In the only Saturday night game over the weekend, in Week 2 of the first Premier League of Belize (PLB) football tournament of 2012, home standing Belize Defence Force grabbed their first victory of the tournament, a 2-0 shutout of Orange Walk’s Juventus at the Norman Broaster Stadium, courtesy of late second half strikes from Marlon “Matador” Meza (85 min) and Richard “Cheety” Jimenez (87 min).
On Sunday, here at the MCC Grounds, which is now the home grounds of the San Pedro Seadogs, it was 0-0 at the half; but after trading goals and penalties with visiting World FC from Cayo, the Seadogs pushed on with two more goals, the last in injury time, for the 4-2 final score, their first win of the tournament. Shaking the net for San Pedro were Kenny Witzel (49 min penalty; 57 min), Francisco Mejia (73 min) and Jesse Smith (90’+2 min); while Onri Meza (71 min) and Carlos Vasquez (85 min) scored for World FC.
Meanwhile, up north at the San Felipe Football Field in the Orange Walk District, FC San Felipe Barcelona was unable to pull out the win for their home fans, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by F.C. Belize from Belize City. After a scoreless first half, Oscar Acevedo put the home squad in front at the 62nd minute, but Jeromy “Jarro” James replied four minutes later for FC Belize to knot things up at the 66th minute.
(Missing from the San Felipe line-up for the first time is star striker Kenny Witzel, who said he now works in San Pedro and so he plays for the Seadogs. That’s the meaning of “semi-pro”; the football economy is not strong enough to provide full time jobs, so players have to go where there are jobs, and end up playing there. In this case, San Felipe’s loss is San Pedro’s gain.)
In more Sunday football, out west at the Norman Broaster Stadium, after another scoreless first half of football action, it was also a draw game, 1-1, between San Ignacio United FC and visiting Belmopan Bandits. Goalkeeper Woodrow West put the Bandits in front from the penalty spot at the 57th minute, but Seannon Defour equalized shortly after for the home squad at the 63rd minute.
Down south in Placencia, Hankook Verdes of Benque Viejo took a long ride to the Placencia Football Field, only to receive a 4-0 drubbing from the home based Placencia Assassins. Placencia jumped on the scoreboard early and never looked back, with goals coming from Zerrick Torres (7 min), Ernie Whyte (18 min), and Luis “Baaka” Torres (70 & 90 min).
Finally, further south at the Toledo Union Field, it was Police United, 2-0, over home standing Paradise/Freedom Fighters. Lennox “Criminal” Castillo (28 min) gave Police the first half 1-nil lead, and Orlando “Leechi” Jimenez sealed the deal with his second half strike (73 min), to secure the second victory in as many outings for the red hot Police United squad.
Week 3 schedule:
Staurday, February 25
7:30 p.m. – (N) World FC vs Juventus – Norman Broaster Stadium
7:30 p.m. – (S) Belmopan Bandits vs Police United – Isidoro Beaton Stadium
Sunday, February 26
4:00 p.m. – (N) F.C. Belize vs San Pedro Seadogs – MCC Grounds
4:00 p.m. – (N) San Felipe Barcelona vs Belize Defence Force – San Felipe Football Field
4:00 p.m. – (S) Hankook Verdes vs San Ignacio United – Marshalleck Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (S) Placencia Assassins vs Paradise/Freedom Fighters – Placencia Football Field