Defending champions Mexico and hosts Costa Rica also took three points in their first matches
The ribbon was cut on 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship yesterday in Alajuela, Costa Rica, yesterday when Erick Samano scored the first goal of the edition, netting for Mexico against Belize – you can watch it here.
Mexico went on to win the match 6-3 to keep their hopes of continental crown-retention alive, and they currently sitting top of Group A.
The biggest win of the day came in Group B, where El Salvador put no less than 15 goals past Dominican Republic. Scorer of the Best Goal of 2019 Ruben Batres scored four goals, while Francisco Velasquez and Jason Urbina bagged three each. Inoel Navarro scored for Dominican Republic, which was their first ever goal in the competition.
Group B’s other game was a ferocious stalemate between Bahamas and Guatemala. After normal and extra time, the scores were tied at 3-3 but Guatemala managed to snatch a point from the penalty spot thanks to a decisive spotkick from Miguel Gonzalez, who had scored in the game.
USA also hit double figures as Matteo Marrucci’s first match in charge of Turks & Caicos ended in heavy defeat. Amongst the 11 goals was a millstone for captain Nick Perera, who netted his 100th and 101st goals for the Stars and Stripes.
Nicolas Perea, Tomas Canale and Antonio Chavez also had braces to help the USA go top of Group C. Hosts Costa Rica bagged a win in their opening match, as Los Ticos look to reach their first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup since 2015.
Sports Complex Fedefutbol-Plycem in Alajuela will stage the competition between 17–23 May 2021, where 11 CONCACAF nations will battle for the two all-important places at the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Moscow.
The matches will be broadcast on the Concacaf Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=310798880513678&ref=search .
17/05
Belize 3–6 Mexico
Bahamas 3(1)-(3)3 Guatemala
Dominican Republic 1–15 El Salvador
Turks & Caicos 1–11 USA
Costa Rica 5–3 Trinidad & Tobago
18/05
Panama v Belize
Bahamas v Dominican Republic
EL Salvador v Guatemala
USA v Trinidad & Tobago
Costa Rica v Turks & Caicos
Photo: Concacaf
