7 News Belize

Belize’s Jaguars: Then And Now
posted (July 10, 2013)
Tonight, Belize's Jaguars and football fans around the country are trying to recover from that very serious beating the team took last night from the US.

Belize took 6 goals, and for a team which is praised internationally for its world-class defense, many fans have criticized that they didn't see it in action against those football superstars.

But, while reviewing the game, our Daniel Ortiz picked up on a few key differences in defending which the team exhibited last night, which was in stark contrast to the very same team which played in Costa Rica in January.

He pieced together this report with the help of our archives department, and here's what he discovered:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Before we took a closer look at last night's performance, we went back into our archives to find a snapshot of how the team looked in the game against Nicaragua in the Copa-Centroamericana.

Everyone moved in unison, and the defenders were always a few steps ahead of the strikers from that team.






But in the game last night against USA, the defenders were not as fluid in transition, and they gave up a goal in the first 12 minutes of the game.







After that goal, the US team did not let up, and they were always able to out-number the Belizean defenders.

But, things started to deteriorate, after that, and the second goal came in a similar fashion where 2 strikers were open for an opportunity.







Yes, Wondowlowski, loaded 2 on Belize,








And after that, Ian Gaynair shocked the world and headed one in on the US.

But that celebration was short-lived because Wondowlowski came back and put another away for a quick response about 2 minutes later:

It's difficult to say if Wondowlowski's athletic abilities allow him to be several steps ahead of the Belizean defense, nevertheless, as the announcer said, he scored 3 back to back goals on Belize.




In the second half, the US continued to keep the pressure up, and the 4th Goal was scored on Belize,










Then the fifth, and then the 6th off a penalty shot by Landon Donovan.

It was a crushing defeat for Belize, and as a the nation watched, wincing as each goal found it's mark, the one thing that the announcers kept focusing on was that the Belizean defence was not moving the way they should.

Opponents were left open, and they could assist their teammates to get around the defenders who were there.

That wasn't the way things looked back in the Copa Centro-Americana when Belize lost to Honduras.

In that game, it was clearly visible how every player on the field knew their roles, and their tactics were the number one focus.

They didn't give up any goals until the 66th minutes, and it wasn't because the defenders were not there. The opponents had to make their own room to beat off the Belizean defence.

And even the transition from defence to offence was very smooth against Nicaragua. The ball movement was exceptional, and more importantly, the team had passing options.

And on the second goal by striker Deon McCauley, the snapshot looked very similar

But last night, of the few times Belize had an opportunity to counter attack, Deon McCauley was all alone most of the time, unable to make room because he was crowded by USA's defence.

This was one of the few times he had assistance, and even then it wasn't much room to work with.

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