In Belize City Champions Cup football action at the MCC Grounds on Friday night, July 22, Survivors FC sealed a spot in the 4-team playoffs when they defeated Third World, 4-2, in the opener. And in the nightcap, undefeated West Lake clipped BDF, 1-nil, to give the army their first defeat in the tournament.
It was a big game for both teams, their last outing in the 6-team regular season; and with winless Hattieville already out of contention, the 4th playoff spot would be decided between Survivors United and Third World FC, each with 3 points from a single victory to their credit. (Both teams include R.G. City Boys players on their roster, but most of them sat out this one to rest for their Sunday finals clash with Placencia.) Kenroy Martin (5 min) put Third World in front early, but Hubert Baptist (10 min) equalized for Survivors. Veteran David “Manu” McCaulay (33 min PK) then put Third World in front again from the penalty spot, but Survivors came back strong with goals from Alexander Belisle (36 min) and David Robateau (41 min) to end the half with a 3-2 lead. And it was Hubert Baptist who returned for his second strike at the 57th minute to put the game out of reach for the 4-2 Survivors win, and a spot in the semifinal playoffs. (See standings below.)
In their nightcap match-up against West Lake, BDF was not taking their undefeated opponent lightly, especially considering that the army was still without the services of starters Vallan Symms, Evan Mariano and David Trapp, since their participation in the World Cup Qualifiers with the FFB’s national team. Also absent from the BDF line-up were Orlando “Leechi” Jimenez and goalkeeper Woodrow West. But in goal BDF had recruited the former Verdes national champion star goalie Jamie Brooks, and he looked to be in splendid shape and focus. BDF needed to be cautious, because West Lake, the recent Super League Smart Challenge Cup City 1st division champions, included a number of established semi-pro stars in their starting roster, notables like Stanley “Jordan” Reneau in goal, Jarret Davis striking, Mark “Kelo” Leslie in midfield, and Jose “Shaggy” Caseres in defence. But it was a relatively unknown, Erick Avila, who normally is back-up goalie on R.G. City Boys United, who was the savior on more than one occasion in defence for West Lake against the BDF attack led by Danny Jimenez. The only goal of the match came at the 65th minute; it was a long down the middle lob from the Lake’s Leon “Chow” Cadle, and attacking midfielder Lorenzo Diaz, with his back to the goal about 25 yards out, diverted a header backwards, catching Brooks in BDF goal completely by surprise, as the ball soared high and dropped into the eastern pigeon hole. 1-nil, West Lake over BDF.
With their last game this Sunday against Hattieville, West Lake will likely remain undefeated to clinch the #1 seed at the end of regular season. BDF and F.C. Belize, the two established semi-pro teams, are left to battle for the #2 position. It should be an interesting match-up.
Sunday, July 31, MCC Grounds
3:00 p.m. – West Lake vs Hattieville
5:00 p.m. – BDF vs F.C. Belize
Among the goal scoring leaders in action on Sunday at the MCC, will be BDF’s Danny Jimenez and Denmark Casey, Jr. with 5 goals apiece; they will be facing F.C. Belize’s Francisco Briceno and Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton who each have struck for 4 goals so far. Other Champions Cup goal leaders are Dalton Cayetano (Survivors United) with 4 goals, and David McCaulay, Jr. (Third World) and Jarret Davis (West Lake) with 3 each. Both Dalton and David, Jr. will be in Placencia with R.G. City Boys United on Sunday, along with Erick Avila, who is City Boys’ #2 goalkeeper.