Ten-man Altitude hold Verdes to 1-1 in 1st leg of Premier League of Belize Finals

Photo Credit: Altitude FC

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Verdes had a good break to beat Altitude who played with ten men for all of the second half in the first leg of the Premier League of Belize’s Opening Championship Finals but were unable to do so as Altitude multiplied their efforts and came out of the Norman Broaster Stadium with a 1-1 draw.

That draw gives the regular season winners the edge for the second match at their home field at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence this coming Saturday.

Altitude played with ten men from the 44^th minute when Collin Westby was red carded after receiving a second yellow card after a cutting foul against Krisean Lopez. Westby had erroneously been given the first yellow card earlier in the game. That first foul was committed by captain Dalton Eiley against Camilo Márquez Fajardo, and not Westby. Altitude complained to referee Efren Guy, who consulted with his assistant referees, but the booking remained unchanged.

Despite the one-man advantage, Verdes did get on the scoreboard until the 71^st minute when their lead scorer Paraguayan Luis Ibarra put the ball past Colombian goalkeeper Oscar Palomino.

But their lead was short-lived as Altitude rallied back and drew level with a goal by Rene Leslie in the 78th minute.

1-1 and Altitude salvaged a 1-1 draw.

Now both teams go back to the drawing board and will decide the championship at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence on Saturday evening.