_{Photo: Westline FC – 2024 National Under-15 Boys Youth Club Football Champions}

by William Ysaguirre

BELMOPAN, Sat. Sept. 14, 2024

The Westline FC outlasted Progresso FC, 3-2, to win the National Under-15 Youth Club championship organized by the Football Federation of Belize at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on Saturday afternoon, September 14.

The top goleador of the Hon. Kevin Bernard U-15 Mundialito, Jaylen Hall (8’) struck first for Progresso FC, but the top goal scorer of this year’s Bishop’s Cup, Marquis Bahadur (10’) equalized for Westline FC. Marlon Meza, Jr. and Nathan Guzman led the Westline offensive, and Guzman (26’) soon gave them the 2-1 lead.

Hall and Jerrain Westby led Progresso’s counterattack supported by Elon Castillo, John Gideon, Tamron Baptist and Walmer Cordoba at midfield, and Castillo (37’) outsmarted goalkeeper Eugene Popper with the equalizer after the half-time break.

Westline’s Jared Garcia and Meza, Jr. pressed for the game winner, but Progresso’s defenders Jayden Novelo, Ervin Cardenas, Javann Lambey and Luke Mai locked off their backfield to help goalkeeper Enrique Gongora deny their every try. It fell to One Young (70+1’) to come off the bench to score the 3rd and winning goal in injury time for Westline FC.

FFB president Sergio Chuc presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions – Westline FC, and sub-champions Progresso FC in the awards ceremony after the final.