Stakes were high on Friday night the 21st of Septmeber as Belize’s under 16 selection played Guatemala’s at the MCC. Independence night, full of promise and anxiety, and Belizeans were thrilled when it started off promisingly. Here’s more.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
That furious and loud celebration is what it feels like to score a goal on Guatemala on Independence Day at the MCC. It happened in the 24th minute on a shot from Luis Torres and two minutes later, Belize scored again on this shot from Adgar Adderley.
Taking a two nil lead into the half, Belize was confident. But under animated instruction from their coach the Guatemalan team was focused and determined. They came out with a physical, aggressive brand of play which earned them a quick red card just four minutes into the half. This meant Belize had 31 minutes to play – against a team with a man down – having only to defend a two nil lead. But Guatemala would re-gather itself and, number 20, Luis Fernando Salguero scored.
[Goal Scored]
That reduced it to a one goal advantage. And 6 minutes later – after a controversial drop ball decision by the referee, Salguero equalized it on this free kick.
[Goal Scored]
With 18 minutes or so to play, Belize tried to rally back but they had no answer for the quicker stronger Salguero, who came across in the 63rd minute to score this deathblow.
And so on independence night, inside the MCC, you could hear the hearts break as Guatemala took a decisive 3 to 2 lead – with one man scoring three goals in just 17 minutes. Belize never re-gathered itself to tie the score and it ended 3 to 2. After the game, heads hung low in the huddle and faces dejected coach Marvin Ottley tried to encourage his players.
Marvin Ottley, Coach – Team Belize
“But we can’t give up. We’ve come a long way but we’re not at the of road.”
And though crushed and likely humiliated, the team managed a spirited cheer before leaving the pitch.
Delmar Casey, Team Belize
“I feel downhearted, from two nil we went to and the team came and beat us. I don’t know what happened in the second half, its like we just give mein. In the second half we need to play stronger because the game is not finished, that is what messed us up. I thought we were going to take it all the way but the team didn’t work hard enough, they worked hard enough but it seems that it wasn’t our game.”
Luis Torres, Guatemala
“It was a good victory but we had worked hard for it.”
Marvin Ottley,
“We have nobody to blame. Set pieces is a part of the game. Guatemala executed on their set pieces, they managed to come out with a victory but I think we worked too hard to fall short this kind of way. There is no apology for what happened. I must say to the entire country that we didn’t come out here to lose, we didn’t come out here to play flat. We came out here working and the fact is that the team worked hard. “
And while regrettable, the Guatemala score was respectable. But we can’t say the same for the following two nights. On Saturday night, the Costa Rican selection beat Belize 10 to nothing, and on Sunday night, El Salvador beat Belize 6 to nothing. Belize finished last in the competition with no points and Salvador won.
