Latinos F.C. go to the top

Latinos FC picked up their third straight win of the 2017/18 CIFA Premier League season in impressive fashion with a 7-1 defeat of Future Sports Club on 7 November.

The teams had barely settled on the pitch at Ed Bush Sports Complex for a rare Tuesday night game when Ronald Zelaya decided to test his luck, releasing a tame but well-placed ball to the far post that might have caught Future’s keeper, Ronaldo McLaughlin, off guard. He should have gotten a glove to it but nonetheless, it was 1-0 in Latinos’ favour after only a minute of play.

After Jarol Smith Rizo was taken down after a collision with a Jared Yates that saw the Future player earn a yellow card, he stepped up to the spot for the ensuing penalty kick and doubled the lead in the 27^th.

Though Latinos sported a 2-0 lead, Future was still in it and players displayed the enthusiasm to make a contest of it. Just before the half, a defensive lapse by Latinos presented Future the opportunity. A poor clearance gave Michael Johnson the chance he needed, which he pounced on and hammed into the back of the net to cut the lead to one goal at the interval.

Salt would be added to Future’s wounds in the 56^th minute when Yates was given a second yellow card by referee Peter Rose from a challenge just inside the 18-yard box that saw Leonon McKenzie go down. Yates protested that he got all ball but it was time for Smith Rizo to take his second penalty of the game and made it count to extend the lead to 3-1.

Down two goals, Future were forced to play a man down with more than half an hour of play left. Three minutes later, Zelaya was rewarded for his hustle with a goal to widen the gap to 4-1.

At this stage, Future had not played a bad game but Latinos created more chances and converted them but overcoming a three-goal deficit does wonders to the mind, as players in red and black seemed to let their shoulders sag with the task that lay ahead.

When Bayron McCoy Reyes flicked a neat finish from his head past the keeper for Latinos fifth of the night in the 66^th, the margin became insurmountable. For good measure, Smith Rizo, who kept pressing forward, got his first goal from open play with 10 minutes left on the clock to secure his hat-trick. McKenzie added another in stoppage time to complete the 7-1 thrashing.

The win saw Latinos take sole possession of first place, leapfrogging an inactive Scholars International and Future for the top spot.

In other Week 4 games:

Tigers FC picked up their first point of the season with a 3-3 draw against George Town SC. Tigers overcame a 3-0 deficit to steal the points after Adain Henry (47’) and Andres Ruiz (58’, 63’) put George Town out front. Gonzalo McLaughlin (75’) and Jake Bennet (79’) made it competitive before a Junior Welcome own-goal in the 82^nd minute levelled the scores.

Sunset FC picked up their second win of the season with a 2-0 win over Cayman Brac FC thanks to goals from Trent Christie (54’) and Stephen Tatum (69’).

There was no separating Elite and North Side.

Elite SC and North Side SC played to a scoreless draw Sunday night at the Annex.

A pair of goals either side of the break from last season’s leading scorer, Jonah Ebanks, gave Academy a 2-1 win over Cayman Athletic. Jordan McLean scored in a losing effort.

Roma United hammered East End United 6-0 Wednesday night at the Annex.

There are no games scheduled for the holiday weekend, with Week 5 games scheduled to resume on 17 November.

Unofficial standings: As of 9 November, 2017

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