USA Clinches FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Berth With Penalty Kick Win vs. El Salvador
USA Comes Back From Two-Goal Deficit in Third; Will Face Mexico Sunday for Concacaf Title

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (May 18, 2019) – The U.S. Beach Soccer National Team clinched a berth at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with a dramatic, penalty kick win over El Salvador after the teams drew 3-3 through three periods and added extra time. The win also advanced the USA to the 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship title match on Sunday, May 19 against Mexico, which defeated Panama 3-0 in the other semifinal. This is the fifth time the USA has qualified for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and first since 2013.
For the second consecutive game, the USA conceded the opening goal when El Salvador’s Exon Perdomo put away a hard shot after picking up a loose ball some 15 yards from goal. El Salvador nearly doubled the lead 10 minutes in when a shot hit the crossbar but landed and stuck on the goal line. With the opening period clock running out, Nick Perera drew a foul some twelve yards out and put away the shot in the upper 90 to draw even.
USA goalkeeper Chris Toth was put under heavy pressure in the second but time again he came through, including diving saves on two bikes and a point-blank scissors attempt. El Salvador finally broke through in the last minute of the second period when Perdomo ripped a shot past Toth.
WATCH: Highlights of the USA's World Cup Clinching Win vs. El Salvador
Watch the highlights of @ussoccer after sealing the ticket to the #CBSC final pic.twitter.com/I0ZAMn8hvN
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) May 19, 2019
And there was little Toth could do when Perdomo hit a fantastic bike off a long pass to put El Salvador up by two goals midway through the third period. However, the USA reacted quickly, with Toth ripping a 25-yard shot at goal that Alessandro Canale redirected in front of the ‘keeper to cut the deficit back to one.
With one minute and twenty seconds remaining, David Mondragon caught El Salvador napping with a quick throw-in from the far sideline, finding Adriano dos Santos inside the box. Dos Santos deftly headed the ball over the on-rushing ‘keeper and the stadium watched as the ball seemed to slowly trickle in to tie the match.
After a scoreless overtime the USA scored on all five penalty kick attempts before El Salvador’s Elmer Robles hit his kick over, setting the stage for the USA to celebrate the return to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Up Next: The USA will play Mexico for the 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship on Sunday, May 19 at 4:45 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game live on UDN, Concacaf’s Facebook page and the ConcacafGo app, and follow on Twitter at @ussoccer or Instagram at @ussoccer_beach.
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