FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifying in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico © U.S. Soccer / U.S. Soccer Photo Gallery

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (April 17, 2008) – The U.S. Beach Soccer squad picked up a 7-2 win over Costa Rica to open their quest to qualify for their fourth-consecutive FIFA Beach World Cup.

Anthony Chimienti and Jevin Albuquerque led the way for the offense scoring two goals apiece. Benyam Astorga, Ronald Silva and Brendon Taguinod rounded out the scoring for the U.S.

On the defensive end, goalkeepers Luiz Montanez and Bayard Elfvin combined to allow just two goals, which were both allowed during the second period. Montanez was credited with eight saves and no goals against while Elfvin stopped five shots while allowing only two scores.

In the other game of the night, Mexico topped El Salvador, 4-2. The U.S. currently sits in first place in the four-team qualifying competition, which will be played as a round-robin tournament that will send the top two teams to the FIFA Beach World Cup in Marseilles, France.



U.S. 2008 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Schedule
Date        Match up/Result
April 17   USA 7, Costa Rica 2
April 17   Mexico 4, El Salvador 2
April 18   USA vs. El Salvador
April 18   Mexico vs. Costa Rica
April 19   El Salvador vs. Costa Rica
April 19   USA vs. Mexico

U.S. 2008 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship Standings

Team	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
USA	1	0	0	7	2	+5
Mexico	1	0	0	4	2	+2
El Salvador	0	1	0	2	4	-2
Costa Rica	0	1	0	2	7	-5

U.S. Beach Soccer National Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bayard Elfvin (Newark, N.J.), Luis Montanez (Hayward, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Benyam Astorga (Miami, Fla.), Francis Farberoff (Miami Beach, Fla.), Jacob Long (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Austin Roman (Santa Monica, Calif.), Ronald Silva (Los Angeles, Calif.), Brendon Taguinod (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
FORWARDS (3): Jevin Albuquerque (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Anthony Chimienti (El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Yuri Morales (San Francisco, Calif.), Joshua Nolz (Virginia Beach, Va.)