2022–23 Premier League of Belize

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The 2022–23 Premier League of Belize is the tenth season of the Premier League of Belize, the highest competitive football league in Belize, after it was founded in 2011. The league commenced in July 2022 and is scheduled to end in mid 2023. The season is divided into two halves (opening and closing), each crowning one champion.

Teams

There were eight teams that participated in the 2022–23 season. From the

Port Layola, a newly formed team from Belize City.[1]

Team City Stadium Capacity
Altitude Independence Michael Ashcroft Stadium 2,000
Benque Viejo United
 Benque Marshalleck Stadium 2,000
Internacional FC[a]
 Belmopan Isidoro Beaton Stadium 2,500
Port Layola
 Belize City MCC Grounds
Marion Jones Sports Complex 		2,000
7,500
Progresso
 Orange Walk Orange Walk People's Stadium 4,500
San Pedro Pirates San Pedro Ambergris Stadium 1,500
Verdes San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium 2,000
Wagiya
 Dangriga
Carl Ramos Stadium
 3,500
  1. Belmopan Bandits
    changed their name to Internacional Futbol Club in February 2023.

Opening season

The General Manager of the league, Wіlhеlm Міguеl ѕtated that thе format of the oреnіng sеаѕоn wіll initially fеаturе а dоublе rоund rоbіn рhаѕе. The top fоur ranked tеаmѕ will then quаlіfу for a hоmе аnd аwау ѕеmіfіnаls, with thе wіnnеrѕ mееting іn a twо-gаmе fіnаlѕ.[2] The opening season commenced on 30 July 2022.[3]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Altitude 14 10 2 2 22 10 +12 32 Advance to Playoffs
2 Verdes 14 7 6 1 24 9 +15 27
3 San Pedro Pirates 14 6 5 3 20 13 +7 23
4
Progresso
 14 4 6 4 12 12 0 18
5
Benque Viejo United
 14 4 4 6 15 17 −2 16
6
Port Layola
 14 5 1 8 17 20 −3 16
7
Wagiya
 14 4 2 8 15 23 −8 14
8
Belmopan Bandits
 14 2 2 10 11 32 −21 8
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results

Home \ Away ALT
BEL
BEN
POR
PRO
 SPE VER
WAG
Altitude 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–1
Belmopan Bandits
 0–2 3–2 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–4 4–2
Benque Viejo United
 1–4 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–1
Port Layola
 3–2 5–0 1–3 0–1 2–1 1–3 0–3
Progresso
 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 0–2 0–1
San Pedro Pirates 0–1 4–1 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 2–0
Verdes 1–1 5–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–0
Wagiya
 1–2 2–1 1–4 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–2
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Semifinals Finals
          
1 Altitude 2 1 3
4
Progresso
1 0 1
1 Altitude (p) 1 1 2 (11)
2 Verdes 1 1 2 (10)
2 Verdes 2 3 5
3 San Pedro Pirates 2 2 4

Semifinals

Game One[4]

12 November 2022 San Pedro Pirates 2 – 2 Verdes Ambergris Stadium, San Pedro
19:30 Andir Chi 80'
Erick Izquierdo 90+3'		 Desmond Wade 60'
Krisean Lopez 90+5'
13 November 2022
Progresso
1 – 2 Altitude Orange Walk People's Stadium, Orange Walk
15:30 Dedron Baptist 80' Dellon Torres 54'
Aloisio Teixeira 82'

Game Two[5]

19 November 2022
Progresso
Michael Ashcroft Stadium, Independence
20:00 Miguel Garcia 58'
20 November 2022 Verdes 3 – 2
(5 – 4 agg.)		 San Pedro Pirates Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Darrell Myvett 14'
Desmond Wade 27'
Trimayne Harris 58'		 Horace Avila 42'
Erick Izquierdo 66'

Finals

Game One[6]

27 November 2022 Verdes 1 – 1 Altitude Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
15:30 Luis Ibarra 71' Rene Leslie 78'

Game Two[7]

11 December 2022 Altitude 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
(2 – 2 agg.)
(11 – 10 p)		 Verdes Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
18:00 Luis Torres 52' Luis Ibarra 45'

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals*
1 Colombia Andres Orozco Altitude 11
2 Paraguay Luis Ibarra Verdes 9
3 Belize Horace Avila San Pedro Pirates 7
Belize Sean Young
Port Layola
5 Belize Trimayne Harris Verdes 6
Mexico Erick Izquierdo San Pedro Pirates
7 Belize Cion Augustine
Wagiya
 5
Belize Zamir Bonilla
Progresso
Belize Desmond Wade Verdes

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Belize Jaren Lambey
Belmopan Bandits
Wagiya
 4–2 (H) 24 September 2022
Argentina Ayrton Sisa
Benque Viejo United
Port Layola
 3–1 (A) 25 September 2022
Belize Desmond Wade Verdes
Belmopan Bandits
 4–0 (A) 29 October 2022

Closing season

All eight teams that participated in the opening season participated in the closing season.[8]

The format will be the same as the opening season with one league consisting of the eight teams, who will play each other twice, with the top four teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The closing season commenced on 14 January 2023.[9]

In February 2023, part way through the closing season,

Belmopan Bandits changed their name to Internacional Futbol Club, after striking a sponsorship deal with a team from Mexico.[10]

Also in February 2023, the

Port Layola and Marco Zavala from Verdes lose a goal each.[11]

Internacional FC forfeited their game against San Pedro Pirates, scheduled for 18 March 2023 at the Ambergris Stadium. The Pirates were awarded a 3–0 victory.[12]

Verdes were also originally awarded a 3–0 victory for their away game against San Pedro Pirates, scheduled for 8 April 2023. This was due to the Pirates failing to provide post-game accommodation to the Belize City based referees, even though the Pirates advised earlier in the week that accommodation was not available.[13] San Pedro Pirates subsequently threatened to withdraw from the league, however a few days later decided to continue participating for the remainder of the closing season, as their prospective withdrawal would affect other teams financially.[14] After a successful appeal by the Pirates, this game was played on 14 May 2023.[15]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Verdes 14 9 3 2 30 8 +22 30 Advance to Playoffs
2 San Pedro Pirates 14 7 5 2 33 17 +16 26
3
Port Layola
 14 7 4 3 25 14 +11 25
4
Progresso
 14 6 5 3 22 9 +13 23
5 Altitude 14 6 4 4 26 15 +11 22
6
Benque Viejo United
 14 6 3 5 19 18 +1 21
7
Wagiya
 14 2 0 12 13 54 −41 6
8
Internacional FC
 14 0 2 12 7 40 −33 2
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results

Home \ Away ALT
BEN
INT
POR
PRO
 SPE VER
WAG
Altitude 0–1 3–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–0 3–1
Benque Viejo United
 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 2–3 0–1 5–1
Internacional FC
 0–6 2–3 1–3 0–0 0–6 0–0 1–2
Port Layola
 1–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 0–2 6–2
Progresso
 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–0
San Pedro Pirates 2–2 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–0 0–3 4–2
Verdes 3–0 0–0 5–0 3–0 2–0 2–4 4–0
Wagiya
 0–5 1–2 3–2 0–5 0–8 0–4 1–3
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Semifinals Finals
          
1 Verdes 1 3 4
4
Progresso
2 1 3
1 Verdes 1 2 3
2 San Pedro Pirates 0 1 1
2 San Pedro Pirates 1 4 5
3
Port Layola
2 0 2

Semifinals

Game One[16]

17 May 2023
Port Layola
2 – 1 San Pedro Pirates Marion Jones Sports Complex, Belize City
19:30 Latrelle Middleton 10', 55' Trevor Lennan 65'
Progresso v Verdes
17 May 2023
Progresso
2 – 1 Verdes Orange Walk People's Stadium, Orange Walk
19:30 Marlon Gutierrez 61'
Zamir Bonilla 90+4'		 Darrel Myvett 83'

Game Two[16]

21 May 2023
Progresso
Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Joel Burgos 18'
Nicolas Rocha Gomez 47'
Jordy Polanco 87'		 Jonard Castillo 86'
21 May 2023
Port Layola
Ambergris Stadium, San Pedro
18:00 Ander Chi 44', 65'
Luis Valdez 45+4' (pen.), 50'

Finals

Game One[17]

24 May 2023 San Pedro Pirates 0 – 1 Verdes Ambergris Stadium, San Pedro
18:30 Christian Ramirez 90+'

Game Two[18]

28 May 2023 Verdes 2 – 1
(3 – 1 agg.)		 San Pedro Pirates Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
15:30 Marco Zavala
Jeromy James 90+'		 Horace Avila 56'

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals*
1 Belize Horace Avila San Pedro Pirates 9
2 Belize Jonard Castillo
Progresso
 8
Belize Michael Palacio
Port Layola
4 Belize Daniel Jimenez
Benque Viejo United
 7
Belize Latrelle Middleton
Port Layola
Colombia Andres Orozco Altitude
7 Belize Ander Chi San Pedro Pirates 6
Belize Gilroy Thurton
Port Layola
Belize Luis Valdez San Pedro Pirates
10 Belize Leston Garcia
Wagiya
 5
Argentina Facundo Garnier San Pedro Pirates
Uruguay Nicolas Rocha Gomez Verdes
Belize Sean Young
Port Layola

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Belize Horace Avila San Pedro Pirates Verdes 4–2 (A) 12 February 2023
Belize Jonard Castillo4
Progresso
Wagiya
 8–0 (A) 9 April 2023
Colombia Andres Orozco Altitude
Internacional FC
 6–0 (A) 15 April 2023
Notes

4 Player scored 4 goals

References

  1. ^ "New Premier League of Belize, featuring three new clubs, delayed one week; to play three pre-season games this weekend". Breaking Belize News. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Premier League of Belize Opening Season kicks off this coming weekend". Breaking Belize News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Port Layola holds Verdes to 0-0 draw in Premier League of Belize Opener in Benque". Breaking Belize News. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Tight scores in Leg 1 of PLB semi-finals". Amandala. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Altitude versus Verdes in PLB Finals". Amandala. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  6. ^ "1-1 in San Ignacio; Altitude vs Verdes on Saturday in Independence for PLB championship". Amandala. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Altitude are national football champs, defeated Verdes in penalty shootout". Amandala. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Champions Altitude, Benque Viejo United kick off 2022-2023 Premier League of Belize Closing Championship on Saturday, January 14". Breaking Belize News. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Premier League Closing Season kicks off". Amandala. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Bandits strike sponsorship deal with Mexican football club, change name to Internacional Fútbol Club". Breaking Belize News. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Fооtbаll соntrоvеrѕу – Роrt Lауоlа lоѕе tор ѕроt іn Рrеmіеr Lеаguе оf Веlіzе аftеr FFВ Арреаlѕ Соmmіttее rulеѕ thеу uѕеd іnеlіgіblе рlауеr аgаіnѕt Vеrdеѕ". Breaking Belize News. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ "San Pedro Pirates awarded 3 points after Internacional's no-show last Saturday, Pirates take PLB leadership". Breaking Belize News. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Premier League of Belize awards 3 points to Verdes, San Pedro Pirates withdraw from PLB Championship". Breaking Belize News. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  14. ^ "San Pedro Pirates backtrack on threat to abandon Premier League of Belize, will play against Port Layola on Sunday". Breaking Belize News. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  15. ^ "PLB reschedules San Pedro-Verdes for Sunday, will attempt to finish Closing Championship by Concacaf League deadline of May 28". Breaking Belize News. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Verdes FC vs San Pedro Pirates FC in PLB Finals". Amandala. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Verdes edge San Pedro 1-0 in 1st leg of PLB Finals". Breaking Belize News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Verdes are national champions again". Amandala. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
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