PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (May 15, 2019) – The U.S. Beach Soccer National Team secured its passage to the knockout stage of 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship with a convincing 11-2 win over Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday in Mexico. The USA and Bahamas have each won their first two matches, which guarantees both a top-two finish in Group C ahead of their meeting on Thursday.
As they did in the opener, the USA again jumped to a quick lead. Less than two minutes in, Tanner Akol chipped a corner kick to the far post, where Nick Perera headed it back across the goal for Alessandro Canale knock in. Perera extended the lead with a side-net shot before Akol closed the period two of his five goals on the day, including an acrobatic bicycle kick off his own chest trap.
Antigua and Barbuda got the first of the second stance when Kevin Richards was in the right place to put away a rebound from a Chris Toth save at the goalmouth. Oscar Reyes then drew a penalty kick and converted it himself, and Akol added the sixth with a free kick.
Perera scored his second of the game to start the third period, placing a free kick in from midfield. Canale then added a header, Akol a blast from midfield and Frank Tayou got his first goal when he headed in a cross at the far post. Both teams scored in the final minute, with Richards again tapping in a saved shot and Akol converting a penalty kick.
Up Next: The USA will close out group play on Thursday, May 16 versus Bahamas (3:15 p.m. ET), with the teams playing for placement into the Quarterfinal bracket. The winner will face Group D’s second place team, and the runner up will meet Group D’s winner on Friday, May 17. All of the USA’s matches can be seen live on UDN and the ConcacafGo app.
NOTES:
- Head coach Eddie Soto made one change from the five that started the opener against Bonaire, with Alessandro Canale replacing Jason Leopoldo.
- The USA is now 3-0 against Antigua and Barbuda in the Concacaf Championship, having also defeated the island nation in the 2015 and 2017 tournaments.
- With the win the USA extends its unbeaten streak in Group play of the Concacaf Championship to 16 straight (2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019). The team’s last group stage loss was in the 2008 edition.
- Akol is the second USA player to score five goals in a Concacaf Championship game, following up the five that Nick Parera scored versus Bonaire.
- Alessandro Canale and Franck Tayou became the 8th and 9th different players to score for the USA in the first two games.
- This was the first career Beach Soccer goal for Tayou, who has led the MASL in goal in each of the past four seasons.
- Perera added to his USA all-time World Cup Qualifying goals record and now has 31.
- Canale now has 13 career goals in WCQ, moving into fourth place all-time.
-U.S. Beach Soccer National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. Beach Soccer National Team vs. Antigua and Barbuda
Date: May 15, 2019
Competition: 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship; Group C
Venue: Visit Puerto Vallarta Stadium; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: ---
Weather: 82 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 F
USA 4 2 5 11
ATG 0 1 1 2
USA – Alessandro Canale 2st minute
USA – Nick Perera 3
USA – Tanner Akol 7
USA – Tanner Akol 8
ATG – Kevin Richards 16
USA – Oscar Reyes (penalty) 16
USA – Tanner Akol 22
USA – Nick Perera 25
USA – Alessandro Canale 29
USA – Tanner Akol 30
USA – Franck Tayou 33
ATB – Kevin Richards 36
USA – Tanner Akol (pk) 36
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth, 4-Adrian dos Santos, 5-Alessandro Canale, 7-Nick Perera, 8-Tanner Akol
Substitutes: 12-Juan Cervantes, 2-Jason Leopoldo, 3-Ryan Futagaki, 6-Jason Santos, 9-Franck Tayou, 10-Oscar Reyes, 11-David Mondragon
Head coach: Eddie Soto
ATG: 12-Janiel Simon, 3-Kevin Richards, 4-Elvis Thomas, Stephen Hughes, 10-Desmond Bleau
Substitutes: 1-Samuel Watley, 2-Omarie Daniel, 5-Roy Yorks, 6-Malique Jarvis, 7-Chevon Moore, 8-Shakore Simon, 11-O’Dell Murray
Head coach: Carlos Alberto Lima
Misconduct Summary:
ATB – Janiel Simon (sent off) 36th minute
Officials:
Referee: Warren Porras (CRC)
Second Referee: Luis Torres (CRC)
Third Referee: Miguel Aguilar (MEX)
Fourth Official: Mario Nava (MEX)
ussoccer.com Man of the Match: TBD