Although the San Pedro Under-17 debuted with a 4-0 win over Third World on February 18th in the first week of the Mclean Insurance Brokers’ Under-17 football tournament, they have struggled through a loss and two draws in subsequent appearances. Most recently, the San Pedro squad battled to a 1-1 draw with Fabro’s Warriors FC U-17 at the MCC grounds in Belize City on Saturday, March 18.
In their 4th outing on Saturday, March 18, San Pedro’s Dixon Paguada Jr and Henry Gonzalez led the Isla Bonita offensive, supported by Jhoan Alvarez, Hakeem Smith, Christian Medina and Arnold Flowers at midfield. The Warriors’ defenders Jaheim Thomas, Lamar Sutherland, Dennis Aranda and Defferson Zuniga tried to contain their attacks, but Hakeem Smith’s shot found the back of the net to give San Pedro a 1-0 lead.
Dion Cacho and Raheem Augustine led the Warriors’ counterattack, supported by Cion Augustine Shane Graham, Elmer Mai and Zac Sosa at midfield. Wilson Cruz anchored the islanders’ defence with the help Haseim Valerio, Kyle Jacobs, and Edwardo Ack, but Cion Augustine succeeded in equalizing 1-1 for the Warriors.
The San Pedro squad were without the services of Ian Pou, Jorge Castillo and Christian Orellano, who were playing softball with San Pedro High School at the Rogers Stadium, but Michael Brown and Japhet Soriano helped the island squad hold off the Warriors’ attacks to avert a loss and secure the 1-1 draw.
A very under-manned San Pedro side of only eight players had also held the Matus Bombers to a scoreless draw in their third outing on Saturday, March 4.
The San Pedro FC did not do so well in their second match, against the City Boys U-17, who won 2-1 on Saturday, February 25. Speedy Kenny Linarez had run through the island defenders to embarrass goalkeeper Christian Orellano with two goals for the City Boys to lead 2-0 at intermission. In the 2nd half, the City Boys’ defence goofed in conceding a penalty, and Ian Pou converted: 2-1 final.
