Rene Leslie scored a brace against Port Layola in their last encounter. Midfield Andir Chi – right – accompanies him in celebration during August 3-0 win over Napoles. Photo Credit: Progresso FC
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Premier League of Belize 2025–2026 Opening Championship semifinals kick off with a high-scoring rivalry as Progresso FC (#3) host Port Layola FC (#2) on Saturday, November 22 at 3:30pm at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk. Their two regular season meetings produced a 2–2 draw and a dramatic 3–2 Port Layola win, setting the tone for a semifinal that promises goals and intensity.
Progresso enter the playoffs powered by the league’s most lethal frontline: Latrell Middleton, the season’s top scorer with 11 goals, supported by Keydenshaay Bowen (9) and Rene Leslie (6). Together, they’ve accounted for 26 of the club’s 31 goals, making Progresso the most concentrated attacking unit in the league.
Port Layola, however, finished the regular season as the top-scoring team with 32 goals — one more than both Progresso and Verdes. Unlike Progresso’s trio, Port’s strength lies in their scoring depth. A closer look at their head-to-head meetings shows how Trimayne “Pepa” Harris, Moises Hernandez, and Argentine Fernando Aguirres all struck against Progresso. Add in Gilroy ‘Leng’ Thurton, who has scored 7 goals this season, along with Michael Palacio, another standout striker capable of delivering in big games, and Port’s attack looks versatile, unpredictable, and decisive in key moments.
Port Layola’s Michael Palacio – Photo Credit: Port Layola FC
Their regular season clashes highlighted the drama of this matchup. On August 3 at the Marion Jones Sports Complex, they battled to a 2–2 draw in a game defined by offseason transfers and emotional reunions, with Hernandez and Harris scoring for Port Layola, while Middleton and Bowen struck for Progresso.
The return fixture on September 27 in Orange Walk was even more dramatic. Port Layola snatched a 3–2 victory with Harris’ stoppage-time winner after goals from Thurton, Aguirres, and Progresso’s Leslie (twice). The late strike denied Progresso another draw and gave Port Layola the edge heading into the postseason.
With Progresso’s trio firing on all cylinders and Port Layola’s multi-pronged attack proving dangerous, this semifinal could go down to the wire.
PLB Semifinal Fixtures:
- Progresso FC (#3) vs Port Layola FC (#2) – Saturday, November 22 – People’s Stadium, Orange Walk – 3:30pm
- Port Layola FC (#2) vs Progresso FC (#3) – Sunday, November 30 – Marion Jones Sports Complex, Belize City – 4:00pm
The post Premier League of Belize: After 2–2 and 3–2 thrillers, Progresso-Port Layola semifinal promises more drama appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Rene Leslie scored a brace against Port Layola in their last encounter. Midfield Andir Chi – right – accompanies him in celebration during August 3-0 win over Napoles. Photo Credit: Progresso FC By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Premier League of Belize 2025–2026 Opening Championship semifinals kick off with a high-scoring rivalry as Progresso FC (#3)
The post Premier League of Belize: After 2–2 and 3–2 thrillers, Progresso-Port Layola semifinal promises more drama appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
