SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (Aug. 5, 2019) – The U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team couldn’t have come any closer to qualifying for the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games, falling to Mexico 4-5 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in the semifinals of the ANOC qualifying tournament played at the Anfiteatro CIFCO. The USA scored a convincing 9-3 win over Trinidad and Tobago in its opening game.
Hosts El Salvador defeated Panama, 4-2 in the other semifinal to join Mexico at the World Games in Qatar next month. Mexico defeated El Salvador 5-4 in the final to take the top spot, while the USA defeated Panama 8-6 to claim third.
USA 9-3 TRI – Aug. 3
The first period saw both teams throw punches – figuratively – with the USA’s Oscar Reyes’ two goals matched by Trinidad in short order. However, Jason Santos had the last say in the period to the put the USA up 3-2, in what would turn out a convincing and consistent display for the red-white-and-blue. The U.S. saw five different players score, including multiple goals for Reyes, Nick Perera and Jason Leopoldo, as the team notched three goals in each period en route to a big 9-3 win and ticket to the semifinals.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 F
USA 3 3 3 9
TRI 2 0 1 3
USA – Oscar Reyes 3rd minute
TRI – Shane Hospedales 7
USA – Oscar Reyes 7
TRI – Jesse Bailey 8
USA – Jason Santos 8
USA – Nick Perera 14
USA – Nick Perera 17
USA – Jason Leopoldo 21
USA – Nick Perera 27
USA – Franck Tayou 29
USA – Jason Leopoldo 30
TRI – Omri Baird 31
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth, 4-Adrian dos Santos, 7-Nick Perera (capt), 8-Tanner Akol, 10-Oscar Reyes
Substitutes: 12-Juan Cervantes, 2-Jason Leopoldo, 5-Gabe Silveira, 6-Jason Santos, 9-Franck Tayou
Head coach: Eddie Soto
TRI: 2-Zane Coker, 3-Kevon Woodley, 4-Shallun Bobb, 6-Ryan Augustine (capt), 10-Shane Hospedales
Substitutes: 1-Jabari Gray, 5-Omri Baird, 7-Lemuel Lyons, 8-Jesse Bailey, 9-Hakeem King
Head coach: Yuri Chapman
USA 2-2 MEX (4-5 PKs) – Aug. 4
In a rematch of May’s Concacaf Championship final, the USA and Mexico played another dramatic match that saw the USA fall in the sixth round of penalty kicks after the teams drew 2-2 through overtime. USA forward Jason Leopoldo twice scored to bring the USA level – including a late strike to send the game to overtime. The teams then went six rounds taking shots from nine meters out, with Mexico edging the USA 5-4.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 OT FT
USA 0 1 1 0 2
MEX 1 1 0 0 2
MEX – Ramon Maldonado 9th minute
USA – Jason Leopoldo 17
MEX – David Zizcarra 24
USA – Jason Leopoldo 34
Penalty Kicks: USA 4-5 MEX
USA – Reyes (goal)
MEX – Moldonado (saved)
USA – Perera (saved)
MEX – Martinez (goal)
USA – Leopoldo (goal)
MEX – Vizcarra (goal)
USA – Toth (goal)
MEX – Rodriguez (goal)
USA – dos Santos (goal)
MEX – Samano (goal)
USA – Silveira (saved)
MEX – Mosco (goal)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth, 4-Adriano dos Santos, 7-Nick Perera (capt), 8-Tanner Akol, 10-Oscar Reyes
Substitutes: 2-Jason Leopoldo, 5-Gabe Silveira, 6-Jason Santos, 9-Franck Tayou, 12-Juan Cervantes
Head coach: Eddie Soto
MEX: Diego Franco, Jose Vizcarra, Erick Samano, Cesar Macias, Ramon Moldonado, Abdiel Martinez, Carlos Hernandez, Benjamin Mosco, Angel Rodriguez
Head coach: Ramon Raya
USA 8-6 PAN (Third Place) – Aug. 5
The USA took out its frustrations on Panama by jumping to a 5-0 lead in the first period behind a pair of goals from Jason Santos and solo tallies by Nick Perera, Franck Tayou, and Oscar Reyes. However, Panama came storming back with three unanswered goals before the first 12 minutes were over to draw within a goal, 6-5, behind a hat trick from Alfonso Maquensi. The USA found their footing again with goalkeeper Chris Toth and Gabe Silveira restoring the comfortable lead before Panama got another one back late. In the end it was enough as the USA to claimed its second top-three regional finish this year.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 F
USA 5 1 2 8
PAN 3 2 1 6
USA –Jason Santos 2nd minute
USA – Nick Perera 4
USA – Franck Tayou 6
USA – Jason Santos 7
USA – Oscar Reyes 7
PAN – Xavier Garcia 10
PAN – Rafael Garcia 11
PAN – Alfonso Maquensi 12
USA – Franck Tayou 14
PAN – Alfonso Maquensi 23
PAN – Alfonso Maquensi 25
USA – Chris Toth 27
USA – Gabe Silveira 32
PAN – Gilberto Rangel 34
USA: 1-Chris Toth, 4-Adriano dos Santos, 7-Nick Perera (capt), 8-Tanner Akol, 10-Oscar Reyes
Substitutes: 2-Jason Leopoldo, 5-Gabe Silveira, 6-Jason Santos, 9-Franck Tayou, 12-Juan Cervantes
Head coach: Eddie Soto
PAN: Jose Victoria, Alfonso Maquensi, Eliecer Garcia, Gilberto Rangel, Pascual Galvez, Rafael Garcia, Xavier Garcia, Manual Alguilar, Nagdiel del Rosario, Jaime Londono
Head coach: --