_{Photo: Belize’s Premier League Champion – Port Layola FC}

by William Ysaguirre

BELMOPAN, Thurs. Aug. 8, 2024

Belize’s Premier League champion, Port Layola FC lost, 6-1, to Honduras’ champion, Olimpia CD, at the Football Federation of Belize Stadium on Thursday night, August 8. Jose Pinto (16′) opened the scoring for Olimpia, but Colombian import Andres Orozco (22′) tied the score at 1-1 off a header. The tie was short lived, as Yustin Arboledo headed in a second goal for Olimpia off a corner kick, 5 minutes before the halftime whistle.

Ten minutes into the second half Port began to fade. Edwin Rodriguez scored a third for Olimpia (59’), and just 2 minutes later, Jorge Benguche, who was inserted at the half, delivered a fourth goal for the visitors.

Julius Allen, Port’s coach by default, introduced Orlando “Bredda” Velasquez, Shawn Young, Justin Trapp, and new acquisition Matthias Bandini to replace Latrell Middleton, Miguel Garcia, Norman Anderson and Naim “Nemo” Wilson at midfield, in a vain attempt to regain the initiative. But Olimpia’s coach, Pedro Troglio, also refreshed his attack line, and Edwin Solano, who came off the bench, scored a 5th goal (77′). Goalkeeper Oscar Palomino’s humiliation still was not over; substitute Josman Figueroa delivered the coup de grace in the final minute of play: 6-1 final score.

Conspicuous by his absence from the field was the hero of last week’s match, Rene Leslie, who scored the only goal vs Antigua. Leslie spent the whole 90 minutes warming the bench! Even more conspicuous was the absence of Port Layola head coach, Charlie Slusher. A Breaking Belize News report earlier today said he had deserted Port so he could devote all his attention to his new job as the coach of the national team.