “Baaka” Torres (66’) and Andres Orozco (70’); while Wagiya’s lone strike was by Aidan Nunez (76’).

In the only Sunday game yesterday, Belize City’s Port Layola FC travelled to the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio to face powerhouse Verdes FC, and the boys from the old capital gained some respect, coming away with a hard fought 2-1 win over the Green Machine. Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton’s hard grounder at the 9th minute from the edge of the eighteen on the left side took a bad bounce after Verdes goalkeeper Woodrow West dived to corral it and it sailed over him into the net. But there was no luck on the second Port Layola goal at the 14th minute, as sensational rookie Michael Palacio drove just inside the eighteen from a hard angle on the right side and unleashed a cannon into the top right corner over the left shoulder of a bewildered West. Verdes battled back and almost cut the score in half from a free kick that bounced under the cross bar and hit the ground but Port goalie Kenroy Tillett was able to grab it before it crossed the goal line. In second half action, Verdes’ Mexican defender Marco Zavala advanced into the attack and outjumped a Port defender to direct a beautiful header into the left corner at the 55th minute to cut the lead in half. And they thought they had the equalizer after a corner rebounded out to a Verdes player and the shot from close range gave no chance to goalie Tillett; but the linesman flag indicated the ball had already crossed the line from the corner kick. And Port Layola held on for the 2-1 win.

Interestingly, each of the three goal scorers in Sunday’s Verdes vs Port Layola matchup had also scored in their team’s previous outing, Zavala netting the only goal in Verdes’ 1-0 victory over Police/Benque United, and Palacio and Thurton each scoring in Port Layola’s 2-0 win over Bandits Sport.

It should be a real dandy when these two teams meet again at the Marion Jones.

Upcoming Week 3 schedule:

Saturday, February 4
7:30 p.m. – Altitude FC vs San Pedro Pirates FC – M.A. Stadium in Independence
7:30 p.m. – Bandits Sport vs Progresso FC – Isidoro Beaton Stadium
7:30 p.m. – Police/Benque United FC vs Port Layola FC – Marshalleck Stadium

Sunday, February 5
4:00 p.m. – Wagiya SC vs Verdes FC – Carl Ramos Stadium

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