BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 7, 2022
The Football Federation of Belize’s (FFB) Regional Male Youth Elite Tournaments 2022 completed its semifinal stage for the Belize District on Saturday, July 2, at the Marion Jones Sports Complex where the second leg of the Belize District Football Association (BDFA) semifinals were concluded in both the U17 and U20 categories.
U17 Semifinal Leg 2 results
(Leg 1 – Warriors FC, 2-0, over Hattieville United) Starting at 10:00 a.m., this second leg was a sensational encounter, as Hattieville came out blasting, and led 5-2 near the end of regulation, which would give them a 5-4 aggregate victory in the series. But Warriors scored again in injury time to make it 5-3 and an aggregate tie of 5-5. Hattieville benefited from a Warriors own goal in overtime, but Warriors scored twice more, so Hattieville registered a 6-5 win for the second leg, but Warriors won the aggregate by a 7-6 margin. What a game! Goals scored for Warriors were by Kaylen McFoy (26’ & 111’), Joshua Arnold (65’), Jaymion Cacho (90+5’) and Scorian Stuart (108’), and they conceded an own goal through Dixon Gamboa (118’ OG); while Hattieville goals were by Calvin Thurton (13’, 24’, 38’ & 40’) and Flayden Carter (53’).
(Leg 1 – Ladyville Rising Stars, 4-3, over Sampson Academy) The decisive second leg for this one ended in regulation with Sampson Academy pulling out the 3-1 win for an aggregate victory of 6-5 over Ladyville Rising Stars. Shaking the net for Sampson Academy were Keemar Wagner (13’ & 63’) and Keydenshay Bowen (25’), while the lone goal for Rising Stars was by Steven Rivera (46’).
U20 Semifinal Leg 2 results
(Leg 1 – Hattieville United, 5-1, over Ladyville Rising Stars.) With that margin to overcome, Ladyville Rising Stars could not pull it together to present a team, and Hattieville United won the second leg by default.
(Leg 1 – Warriors FC, 2-1, over Lake-I FC) Leg 2 of this one was a different story as the margin was razor thin. At the end of regulation, it was Lake-I FC, 2-1, over Warriors FC, both Lake-I goals coming from Lawnie Leslie (56’ & 88’), while Michael Palacio (90+3’) scored in injury time to salvage the aggregate 3-3 tie for Warriors. It remained that way in overtime, and in the ensuing penalty shootout, Warriors prevailed, 5-4, for the victory and a spot in the finals.
With the teams set for the finals, the tournament takes a week break and resumes with the championship finals in both U17 and U20 next week.
BDFA U17 & U20 Male Elite Finals schedule:
Saturday, July 16, Marion Jones Sports Complex
10:00 a.m. – (U17 Finals) Warriors FC vs Sampson Academy
12:00 noon – (U20 Finals) Hattieville United vs Warriors FC