"The winner takes it all" - that was the mantra going into Saturday Night's Premier League Final at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan. IT was game two of the final with FC Belize and the Belmopan Bandits playing to a draw in the first game. So, game two was set for a thrilling conclusion - Channel 7 showed it live, and here's a recap:..
Jules Vasquez reporting
Under all of the lights at FFB stadium - it looked like a field fit for a championship match:
Maito Perdomo, President - Premier League of Belize
"It's the best field in the country for a game like this, the best team wins and its fair."
Reporter
"How do you see you team for this game tonight?"
Leroy Sherrier-Lewis, Coach - Belmopan Bandits
"Well, I see my team good. I see the guys very enthusiasm, so we are going to play a good game."
Reporter
"Would you say any score for tonight?"
Leroy Sherrier-Lewis, Coach - Belmopan Bandits
"No, no, no, I don't like to anticipate. I think my team is going to do well. Its going to be a very good game and the best team wins."
Jorge Nunez, Coach - FC Belize
"My team, they feel good. I train whole week. The first game was a very good game. This is a different game, it's the last game and we need more concentration."
Reporter
"Do you want to say any score in favor of your team?"
Jorge Nunez, Coach - FC Belize
"With the confidence I will win."
Reporter
"How much?"
Jorge Nunez, Coach - FC Belize
"Two nil"
But the bandits are the one who started out on the attack - pushing the ball at every opportunity and getting chances on goal early - previews of things to come. That aggression would pay off in this costly, early yellow card for Mark Grant.
It was just a foul but his emotional reaction cost him a yellow card - which would come back to haunt him in the second half. The bandits attack continued - with goalkeeper Glenford Chimilio working extra time.
The bandits kept on the attack and it paid off in the 40th minute. But it appeared to be a handball - meaning the goal should not have counted. But within a minute, there was an equalizer.
Mark Kelo Leslie scored because he was unmarked - a rare defensive error for the Bandits. Two minutes later, close to the end of the half, the rough play started - commentator Marvin Ottley explained.
Marvin Ottley, commentator
"Take a look at the paly for you all at home. Christian Perez went for the ball; Rodriguez brought his "cleeks" over which was a blatant foul. Nothing was called. He went back and he retaliates against Jorge Aleman and that's what caused it. If you take a look at it Jorge Aleman had the ball and he went directly into the player, fouled him again and then result in the play being stop."
FC Belize players remained emotional and had to be restrained. They didn't re-organize themselves and five minutes later at the end of the half Denmark Pops Casey scored this goal leaving the Bandits ahead two to one at the half.
In the second half FC Belize remained emotional and combative leading to this pivotal play - where Mark Grant got his second Yellow card leaving FC Belize to play a man down against the most dangerous offensive team in the league. And with that they definitely didn't need this penalty in the box leading to this easy penalty for Deon McAuley - his second of the game.
Fireworks and smoke followed that goal...and the attack continued.
Glenford Chmilio was having his worst night ever - four goals scored on him in a championship game. The fireworks for the home team continued. FC Belize couldn't get their attack organized while Deon McAuley found space and stayed on target putting his team ahead with the most exquisite goal of the night.
That put the Bandits ahead for good - and it was fireworks to the finish. A sweet finish for the fans...champagne for the players.
The victory was sweetest for owner John Saldivar whose team was slow getting out the blocks.
John Saldivar, Owner - Belmopan Bandits
"I always knew that we could do it. We struggled for a while during the regular season but we got it together and tonight is the result of putting together a great team."
Reporter
"Do you think that your team would have had trouble with the FC Belize right here at home?"
John Saldivar, Owner - Belmopan Bandits
"Actually I don't want to see too confident or over confident, but no, I never doubted it. When you put together the best team this country has to offer the result is pre-determined."
For his confidence, Saldivar hoisted the 30 thousand dollar cheque while his team cradled the Belikin Cup.
Reporter
"5 goals Dean in 2 games, how do you describe that?"
Deon McAuley, 5 Goals in Championship Series
"Well, it's everything that I worked for all season and it's something good to come out like this in the finals and scoring a lot of goals - it really helps my team to win and I am very happy for that."
Reporter
"What would you say is the one thing that helped you all tonight to win this championship?"
Deon McAuley, 5 Goals in Championship Series
"Well, um determination I think and hard work because everybody was determine; we scored a goal, they scored back a goal - the mindset of the team was strong and we came into the game with the mindset that we are going to win this game."
Reporter
"Do you think that because of the red card that they got of Mark Grant really in the second half - do you think that gave you all an advantage to score the other goals?"
Deon McAuley, 5 Goals in Championship Series
"Well of course and we took full advantage of it because if they go down a man then we will have the advantage, so that was a key moment in the game when they got that red card. From then we knew that we could take over the game and win the game easily."
Leroy Sherrier-Lewis, Coach - Belmopan Bandits
"Tonight we were very consistent; we maintain the tempo during the most part of the game. We scored goals, last week we didn't score, that was very important for me. I feel good for that."
Reporter
"Did you in any moment thought about winning 5-1?"
Leroy Sherrier-Lewis, Coach - Belmopan Bandits
"I told you it was going to be a very tough, but I didn't know so much goals. You have to take in account that they lose a player."
For FC Belize, they unraveled in the second half - and this team leader thinks he knows why:
Jarrett Davis, FC Belize
"At the half time I kind of lose my composure and I am leader for my team. I apologize to my team for that but at the end of the day I feel like that would have motivated them, but we still came out and play soft. Bandits look they wanted it more today. We didn't have a good week of workout and there were players that didn't come for training...at the end of the day that will be the result."
Reporter
"Up to what point the red card affected you all tonight?"
Jarrett Davis, FC Belize
"It definitely affected us because we were down 2-1 and like 5 minutes in the second half we got a red card and the players started to hang their heads. I think that played at big role. We could have made adjustments on the half, we went down 2-1 and we didn't make any adjustments."
Reporter
"What happened in the second half that cause you all to come that nervous?"
Jarrett Davis, FC Belize
"I guess in the locker room, we had a heated discussion and nobody went back on the field relax and that made us giving up an early goal again."
But now IT'S TIME TO PUT THAT ALL BEHIND, this season is finished and it's unto the next one:
That next season has to start by the end of February and finish by May, since this current season finished a month late.
