Beach MNT Wraps Up Pre World Cup Camp With Second Straight Win Against Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (Nov. 15, 2019) – The Beach Men’s National Team wrapped up its pre-World Cup camp with a second straight win against Argentina. Following Monday’s penalty shootout victory, the USA today twice came from behind before claiming a 4-3 win in overtime at the Argentine Football Association Training Complex in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.

For the first time in four games, the USA fell behind early when Argentina’s Lautaro Benaducci jumped on a missed clearance and shot past goalkeeper Juan Cervantes. However, the USA leveled before the end of the first period when Cervantes sent a long throw to Alessandro Canale, who flicked a header over the goalkeeper for the goal.

Gabriel Silveira put the USA up in the second. Taking a ball from Ryan Futagaki some yards from the goal, Silveira’s first shot was blocked but the rebound fell to his feet and he easily tapped it in.

Argentina re-took the lead with two goals within a minute of each other from Lucas Ponzetti. He first hit a shot from seven yards out inside the far post and then capitalized on a U.S. defensive error.

The USA was unlucky not to take a multi-goal lead as Futagaki, Nick Perera and Oscar Reyes each hit the crossbar, but the pressure finally broke when Silveira found Perera at the far post on a corner kick. The USA captain hit a low shot through the defense with 13 seconds remaining to send the match into overtime.

After an Argentina defender was whistled for a handball, Perera then put away a penalty kick in extra time to clinch the game.

The match served as USA’s final tune-up before its 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup opener on Nov. 21 against Switzerland (3:50 p.m. ET; Universo).

-U.S. Beach Soccer National Team Match Report-

Match: Beach Men’s National Team vs. Argentina
Date: November 15, 2019
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Argentine Football Association Training Complex in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires
Kickoff: 8:00 a.m. ET
Attendance: n/a
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:        1          2          3          OT        F
USA                              1          1          1          1          4
ARG                              1          0          2          0          3

ARG – Lautaro Benaducci          3^rd minute
USA – Alessandro Canale           7         
USA – Gabriel Silveira    21
ARG – Lucas Ponzetti     29
ARG – Lucas Ponzetti     30
USA – Nick Perera         36
USA – Nick Perera         38

Lineups:
USA: 12-Juan Cervantes, 5-Adrian dos Santos, 7-Nick Perera (capt), 4-Gabe Silveira, 10-Oscar Reyes
Substitutes: 1-Chris Toth, 2-Jason Leopoldo, 3-Ryan Futagaki, 6-Jason Santos, 8-Lucas Roque, 11-David Mondragon
Not Available: 8-Lucas Roque
Head coach: Eddie Soto

ARG: 1-Sebastian Gomez Polatti, 2-Lucas Medero (capt), 3-Emanuel De Sosa, 10-Lautaro Benaducci, 9-Manuel Bordon
Substitutes: 12-Nicolas Santillan, 4-Martin Perea, 5-Axel Rutterschmidt, 6-Leandro Marino, 7-Luciano Sirico, 8-Emiliano Holmedeilla, 11-Lucas Ponzetti, 13-Cristian Gomez Cuevas, 14-Lucas Dupiellet, 20-Gonzalo Carletti
Head coach: Hernan Magrini

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Gabriel Silveira (caution)              36

Officials:
n/a