Andres Makin takes on Michael Hernandez
Belize City, May 19, 2013
The Police United FC gained the advantage to possibly win their first national football championship by winning Game 1 of 2013 Premier League of Belize football championship finals 1-0 against FC Belize at the MCC garden on Sunday.
The Police’s Devon Makin fired their first shot on goal, but FC Belize sweeper –Jorge Estrada headed it out. “Criminal” Castillo collected the rebound, but under pressure from the FC defenders Castillo could not get off as shot at goal, and it was still a nil-zip ball game at the half.
In the 2nd half “Lichy” Jimenez got off a shot at goal, but it was too soft to give FC’s goalkeeper Glenford Chimilio any trouble. The Police also benefited from the ref’s selective vision, but they could do nothing about Chimilio’s stop of a shot from Danny Jimenez.
Chimilio came out of his goal to challenge Criminal’s advance up the right flank, but “Chow” Cadle and Matthew Leal backed up his play to intercept Criminal’s pass to Danny. Leal cleared out the ball right-away with a left foot kick, but Andres Makin Jr. picked up the rebound and fired back a long shot at goal. Chimilio could not back-pedal fast enough to tip the ball over the crossbar, the ball fell into the net to give the Police a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
FC Belize’s veteran striker Norman “Tilliman” Pipersburgh looked for the equalizer, but Amin August denied his shots. Pipersburgh did get the ball into the net on his next try, but the central referee annulled the goal when the linesman flagged Pipersburgh as offside.
The ref chased Pipersburgh off the field with a red card for protesting the call too much, and Dylan Jones and assistant coach Anthony “Willie Beau” Bernard also got an early ticket to the showers for protesting the call. The Police continued to press for that insurance goal, but Danny’s next try sailed over the crossbar. Jorge Estrada almost got the equalizer, but Police numerical advantage gave them the bodies to crowd Estrada off the ball and secure the 1-0 win.
Game 2 of finals moves to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan on Saturday night.