Congratulations to Belize’s star goalkeeper Shane Orio on becoming the first Belizean to win an international football championship and to do so following a stellar performance in goal for Costa Rica’s Puntarenas FC.

On Wednesday, November 29, at the Tiburcio Carias Andino Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Puntarenas FC won their first Torneo Interclubes de UNCAF (Union Centroamericana de Fútbol) after defeating the host CD Olímpia of Honduras 3:1 on penalties in the 2006 final series.

The finals went into penalties after CD Olímpia posted a 1:0 victory over Puntarenas FC in the second-leg encounter in Tegucigalpa and leveling the series at 3:3. Shane Orio was on-point and rose to the occasion in the shootout, even stopping a penalty shot.

Both clubs have already secured their berths in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup™ as Puntarenas FC will face the USA’s Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinal (QF) Series 2, while CD Olímpia takes on D.C. United of USA in QF Series 4.

In the IFFHS World Club Ranking system, which was updated on December 5, 2006, Puntarenas FC moved up from 242 in the month of November to 163 in December.

On Sunday, December 3, at the Miguel “Lito” Pérez Stadium, Shane Orio and Puntarenas FC posted a second 1-nil victory over the visiting CS Cartaginés to advance 2:0 on aggregate to the semifinals in Costa Rica’s first division tournament.

Yesterday at the Miguel “Lito” Pérez Stadium , Shane Orio held his third consecutive clean-sheet as Puntarenas FC posted a huge 1-nil victory over the “Purple Monster” Deportivo Saprissa in the first-leg of the semifinals series. Puntarenas defender Roberto Wong scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute of play.

Puntarenas FC, affectionately known as “Los Chuchequeros”, are unbeaten in their last 8 games in the Torneo de Apertura. Deportivo Saprissa will host the second-leg encounter this Sunday, December 17, at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, in San José, Costa Rica.