El ‘Clásico’ Belize – Verdes whips Belmopan Bandits, secures top spot in Premier League’s opening season

By Aaron Humes: Verdes FC will finish the 2019-2020 opening season as leaders of the Premier League of Belize after a seismic 4-1 defeat of Belmopan Bandits, their second in as many weeks.

Bandits had led for most of the season but conceded the lead to Verdes after a draw. They regained the lead, and then lost it again after last week’s defeat to Wagiya in Dangriga. Now it is gone for good to their bitterest enemies, Verdes FC.

Krisean Lopez opened the scoring for the visiting Verdes team with a shot from just outside the 18’s. Mexican Edwin Bernal then scored a penalty but it was disallowed as a Verdes player stepped into the area. The second opportunity given to Bernal was saved by Shane Orio and so the score remained 1-0.

After the missed penalty by Verdes, it looked like the Bandits would settle down but this was dampened when Orio could not prevent Jerome ‘Jaro’ James from scoring a header off a corner. Jordy Polanco then put Verdes out of reach by scoring the 3rd goal seconds before the end of the first half.

Substitute Mervin Budna hit back for Bandits with 10 minutes to go in regulation, and Highking Roberts glanced a header over after good work from Georgie Welcome to save and cut in to Andres Makin. They spurned another good chance minutes later in the box.

It would be Bernal with the last word, burying a shot in the right corner beyond Orio to settle the contest 4 goals to 1.

Verdes and Bandits have cemented the top two spots and Sunday attention turns to the fight for the final two berths. Eliminated Placencia Assassins host Wagiya at 3:30 p.m., followed by Valley Pride vs. Altitude in Dangriga at 4 p.m., and in the City at the MCC, BDF take on San Pedro Pirates.

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