Verdes' Roy Cano tries a shot, but Slusher is attentive

Verdes were the first to score when Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez centered the ball to his younger brother Danny Jimenez who drove in the 1st goal in the 11th minute of the ball game to lead 1-zip.

Stung into action by this insult, the BDF responded by mounting repeated assaults on Verdes’ goal as Dion “Pussy” Flowers, Floyd Jones, the dynamic duo of Dion and David Macaulay Jr., and Irwin “Bird” Flores strove vainly for the equalizer.

The play got furiously physical and referee Gerald Henry tried to keep a lid on the heat by issuing yellow cards left, right and center to Verdes’ Stanley “Rice” Robinson, Shamir Pacheco, Jose Rodriguez and even Panamanian import David Barahona.

  Verdes' Everald Torres & BDF's Irwin "Bird" Flores race for the ball

The BDF pressed hard, but at the half time break, they had come up empty handed as the visitors took their 1-zip lead into the break.

The BDF brought in fresh horses in the person of Asizzi Swazo, and Verdes also sent in Victor Urbina to relieve the pressure on Orlando Jimenez, who was nursing an injured ankle. Swazo looked to equalize with a long distance shot, but Verdes’ goalie Jamie Brooks was up to the challenge.

Dion Macaulay finally evened the odds for the BDF when he connected with a header to put the finish on a play by his brother Dave Macaulay to tie the score at 1-1 in the 61st minute of play.

  Jimenez & BDF's Nigel Franklin in an intense struggle for ball control

Danny Jimenez got away on a fast break that almost put Verdes’ up 2-1, but goalie Charlie Slusher intervened and Danny’s shot went outside the sticks.

Dion Macaulay also got the chance to seal the win for the BDF when Wilhelm Coye deflected a shot by Dion Flowers to his feet, but Dion couldn’t get to the ball with his kick, and the ball rolled gently to Jamie Brooks.

It will be winner takes all in Game 2 of the finals to be played at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday, April 13.