There were no big surprises in games played over the weekend in Week #9 of the BPFL’s 2010 Caribbean Motors Cup tournament, where league leaders BDF and F.C. Belize made light work of their struggling opponents, while serious contenders Griga United and San Felipe Barcelona drew, and Toledo Ambassadors won at home against Belmopan Blaze.
Griga United was 1 point ahead of visiting San Felipe Barcelona going into their Saturday night encounter at the Carl Ramos Stadium, and nothing changed as it ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Alexander Peters put Griga in front early at the 3rd minute, but Oscar Acevedo equalized for San Felipe at the 32nd minute, and it remained that way till the end.
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, but was brought forward to allow Griga United team members and fans to attend the funeral of team executive member Steven Rowland who lost his life in a traffic mishap last Sunday night on their return trip from San Ignacio where they had played to a scoreless draw with BDF. Yesterday afternoon at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, and as expected in the other weekend games, a minute of silence was observed in solidarity with Griga United.
On Sunday afternoon at Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, it was target practice for the army as undefeated defending champion BDF had five players shaking the net of last place San Pedro Sea Dogs on the way to a 7-0 blowout. Joining in the goal fest were Paul Nunez (14 & 59 min), Evan Mariano (33 & 46 min), Mike Cho (84 min), Daniel Jimenez (86 min) and Denmark Casey (88 min).
Meanwhile, down south at the Toledo Union Field, Toledo Ambassadors was taking care of business against visiting Belmopan Blaze. Devon Makin struck at the 50th minute and Elio Ramirez at the 84th, to give the Ambassadors the 2-nil win. The victory gives Toledo equal points with San Felipe, but Toledo moves ahead in the standings due to their better goal difference.
Also on Sunday afternoon, F.C. Belize tried to make it interesting for fans at the MCC Grounds, as they kept a few of their top strikers on the bench to start out against the struggling Hankook Verdes from Benque Viejo. But Verdes goalkeeper Luna was giving no freebies, meanwhile Marlon “El Matador” Meza was making some close calls on Elden Linares in goal for F.C. Belize. However, without Shamir Pacheco in midfield (out on suspension), Meza had to do a lot of work in midfield, taking away from his attacking effectiveness. Finally, when the game remained scoreless ten minutes into the 2nd half, F.C. coach “Willie Bo” Bernard decided he had seen enough, and inserted two fresh strikers, Byron “Barrow” Usher and Christian “the Nigerian Express” Okonkwo, into the game. The excitement immediately picked up for F.C. fans behind the goal on the southern end, as Barrow and Okonkwo went to work on the Verdes defence. A long range rocket from the right side came out off the Verdes crossbar, and Okonkwo alertly pounced from the left side with a left foot blast for the first goal at the 65th minute. Their next hot striker Jarret Davis entered the game two minutes later, and he quickly got on the scorecard at the 71st minute, when Barrow made a good splitting pass through the left side of the Verdes defence, and Jarrett used his blinding speed to complete the play with a right away left foot grass burner past Luna in goal. F.C. Belize, 2-nil, over Hankook Verdes.