Oscar Carranza, Marlon Meza Jr, Tyrone Linares scored Belize’s goals against Grenada. – Photo Credit: FFB
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize sealed an impressive 3–0 victory over Grenada in their second Concacaf U20 Qualifiers match at Estadio Miguel Chocorron Buitrago in Managua, with Marlon Meza Jr. delivering an MVP‑level performance—scoring once and assisting twice.
The victory comes just two days after Belize’s difficult 7–2 loss to Suriname, while Grenada entered the match buoyed by a 2–1 win over Saint Martin.
The match kicked off in sweltering 92°F heat, but Belize settled quickly and controlled the tempo throughout.
First Half: Carranza opens the scoring
Belize took the lead in the 37th minute when Oscar Carranza finished a perfectly timed run‑through pass from Marlon Meza Jr., who split the Grenada back line with precision. Carranza’s composed finish gave Belize a deserved 1–0 advantage.
Second Half: Red card, missed penalty, and injury setback
Grenada were reduced to ten men in the 57th minute when Benjamin Grey, already on a yellow, fouled Carranza inside the box after another brilliant buildup by Meza Jr., who had fed him with a long pass. Grey received his second yellow card and was ejected.
Belize had a chance to double the lead in the 60th minute, but captain Devin Garbutt’s penalty to the extreme right was saved by goalkeeper Alexander.
Just two minutes later, Carranza was fouled again and had to be stretchered off in the 63rd minute. Tyronell Castillo replaced him. Belize made two additional changes in the 64th minute, with Esmond Sanker coming on for Calvin Thurton and Breyden Olivas replacing Garbutt. Moments later, Marcos Guerra smashed a powerful shot off the upper left ‘V’, narrowly missing Belize’s second.
Meza Jr. takes over: goal and assist in two minutes
Belize finally broke through again in the 82nd minute thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Marlon Meza Jr. He controlled the ball, pulled it back to beat his defender, shifted from left to right foot, and fired a low diagonal shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0.
Two minutes later, in the 84th minute, Meza Jr. created Belize’s third. He slipped a clever reverse pass into the box for Tyrone Linares, who tapped it in for 3–0. With two assists and a goal, Meza Jr. was unquestionably the MVP of the match.
Belize’s Starting XI – Photo Credit: FFB
Group A standings
The win lifts Belize to third place in Group A. Both Belize and Grenada now have:
- 3 points each
- –2 goal difference each
But Belize sit ahead on goals scored:
- Belize: 5 scored, 7 conceded
- Grenada: 2 scored, 4 conceded
A crucial turnaround for the U20 BMNT, who now carry momentum into their remaining fixtures.
Remaining Group A Matches
(All at Estadio Miguel Chocorron Buitrago, Managua)
- Feb 27 — Belize vs French Guiana, 2:00 pm
- Mar 1 — Belize vs El Salvador, 8:00 pm
- Mar 3 — Belize vs Saint Martin, 5:00 pm
Belize’s Starting XI – Photo Credit: FFB
The post Belize defeat Grenada 3–0 in U20 Concacaf Qualifiers as Marlon Meza Jr shines a goal and two assists appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Oscar Carranza, Marlon Meza Jr, Tyrone Linares scored Belize’s goals against Grenada. – Photo Credit: FFB By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize sealed an impressive 3–0 victory over Grenada in their second Concacaf U20 Qualifiers match at Estadio Miguel Chocorron Buitrago in Managua, with Marlon Meza Jr. delivering an MVP‑level performance—scoring once and assisting twice. The
The post Belize defeat Grenada 3–0 in U20 Concacaf Qualifiers as Marlon Meza Jr shines a goal and two assists appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.