U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team Falls 6-3 to Brazil in Opening Match of 2024 Maranhão International Cup

SÃO LUIS, BRAZIL (Jan. 12, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team took an early lead and fought back twice to equalize in the second period, before ultimately falling 6-3 to hosts Brazil in the team’s opening match of the 2024 Maranhão International Cup on Friday.  

The United States took little time to grab the game’s first goal. Goalkeeper Austin Collier collected the ball at the back and quickly threw it forward for Gabe Silveria, whose mid-air volley found Chris Albiston who poked it home at the right post just 42 seconds into the match.

The U.S. lead was short-lived, as a foul close to goal resulted in a Brazil penalty kick which Edson Hulk buried past Collier just over two minutes into the match.

Still, Francis Farberoff’s side did well to limit opportunities through the end of the period and got to the first intermission locked 1-1.

Brazil got on the front foot at the beginning of the second frame as goalkeeper Bobo juggled to midfield before looping a ball for Rodrigo who took one touch to settle before beating Collier from close range 25 seconds into the period.

The USA hung tough and responded with a highlight-reel strike, as Antonio Chavez beat his marker on the left and crossed for Ricardo Carvalho, whose overhead volley looped over the Brazilian ‘keeper at 8:57 of the second period.

Brazil restored it’s lead just over a minute later when Brendo picked up a loose ball and cleverly poked it around the on-rushing Collier at 7:35.

Just as it looked like the hosts would take advantage into the break, the USA won a free kick about 20 yards out on the left. Tanner Akol lined it up and blasted a powerful effort into the lower right corner to make it 3-3 with three seconds left in the second period. 

Despite a valiant effort through two periods, things came undone midway through the third. It began when a U.S. foul resulted in a free kick about 15 yards out which saw Edson Hulk beat Collier to make it 4-3 with 6:12 remaining.

The U.S. again kept pushing for another equalizer, but got caught out as Brazil goalkeeper Bobo found an open Catarino on the right, who volleyed past Collier to make it 5-3 with 1:47 remaining.

The USA nearly pulled a goal back with a minute left as Gabe Silveira’s bicycle from the right was destined for the top left corner, but Bobo pushed it away.

With two seconds left, the USA committed another foul in its defensive end, and this time Filipe Silva placed the free kick past Collier to close the scoring at 6-3.

The USA will look to bounce back on Saturday, January 13 when it faces United Arab Emirates at 4 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) in a preview of the anticipated clash on Feb. 17 at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai. United Arab Emirates defeated Morocco 5-3 in Friday’s opening match. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Captaining the side for the first time tonight, Chris Albiston tallied his 22^nd career goal in his 46^th appearance.
• Just days after winning 2023 U.S. Soccer Male Beach Player of the Year, Gabe Silveira made his first appearance since the 5-0 win against Mexico in the Final of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship on May 14, and recorded his eighth assist.
• Ricardo Carvalho tallied his fourth career goal in his ninth overall cap.
• Tanner Akol’s goal was his first since May 19, 2019 vs. Guadeloupe in the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship.
• Having debuted with the Beach MNT in 2023, goalkeeper Austin Collier earned his first career start in his ninth career cap.
• Antonio Chavez recorded his fifth career assist on Ricardo Carvalho’s goal in the second period. Chavez also earned his second career start and first since Sept. 10, 2022 vs. Argentina.
• The USBMNT moves to 0-11-0 all-time against Brazil.
• The USA is without regular captain and all-time leading goal scorer Nick Perera and starting goalkeeper Chris Toth due to club commitments with Tacoma Stars of the MASL. Two-time U.S. Soccer Male Beach Player of the Year Nico Perea is also absent from this month’s camp while he recovers from injury.

-U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Beach Soccer Men’s National Team vs. Brazil
Date: January 12, 2024
Competition: Maranhão International Cup – Match No. 1
Venue: Sao Luis, Brazil
Attendance: 100
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local)
Weather: 80 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:               1          2          3          F
BRA                                        1          2          3          6
USA                                        1          2          0          3                                                        

USA – Chris Albiston (Gabe Silveira)             11 :18 (1st period)
BRA – Edson Hulk (penalty kick)                     9 :48 (1st period)
BRA – Rodrigo                                                    11 :35  (2^nd period)
USA – Ricardo Carvalho (Antonio Chavez)    8 :57 (2^nd period)
BRA – Brendo                                                       7 :35 (2^nd period)
USA – Tanner Akol                                                  :03       (2^nd period)
BRA – Edson Hulk                                                 6 :12 (3rd period)
BRA – Catarino                                                     1 :47 (3rd period)
BRA – Filipe Silva                                                 0 :02 (3rd period)

Lineups:
USA: 1-Austin Collier; 3-Antonio Chavez, 8-Conner Rezende, 10-Gabe Silveira, 11-Chris Albiston (capt.)
Substitutes: 2-Tanner Akol, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 6-Cody Valcarcel, 7-Andres Navas, , 9-Alessandro Canale, 14-Lukas Holocher
Did not Play: 12-Brian Shuskovsky
Head coach: Francis Farberoff

BRA: Bobo, Teleco, Brendo, Bruno Xavier, Catarino, Datinha, Filipe Silva, Ze Lucas,
Substitutes: ??
Head coach: Marco Octávio

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
N/A