National Amateur Interdistrict Championship Round of 16 is now set; Sarteneja and Flames knocked out

Photo Credit: Napoles FC

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The National Amateur Interdistrict Championship (NAIC) Round of 16 is now set with all teams advancing over the weekend except the eliminated Corozal’s Sarteneja and Cayo’s Flames.

Three teams, namely Napoles, Club Atletico, and Caesar Ridge qualified on two wins. Lake I, Top Shottaz, Caribbean Rum Boys, and Shark Shooters advanced on four points from a win and a draw.

Griga Conquerors, Terror Squad, 501 Spartans, and Mavericks United made the jump on three points after winning a game and losing the other.

The Calcutta Bulls, Silk Grass Ballerz, Bamba’s, and Sindbad made it through with one point from a draw and a loss.

Out of the three clubs that lost both games, Cayo’s 7 Miles got a ticket based on the better goal difference. Losing both games 0-1, they had a 0-2 and that’s better than Flames’ 0-3 and Sarteneja’s 1-9.

In the final games on Sunday, Napoles beat Sarteneja 3-0 on a hattrick by Daijon Daniels to win the series with a 9-1. While Napoles sailed into the Round of 16, Sarteneja were unceremoniously dumped.

Daijon Daniels scored a hattrick vs Sarteneja. (Photo Credit: Napoles FC)

In Orange Walk, Sindbad squeezed in by virtue of the 0-0 draw they pulled against the Caribbean Rum Boyz who had already qualified the previous week on their 1-0 win in Game 1.

Caribbean Rum Boyz (Photo Credit: Caribbean Rum Boyz)

In Punta Gorda, Elsnor Rodney’s goal was enough to give Mavericks United a 1-0 win over Terror Squad FC at the Victor Sanchez Union Field. With three points each, both advanced to the next round.

The same happened at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence where the 501 Spartans edged the Griga Conquerors 3-2. The Conquerors won the series a 5-4 aggregate score after winning 3-1 last week. Both clubs advance to the Round of 16.

On Friday, Caesar Ridge beat Flames from the Cayo District 1-0 at Marion Jones Complex in Belize City on Keron Sutherland’s goal (45’+) to advance on a comfortable 3-0 aggregate score. Flames got knocked out.

Caesar Ridge (Photo Credit: Caesar Ridge FC)

Four games were played on Saturday.

Lake I FC drew 1-1 with Silk Grass Ballerz at the Marion Jones Complex. Akeem Baptists scired in the 13’ minute for Lake I but Nigel Elijio salvaged the draw and the ticket to the next round for the Silk Grass side in the 75’. With their first leg 2-0 win, Lake I advanced on four points. Silk Grass also qualified.

Club Atletico slid past 7 Miles 1-0 at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on a 44^th minute goal by Tyriq Ciego. Atletico cruised into the Round of 16 on a 2-0 aggregate. 7 Miles passed as well.

Club Atletico (Photo Credit: Club Atletico)

7 Miles (Photo Credit: 7 Miles)

Bamba’s got in after pulling off a 0-0 draw at home against Top Shottaz at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium. Top Shottaz, who had won the first game 2-0, qualified on four points and a 2-0 goal aggregate.

Shark Shooters demolished the Calcutta Bulls 4-0 at Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro after a 0-0 draw in Corozal the previous week. Both teams qualified for the next round. Francis Andrew (36’), Wilber Ayala (47’), Harold Ramos (78’) and Steven Baizar (90’+ pk) nailed one each for the Shark Shooters.

The Round of 16 starts this coming weekend.

Teams qualified to Round of 16:

– Caesar Ridge

– Club Atletico

– Napoles

– Lake I FC

– Top Shottaz

– Caribbean Rum Boyz

– Shark Shooters

– Griga Conquerors

– Terror Squad FC

– Mavericks United

– 501 Spartans

– Silk Grass Ballerz

– Calcutta Bulls

– Bamba’s FC

– Sindbad

– 7 Miles

Eliminated

– Flames

– Sarteneja