Regular‑season top scorer Latrell Middleton (left) was the only one of the lethal trio left on the field after Progresso’s other top strikers, Rene Leslie and Keydenshaay Bowen, were taken off, while Verdes’ top striker Desmond Wade didn’t enter the match until the waning moments of the First Final. Photo credit: Progresso FC/LUL’s Quick Cash / Verdes FC/Wilton Ixctecoc
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Premier League of Belize (PLB) Opening Championship Final first leg between Progresso and reigning champions Verdes at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk on Sunday, December 7, 2025, may have ended scoreless, but the tactical choices of coaches Charlie Slusher and Manu Can were just as decisive as the missed chances on the field.
Starting Lineups
Progresso FC (Coach: Charlie Slusher):
01 Cunil (GK), 30 Naim, 14 Harlan, 52 Calvin, 03 Jarret, 5 Marlon Gutierrez, 15 Ramos, 10 Andir (C), 77 Rene Leslie, 09 Keydenshaay Bowen, 07 Latrell Middleton
Bench: 11 Walter Gómez, 22 Selvin Sagástume, 18 Alden Nuñez, 25 Alden Castillo, 8 Mark Petillo, 17 Brandon Rogers, 52 Richard Gillett
Verdes FC (Coach: Manu Can):
27 Woodrow West (GK), 25 Krisean Lopez, 17 Jaylen Lennan, 24 Christian Ramírez, 14 Darrel Myvett, 10 Jordy Polanco (C), 11 Jahron Myvett, 8 Joel Burgos, 23 Luis Ibarra, 42 Richard Monges, 26 John Allesandro Jessiman
Bench: 22 Leonardo Nahuel Paz, 20 Eldon Reneau, 1 Dejion McFadzean, 99 Evral Trapp, 13 Felix Martinez, 7 Nahjib Guerra, 2 Jahyrl Smith, 77 Desmond Wade, 30 Daiver Vega, 4 Brandon Jones
Progresso’s Charlie Slusher took a bold gamble by benching two of Progresso’s lethal trio, Rene Leslie and Keydenshaay Bowen, early in the second half. Though the season’s top scorer, Latrell Middleton, came close on a number of occasions, Verdes dominated the second half. Photo credit: Progresso FC / LUL’s Quick Cash
Slusher’s Bold Gamble
Progresso’s coach Charlie Slusher made only two substitutions:
- 52’ – Walter Gómez replaced Rene Leslie
- 59’ – Alden Nuñez replaced Keydenshaay Bowen
Both Leslie and Bowen had been among Progresso’s most consistent attacking threats this season, yet they were withdrawn early. Gómez, who had been expected to start but was benched for Gutierrez, failed to provide the spark Progresso needed. Nuñez’s introduction also did little to change the attacking rhythm, leaving Middleton isolated up front.
Slusher was Belize’s top goalkeeper in his day but, much like Mexico’s Jorge Campos, he also played as a striker and was excellent at both. That dual role means he isn’t defensive‑minded, and his decision to pull two of his top three strikers in a final was anything but conservative — it was daring, perhaps even foolhardy. At the same time, his refusal to make further changes down the stretch suggested he either had confidence in the eleven he left on the field or felt his bench wouldn’t have maintained the level required in such a tense match.
Verdes’ coach Mexican Manuel “Manu” Can left Verdes’ top striker Desmond Wade on the bench for most of the game. Photo credit: Verdes FC/Wilton Ixtecoc
Manu Can’s Tough Calls
Verdes coach Manu Can had more depth to work with and wasn’t afraid to use it:
- He benched Nahjib Guerra, only bringing him for the second half (46’ for Jahron Myvett).
- He substituted Darrel Myvett for Colombian Daiver Vega in the 80th minute in search of more firepower. That was a gamble, because Myvett is an offensive‑minded defender who regularly pushes forward on set pieces and free kicks, giving Verdes an extra attacking dimension from the back. Removing him meant sacrificing that threat for a more traditional attacking option.
- Most controversially, he left Desmond Wade — Verdes’ deadliest striker — on the bench until the 87th minute, meaning Wade only played 11 minutes including eight minutes of injury time.
- He also withdrew two of Verdes’ other important goalscorers — Krisean Lopez (86’) and Luis Ibarra (87’) — inserting Felix Martinez and Wade late in the game to push for more up front.
None of these changes produced the breakthrough Verdes were hoping for, but the fact that Can could call on Guerra, Vega, Martinez, and Wade underlines the greater squad depth Verdes enjoy compared to Progresso.
Tactical Balance
The match ended 0–0, but the coaching decisions defined the narrative. Slusher’s daring — some might say foolhardy — gamble of withdrawing two of his top strikers left Progresso without their usual attacking punch. Meanwhile, Can’s reshuffles, including his decision to hold back Wade until the dying minutes, failed to deliver the desired edge despite his deeper bench.
As the final shifts to Benque Viejo del Carmen, both coaches will face renewed scrutiny. Slusher must decide whether his gamble weakened Progresso’s attack or showed faith in his XI, while Can will weigh whether his late use of Guerra and Wade cost Verdes momentum — even as his squad depth gives him more options for the decisive second final.
The post Premier League of Belize: Coaching decisions under the spotlight as PLB Final 1st leg ends 0–0 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Regular‑season top scorer Latrell Middleton (left) was the only one of the lethal trio left on the field after Progresso’s other top strikers, Rene Leslie and Keydenshaay Bowen, were taken off, while Verdes’ top striker Desmond Wade didn’t enter the match until the waning moments of the First Final. Photo credit: Progresso FC/LUL’s Quick Cash
The post Premier League of Belize: Coaching decisions under the spotlight as PLB Final 1st leg ends 0–0 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
