Port Layola clash with Verdes in backmatch Wednesday night in Belize City

Photo Credit: Port Layola, Verdes

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Port Layola go head-to-head against Verdes in their pending Premier League of Belize backmatch on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City.

Both teams played a scoreless first half of what had been termed as a ‘grudge match’ at the Marion Jones two weeks ago before the FIFA Break on March 19 but a torrential rain that flooded the pitch during the half-time break put a stop to it.

The match was called off and the PLB rescheduled it in its entirety for tonight.

The match was billed as the hottest and most attractive in the PLB calendar after Port Layola beat Verdes 2-1 on January 29 in Cayo, but the Belize City side subsequently lost the three points for fielding an ineligible Argentine player. Port claimed the PLB had allowed the player to be placed on the team roster and therefore said it was unfair for the club to be punished.

Leading up to March 19, Port were unbeaten, except for that punishment loss, but now going into tonight’s match that no longer holds as they went down to Benque United 1-0 on Sunday.

But what hasn’t changed is their disgust for Verdes for blemishing their unbeaten record by their complaint. Losing those three points is comparable to beating the hell out of someone just for that person to complain and have you punished because they couldn’t do it themselves.

The opportunity for revenge is on tonight.

On the other hand, for Verdes, being beaten by Port, by fielding a player who they figured wasn’t properly registered, wasn’t fair and square, but rather was underhanded, comparable to an opponent, who can’t beat you, resorting to bringing in someone else to help him do it.

At this point, Verdes lead Port by three points, 21 to 18. If Verdes win tonight, they become absolute leaders with 24 points with two more than the San Pedro Pirates. If Port win, they catch up with Verdes, and both will trail San Pedro by one point. A draw will tie Verdes with San Pedro at 22 and Port will remain in fourth place behind Progresso.

The ‘grudge match’ is on again tonight at 7:00 pm at the Marion Jones in Belize City