Favourites play their role in Puerto Vallarta

Although sometimes they were closer than one could imagine, there were no big surprises in this first matchday of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – CONCACAF Qualifier taking place in Puerto Vallarta. Costa Rica and El Salvador, current runner-up and champions of the tournament, got solid victories in the first two matches, and so it did the USA, although they had to recover for an unexpected hit by newcomers Guatemala. The hardest points to snatch were those by Mexico, who got almost surprised by Jamaica. Only a last breath header after two consecutive comebacks merited the three points for the azteca side.

Costa Rica defines in the first period

Current runner-ups Costa Rica have earned their first three points in this FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2011 – CONCACAF Qualifier Puerto Vallarta with a solid victory against Bahamas. The Ticos have laid the foundations of their triumph with a stunning first period in which they got 3-0 ahead, thanks to the goals by Sánchez, Pacheco and Leon.

Although things worked not well enough for the Bahamian, they offered a great image in this opening act of the continental qualifier tournament. Villi’s lads have proven grown up enough to become an uncomfortable contester for anyone, giving clear signs that they have improved a lot on the sand.

Their determination got them the 3-1, thanks to St. Fleur’s aim from the penalty spot, but Pacheco, with his second goal after a brilliant volley, restated the Tico hierarchy. That was not enough to crush Bahamian passion, and Gavin Christie shortened the distance again to make the scoreboard 4-2, resuming the race. One minute afterwards, though, Costa Rica hit back for the final 5-2, thanks to an individual move by Sánchez.

Goals: 1-0: J. Sánchez, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Pacheco, min. 10 (1) ; 3-0 : Leon, min. 11 (1) ; 3-1 : St. Fleur, min. 8 (2); 4-1: Pacheco, min. 11 (2); 4-2: Gavin Christie, min. 9 (3); 5-2: Sánchez, min. 10 (3)

Extra boost by El Salvador bends Canada in third quarter

Canada has made things nothing easy for current champions El Salvador in the second game of this opening matchday in this FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2011 – CONCACAF Qualifier. It was not until the last period that an extra boost by the Central American side cleared things up to give them the three points to momentarily top group A table.

As expected, the dominion fell slightly on Salvadorian hands in the first stages of the game, and things seemed to began pointing a definite direction when Agustin and Frank made the score 2-0. The Canadian, though, have flown to Puerto Vallarta to fight for their chances and Johnstone, with the first of his hat-trick record, cut the distance for a first time to leave the scoreboard 2-1 at the first break.

The Northern American began this way their pursuit, answering back any attempt by El Salvador to get further. By mid third period, Walter’s first two goals, and two new replies by Johnstone made it 4-3. But that last stage had an unmistakable blue colour, and two new hits by Frank and Walter made things too steep for Ongaro’s lads.

Goals: 1-0: Agustín, min. 2 (1); 2-0: Frank, min. 11 (1); 2-1: Johnstone, min. 11 (1); 3-1: Walter, min. 7 (2); 3-2: Johnstone, min. 11 (2); 4-2: Walter, min. 7 (3); 4-3: Johnstone, min. 4 (3); 5-3: Frank, min. 7 (3); 6-3: Frank, min. 11 (3)

USA on top after initial surprise

The job the USA had in front of them in their debut at the FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2011 – CONCACAF Qualifier was nothing easy. Facing an enigma such as Guatemala, making his first appearance in the competition, is tricky stuff to deal with. And the surprise did not last to happen, since it was the Central American the ones to step ahead in the score, thanks to a good attempt by number 10 Ávila. Fortunately for Sotos’s lads, though, Futagaki and Morales mended things in the first period bringing calm back.

Ibsen would widen the distance a little further in the fourth minute of the second period, only to see the Guatemalan reply seconds afterwards strengthening the scoreboard again: 2-3. That was the end of the road for Pirez squad, though, since it was the time for Chimenti’s festival to begin. The USA’s number three scored a hat-trick in the last stages of the game to definitely lift his team up to the victory, and, at the same time, to the table’s highest position. After this first matchday, one single goal makes them better than Costa Rica, both with three points out of three.

Goals: 1-0: Avila, min 4 (1); 1-1: Futagaki, min. 5 (1) ; 1-2 : Morales, min. 10 (1) ; 1-3 : Ibsen, min. 4 (2) ; 2-3 : Suriano, min. 4 (2) ; 2-4 : Chimienti, min. 6 (2) ; 2-4 : Chimienti, min. 6 (2) ; 2-5 : Chimienti, min. 7 (3);  2-6 : Chimienti, min. 10 (3)

Last breath header completes Mexican comeback

Too close, too close… That was the Mexican thought after seeing how Jamaica almost caused the stir in the game facing them at this first matchday of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier 2011 – CONCACAF Qualifier. Hosts had to fight hard until the very last minute of the fixture to snatch the three points that momentarily place them among the privileged positions, since they needed to equalize the score twice before their final hit for the victory.

Although being, a priori, the weakest team in the group, Jamaican players played as real champions, making the afternoon really hard for La Tri. Price’s boys event got ahead in the first period, thanks to Andre Reid, as the best proof that they willed not to become a simple procedure for the hosts. Rosales managed the equalizer for his team before the first horn, but Wilson stroke back to make it 2-1 at the end of the second period.

Things were getting too risky for Mexico, and riskier they were to become as the watch ticked down. It was not until the seventh minute of the third period that Torres brought peace back for his team, and the thousands of supporters witnessing the game or following it through TV. But suffering was not over though. After a disallowed goal for Mexico, a Jamaican counterattack ended up with the ball hitting Estrada’s crossbar, making everyone in the stands cover their faces in fear. There was a happy ending for all them, though. Plata’s head turned a corner kick into the victory for Mexico, and all anxiety was immediately gone at the Unidad Deportiva Agustin Flores Contreras.

Goals: 1-0: Andre Reid, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Rosales, min. 11 (1); 2-1: Wilson, min. 2 (2); 2-2: Torres, min. 7 (3); 2-3: Plata, min. 10 (3)   

Results

Wednesday         

01.12.10                

Costa Rica  5-2  Bahamas

El Salvador  6-3  Canada 

Guatemala 2-6  USA

Jamaica  2-3  Mexico

Overall standings

Group A

  Group B

Next matches

Thursday                                                    

02.12.10 

12:15 / 18:15 Costa Rica   vs.  Guatemala                                                       

13:30 / 19:30 El Salvador  vs.  Jamaica 

14:45 / 20:45 USA  vs.  Bahamas

16:00 / 22:00 Mexico  vs.  Canada 

Friday              

03.12.10                                                      

12:15 / 18:15 Bahamas   vs.  Guatemala

13:30 / 19:30 Canada  vs.  Jamaica

14:45 / 20:45 USA  vs.  Costa Rica

16:00 / 22:00 Mexico  vs.  El Salvador

SEMIFINALS*

Saturday                                   

04.12.10        

14:45 1^st Group B vs. 2^nd Group A

16:00 1^st Group A vs. 2^nd  Group B

PLAY-OFF 3rd / 4th PLACE AND FINAL

Sunday                 

14:45 Loser M13 vs. loser M14

16:00 Winner M13 vs. Winner M14