Photo: Moises Hernandez scored Pirates’ 3rd and winning goal vs Verdes
by William Ysaguirre
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Nov. 28, 2024
The San Pedro Pirates will challenge the defending champions, Port Layola FC, in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2024-25 Opening Season football finals, after a historic 3-2 upset of regular season standings leaders, Verdes FC, at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo last Saturday night, November 23.
Verdes defender Darrel Myvett’s attempt to deflect a pass from Pirates’ Keydenshay Bowen (19’) to Jaheim Mena sent the ball into the net for the dreaded auto-goal. Aldin Forman’s header (36’) finished off a corner kick by Jesse Smith to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead at the half.
Nahjib Guerra (58’) came off the bench to narrow Verdes’ deficit after the break, and the Colombian import Arles Balanta (90+4’) finished a pass from Guerra into the box for the equalizer. This tied the aggregate score at 3-3 after a 1-1 draw in the first semifinal on the island the week before, until the Pirates’ Moises Hernandez (90+5’) launched a long-range cruise missile from over 30 yards that sailed over goalkeeper Woodrow West, who was caught some distance out of his goal, and it screamed in just under the crossbar: 3-2 final.
Port Layola FC secured the home field advantage for the final with 2 wins, schooling Progresso FC, 2-1, at the Marion Jones Sports Complex on Sunday evening, November 24. The Sugar City squad came into the match desperate to reduce the deficit from their 4-2 loss the week before, and Harlan Cassanova’s shot (44’) beat goalkeeper Carlos Palacio, Jr. but was annulled as a handball.
Last year’s Interdistrict MVP Curtis Valerio came off the bench for Port Layola to open the scoreboard (69’) with a left-foot rocket into the top left pigeon-hole that left National Team goalie Charles Tillett frozen. The visitors were also reduced to 10 men when Trimayne Harris was ejected with a red card, but Progresso’s substitute Jonard Castillo (75’) equalized, 1-1. Colombian import Andres Orozco would not be denied when he was fouled inside the goal area by Progresso defender John Vergara; he converted from the penalty spot (85’) for the 2-1 win.
Finals 1st leg match on Saturday, November 30:
Port Layola FC vs San Pedro Pirates at the Ambergris Stadium.