Trinidad and Tobago men`s beach soccer team were defeated 2-0 win to four-time champions Mexico in the quarter-final of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championships held at Malcolm Park, Bahamas on Friday night.
Both teams began the first period patiently in their build-up play as they tested out each other. The first 12-minute period ended goalless.
In the last minute of the second period T&T`s Kareem Perry was inches away to getting on the scoresheet pouncing on a mistake, but Mexican goalkeeper recovered from his earlier misjudgement to make the save. A few seconds later T&T`s goalie Jabari Gray made a double save to keep it goalless.
T&T's Akinola Gregory thought he had headed T&T in front from Gray's long throw but his effort came after the buzzer had sounded.
Mexican Cristofher Castillo broke the deadlock in the final period with a ferocious left-footed rocket that was too hot for Gray to handle. Three minutes later, Mexico were given a penalty after a four-second violation by Gray, who failed to pass the ball within the designated time. Hector Acevdeo's low shot went to the left of a diving Gray and nestled into the net for the two-nil victory.
Teams
T&T Team: Zane Coker, Jordan Riley, Jesse Bauley (Captain), Hakeem King, Kareem Perry.
Substitutes: Jabari Gray, Akinola Gregory, Anderson Peters, Shallun Bobb, Omri Baird, Kevon Williams.
Mexico team: Gabriel Macias, Edgar Portilla, Hector Acevedo, Diego Martinez, Jose Vizcarra.
Substitutes: Antonio Echeverria, Juan Morales, Alejandro Garcia, Enoch Lopez, Cristofher Castillo.
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USA, El Salvador, Bahamas, Mexico punch semifinal tickets
CONCACAF.COM.
MIAMI, Florida – The knockout stage of the 2023 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship at the Malcolm Beach Soccer Facility in Nassau, Bahamas got going on Friday night with United States, El Salvador, Bahamas and Mexico all advancing to the semifinals.
The U.S. captured a dramatic 5-4 win over Costa Rica with a goal in the last minute. Things were knotted at 2-2 after the first period on goals from Conner Rezende and Tomas Canale of the U.S. and Costa Rica’s Roger Mora and Lonis Calero.
A scoreless second period gave way to an action-packed third period in which Greivin Pacheco and Jeaustin Medina scored for the Ticos, while the U.S. got a pair of goals from Gabriel Silveira. Just when it looked like extra time would be needed, an own goal from Medina in the final minute gave the U.S. the 5-4 win.
Defending champions El Salvador are also through to the final four after topping Guatemala 7-2. Heber Ramos and Exon Perdomo paced El Salvador to a 2-0 lead after one period. That two-goal advantage stayed intact after goals from Jason Urbina and Andres Cruz for the Cuscatlecos, while Guatemala got scores from Jose Lem and Pablo Crocker.
El Salvador then put the win on ice with a trio of third period goals, as Perdomo, Melvin Gonzalez and Ramos all found the back of the net to seal the victory.
Host nation Bahamas brought the home fans to their feet in a 4-2 win over former champions Panama.
Kyle Williams and Gary Joseph scored to make it 2-0 Bahamas through the first period. Panama then got goals from Nagdiel Del Rosario and Luis Quintero, while Williams added another for Bahamas to make it 3-2 Bahamas after two periods. Michael Butler tacked on an insurance goal in the third period to secure the Bahamas win.
The fourth and final semifinalist is Mexico following their 2-0 win versus Trinidad and Tobago. No goals were to be found through the first two periods, setting up a dramatic third period in which El Tricolor got scores from Cristofher Castillo and Hector Acevedo for the 2-0 win.