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San Pedro Pirates fall short against Port Layola in home game


After starting the Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Season with three wins and one draw, the San Pedro Pirates experience their first defeat against Port Layola on Saturday, February 18th, at the Ambergris Stadium. The island team could not even overcome the 1-0 lead which Port Layola defended until the end of the game. After starting the Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Season with three wins and one draw, the San Pedro Pirates experience their first defeat against Port Layola on Saturday, February 18th, at the Ambergris Stadium. The island team could not even overcome the 1-0 lead which Port Layola defended until the end of the game.

As the ball rolled in the match's second half, Pirates started dominating the ball game. But their attempts did not break Port Layola's barrier for a goal. As they continued to pressure, Port Layola's Michael Palacio sneaked through San Pedro's defence in the 67th minute and scored its only goal. The island team tried as best as possible, but by the time the game ended, the score favoured Port Layola, 1-0. This result was expected to see Port Layola taking the top of the PLB standings, a position previously held by the San Pedro Pirates for the past three weeks.

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San Pedro Pirates return home winless after playing against Progresso FC

The island's senior football team, the San Pedro Pirates, travelled to Orange Walk Town on Sunday, March 5th, determined to net at least three points with a victory over Progresso Football Club. But after 90+ minutes on the pitch, the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

The game occurred at the People's Stadium in Orange Walk at 4PM. Even though both teams made close attempts at each other, neither could open the score. It was frustrating for the fans and groups as they gave their best to secure three more points in the Premier League of Belize's (PLB) Closing Championship. At the end of the long whistle, it was a 0-0 game. With this draw, both teams only gained one point. As a result, San Pedro Pirates dropped to second place in the PLB's standings after being in first place for the past weeks. Verdes is now in first place following their 5-0 victory over Internacional Fubol Club (formerly Belmopan Bandits). With 17 points, Verdes is currently leading the PLB's standings. The action continues this weekend. San Pedro is once again travelling off the island. The island team is heading to Dangriga Town in the southern Stann Creek District to play against Wagiya SC on Sunday, March 12th. The game is at 4PM at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga.

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San Pedro Pirates return home with a flawless victory

On Sunday, March 12th, the San Pedro Pirates Football Club crushed Wagiya SC 4-0 at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga Town in southern Belize. Again, this win catapulted the island boys to first place in the Premier League of Belize's (PLB) standings. The match started at 4PM in the ninth week of PLB's closing championship. Coming from two draws, the Pirates needed to win this game to continue leading in the standings and better their chances in their journey to the CONCACAF tournament. With such determination, the island team went on the offensive, and in the 27th minute, Luis Valdez netted the first goal for San Pedro. This was the only goal in the first half of the match.

During the second half of the game, Wagiya SC continued to struggle and tried to get a break to even the score, but it did not happen. In the 46th minute, San Pedro's Moises Hernandez scored the second goal for his team, and in the 65th minute, Mario Chimal broke through Wagiya's defense and scored the second goal for the Pirates. Wagiya could not hold San Pedro's momentum, and a fourth goal in the 84th minute by Trevor Lennon sealed the game. With this win, San Pedro Pirates now sum up 18 points and lead in the PLB standings again.

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San Pedro Pirates' victory by default keeps them in the lead

The scheduled match between San Pedro Pirates and Internacional Futbol Club for Saturday, March 18th, was called after the visiting team could not make it to San Pedro. This gave the island's premier football team a 3-0 default victory and another three points, keeping them on top of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) standings.

The San Pedro Pirates were looking forward to this home game and were disappointed when Internacional Futbol Club could not travel to the island for the anticipated game. PLB issued a release saying that due to unforeseen circumstances, Internacional Futbol Club out of Belmopan City could not field a team to play against San Pedro Pirates. PLB added that the matter would be sent to their disciplinary and organizing committees for review. While in San Pedro, the Pirates noted they would be penning an official complaint to PLB. They pointed out that such practice should not be tolerated. The Pirates apologized to their fans and informed them that tickets purchased will be good for their next home game.

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San Pedro Pirates draw 2-2 against Altitude FC

The San Pedro Pirates had one of their toughest matches on Saturday, April 1st, against Altitude FC. The football game ended in a tight 2-2 draw and marked the 11th week of the Closing Season of the Premier League of Belize (PLB). Held at the Ambergris Stadium, this home game was crucial for the island boys to continue leading in the PLB standings. During the first 45+ minutes of the first half, Altitude took the lead at minute 23rd when Kyle Flowers opened the score. Despite close attempts from Pirates, both teams retreated to the locker room for half-time intermission with a 1-0 score in favor of Altitude.

The ball rolled once again for the next half of the match. Three minutes into the second half, a breach into Altitude's defense allowed Pirates' Andir Chi to tie the game with a powerful shot. The San Pedro team continued the attack; minutes later, almost scoring a second goal. In the 71st minute, an error from Pirates allowed Altitude's Aloisio Teixeira to get close enough to San Pedro's goalkeeper and unleash a powerful left shot scoring a second goal for the visiting team. But four minutes later, San Pedro's Chi again took advantage of an opportunity and tied the game. Both teams continued playing hard and making close attempts to lead, but it was a 2-2 ball game at the end of the long whistle. San Pedro will head to the Cayo District this weekend to face Verdes FC as the PLB Closing Season rolls into its 12th week.

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San Pedro Pirates withdraw from the PLB's closing season

The island's premier football team, the San Pedro Pirates, has decided to no longer participate in the remainder of the closing season of the Premier League of Belize (PLB). They made the crucial decision after the PLB Organizing Committee awarded Verdes F.C. three points based on the cancellation of the April 8th match scheduled at the Ambergris Stadium. The game was called off due to a lack of lodging for the referees. As per PLB, the host teams are responsible for referees' accommodations. April 8th was Easter weekend, and San Pedro Pirates indicated that getting accommodations for the game officials was difficult. They could only secure accommodations for one referee. The island club arranged for some of the referees to return to Belize City with the visiting team Verdes. The PLB considered this move extremely risky and unprofessional. The officials without a hotel room returned to the mainland that same day and the match was called off after 6PM.

The Football Federation of Belize and PLB said they would investigate the incident. At the end of the investigation, the PLB was to decide if San Pedro Pirates and Verdes would play the match later or if it would be considered a forfeiture by the Pirates. The decision was delivered to the island club on Friday, April 14th, via a letter signed by Wilhelm Miguel, where they were informed that the canceled game was considered a forfeit match and that Verdes would be granted three points. The management of the San Pedro Pirates then told its fans that they could not tolerate such a decision and said they were dropping out of the remainder of the PLB's closing season. "We will not participate in any more games," the club said. "We understand about the sanctions this might bring, but we are also working with attorneys to deal with the situation." The island football club thanked their fans for their support and told them they would be missed.

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San Pedro Pirates remain in the PLB closing season

After announcing their withdrawal from the Premier League of Belize (PLB) Closing Season, the San Pedro Pirates decided to travel to Belize City on Sunday, April 16th, to play against Port Layola. The match was no easy feat for the island boys, who returned to San Pedro with a 2-2 draw after an intense play at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. The island football premier team announced on April 14th their withdrawal from the tournament after PLB awarded Verdes F.C. three points for the unplayed match against the Pirates scheduled for Holy Saturday. The game did not occur because the home team failed to secure accommodations for some referees. The Pirates were penalized and lost three points. The island team said this was very unfair, and although they stated their intentions to pull out of the competition, they returned for the love of the sport. However, they say the team will continue fighting what they consider an unfair penalty.

The match on Sunday against the Belize City team saw one goal in the 26th minute of the first half by Gilroy Thurton for Port Layola. In the second half, San Pedro's Facundo Garnier evened the score with a powerful strike impossible for Layola's goalkeeper to stop. Then in the 70th, Garnier scored the second goal for the Pirates via a penalty kick. The island boys did not enjoy the 2-1 lead for too long. Three minutes later, Shawn Young tied the match. At the end of the game, the score remained 2-2. San Pedro Pirates remain in third place in the PLB standings. This weekend's matches will start with the playoffs, and the season winds down. San Pedro Pirates will be traveling to Benque Viejo del Carmen this weekend to play against Benque United on Saturday, April 22nd, at the Marshalleck Stadium. San Pedro has already qualified for the playoffs of the closing season and will aim for a championship.

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Photo courtesy Tom Cawthon

PLB semi-finals start this weekend; San Pedro Pirates to face Port Layola

The semi-finals of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) start this weekend with matches involving the last teams remaining in the league's closing season. One of them is San Pedro Pirates, who, after overcoming Benque United over the weekend, will be traveling to Belize City on Saturday, April 29th, to face Port Layola.

The match on Saturday, April 22nd, saw the island's premier football team traveling to Benque Viejo del Carmen, where they faced a strong Benque United at the Mashalleck Stadium. The home team was determined to hold on to the win, and in the 7th minute of the first half, Benque's Jamil Cano opened the score. But three minutes after, San Pedro's Horace Avila evened the score via a penalty kick. Avila would score a second goal for San Pedro Pirates in the 20th. The 2-1 lead rolled into the second half of the game. Benque returned in the second half with slightly new gameplay. This worked, and Owen Sosa tied the match 2-2. However, before the long whistle, the island boys increased their lead with a goal from Mario Chimal in a play that defeated Benque's defense. At the end of the match, San Pedro Pirates emerged victorious 3-2, leaving Benque out of the PLB's semi-finals.

The other teams in the semi-finals include Verdes, Port Layola, and Progresso FC. The first round of matches this weekend in the journey to the closing championship will see San Pedro Pirates trying to seal a win against Port Layola in a home-away match in Belize City. Meanwhile, Progresso FC will travel from Orange Walk Town to San Ignacio Town to face Verdes.

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Tomorow the best teams will be competing. Semifinals San Pedro Pirates vs Port Loyola. Pirates heading for the championship.

San Pedro Pirates prepare for first semifinals game

The San Pedro Pirates Football Club finished second place in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) regular season following a 3-0 defeat against Verdes Football Club on Sunday, May 14th. The football tournament is now moving to the semifinals stage in preparation for the championship. The first semifinal match for the San Pedro Pirates will be held on Wednesday, May 17th, in Belize City, where they will face Port Layola FC at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex at 7:30 PM. The San Pedro Pirates will risk it all to advance to the tournament's finals and bring home the first-place trophy for the second year.

The first half of the match remained scoreless for both teams. In the second half at the 59th minute, Verdes' Joel Andres Burgos scored the first goal, with Izon Gill netting the second goal shortly after. Verdes defended their 2-0 lead until the regulated 90 minutes, as the island team could not close the gap. Verdes FC's Jeromy James scored an extra goal during an allotted injury time. With this 3-0 point victory, Verdes finished at the top of the PLB tournament rankings with 30 points, while San Pedro Pirates settled in second place with 26 points. Port Layola FC follows in third place with 25 points, and Progresso FC in fourth with 23 points, making them the four teams advancing to the semifinals.

Following the game on Wednesday, the second match in the semifinals for the San Pedro Pirates is set for Saturday, May 20th, against Port Layola, to be played at the Ambergris Stadium. The island team must win both games to become the PLB closing season champions.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun