Jewel Fury won their opener 2-1 over the Sagitun GIRLZ at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Photo Credit: FFB
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Jewel Fury FC opened the 2026 Westline Premier Women’s League Closing Season with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over fellow ex-champions SAGITUN GIRLZ on Sunday at the FFB Stadium — another intense chapter in a rivalry that has shaped Belizean women’s football for years.
Both teams entered the season with significantly reshaped rosters. With the Jaguars Girls — effectively the U17 Belize Women’s National Team — and the Cayo Dreamers stepping away from the elite championship, their players were distributed across the four PWLB clubs. Under league rules, these young players must receive at least 20% playing time, a developmental investment that strengthens Belize’s future but requires short-term tactical adjustment from every team.
SAGITUN GIRLZ also faced an additional challenge: they were without their starting goalkeeper Jasmin Armstrong, the Belize Women’s National Team’s No. 1. Her absence forced the GIRLZ to reorganize defensively against a Jewel Fury side eager to reassert themselves.
Sagitun GIRLZ were shocked 2-1 by Jewel Fury in their PWLB opener at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Photo Credit: FFB
Fury struck first in the 16th minute, when Amina Burgess finished a well-worked move to give her team the early advantage. SAGITUN GIRLZ responded with determination, equalizing in the 39th minute through Jurshia Zúñiga, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to bring the match level before halftime.
But Jewel Fury regained control early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Shamika Lambey delivered the decisive goal, restoring Fury’s lead and ultimately sealing the win. The Sagi GIRLZ pushed late, but Fury’s defensive structure — blending veterans with new youth talent — held firm.
The result reinforces the long-standing rivalry between these two former champions, now renewed with fresh faces and new tactical challenges as the league invests in the next generation of Belizean football.
Saturday Recap – Corozal Elite hold Napoles to 2-2 draw
Opening Weekend began with another tight contest as Corozal Elite held champions Napoles FC to a 2–2 draw, with goals from Edith Cabrera and Josefin Reyes for Corozal, and Heidy López and Grace O’Neill for Napoles.
The 2026 PWLB Closing Season opens with intensity — and the margins already look razor-thin.
The post Jewel Fury edge SAGITUN GIRLZ 2–1 as ex‑PWLB champions renew their rivalry appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Jewel Fury won their opener 2-1 over the Sagitun GIRLZ at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Photo Credit: FFB By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Jewel Fury FC opened the 2026 Westline Premier Women’s League Closing Season with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over fellow ex-champions SAGITUN GIRLZ on Sunday at the FFB
The post Jewel Fury edge SAGITUN GIRLZ 2–1 as ex‑PWLB champions renew their rivalry appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
