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Last day of Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship group stages sees quarter-final fixtures confirmed
The final group games have confirmed Friday’s quarter-final fixtures, as USA, El Salvador and Panama join Mexico at the top of their groups.
After winning in their final group match, USA earned themselves a match-up against Guadeloupe on Friday, whilst groupmates Bahamas will take on the as of yet unbeaten El Salvador.
A victory for Panama sees them drawn against Guatemala in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile the hosts will compete against Trinidad and Tobago
At the bottom of the tables, the teams who hadn’t made it to the next round were left to scrap for a final win in Puerto Vallarta as well as a third-place finish.
Belize v Guyana (Group D)
Hopes of playing at the global showdown in Paraguay later this year had been cruelly dashed the day before for these sides, who today had to content for a third-place finish in Group D.
A low shot from Ford as he ran down the left wing broke the deadlock after four minutes, and Belize then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot when the last edition’s top scorer, Meza, converted calmly.
The first whistle came with the score at 2-0 but not long after the restart Shane Luckie breezed past the defender to slot away Guyana’s opener at the near post. Guyana had increased the pressure on the men in white, and with minutes of the second period left Luckie bagged a brace to bring them level once more.
The pace slowed in the final period as injuries flared up for both teams, breaking up the play. But a goal at this late stage of the match would make all the difference and Belize were wasteful in their opportunities, putting numerous freekicks high and wide of the goal.
Against the run of play it was Guyana who seized a third, when Kanard pulled off a stunning over head to nick the three points in style, punishing Belize for their missed chances.
Guyana celebrated the three points heartily as they finish the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship Puerto Vallarta in third place, while Belize end their time in Mexico without a win.
Goals: 1-0: Ford, min. 8 (1); 2-0: Meza, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Luckie, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Luckie, min. 3 (2); 2-3: Kanard, min. 2 (3);
Antigua and Barbuda v Bonaire (Group C)
Neither side had won in their previous matches in Puerto Vallarta, and today would be their final chance to taste victory before they went home.
Bonaire had suffered beatings by Bahamas and USA in the previous days and racked up a total of 26 goals being scored against them, but in today’s match they took the lead first.
Steba burst through the defense to blast into the roof of the net, giving Bonaire the lead for the first time in their campaign. However, Richards turned and shot minutes later to level the match up but the tournament new-comers kept their attack up.
Thomas put away a penalty for Antigua and Barbuda early in the second period, but Steba sent a rocket into the top corner moments later, taking the score to 2-2. The match was there to be won for either team, and they pressed to find an edge.
A long-range effort from Daniel put the Antiguans ahead again, and at the match’s midway point, Hughes netted a penalty to push the difference between the sides to two goals for the first time in the game.
But Bonaire’s number nine was on form today as he completed his hat-trick to keep pace with the opponent. Hughes penalty made it 6-3 at the second break and it looked as though Beto Lima’s side had found that extra gear.
It only took a minute for Steba to get number four though, as the goalfest continued into the final 12 minutes. But Antigua and Barbuda had found their rhythm and were systematic about converting the rest of the chance they had to push the score to 9-4.
Thomas and Hughes completed braces while Daniel bagged a hat-trick to eventually shake off a stubborn Bonaire, who finish Group C in fourth position.
Goals: 0-1 Steba, min. 8 (1); 1-1 Richards, min. 7 (1); 2-1 Thomas, min. 11 (2); 2-2 Steba, min. 9 (2); 3-2 Daniel, min. 7 (2); 4-2 Hughes, min. 6 (2); 4-3 Steba, min. 5 (2); 5-3 Hughes, min. 3 (2); 6-3 Daniel, min. 3 (2); 6-4 Steba, min. 11 (3); 7-4 Daniel, min. 8 (3); 8-4 Thomas, min. 5 (3); 9-4 Jarvis, min. 1 (3);
USA v Bahamas (Group C)
Bahamas and the USA could breathe a sigh of relief in terms of qualifying to the next round but their sights were now set on a top spot finish in Group C.
The USA had the competition’s two top scorers of the in their ranks, and one of them, captain Nick Perera, came very close to taking the lead over team mate Akol after just a minute when he sent a freekick crashing off the crossbar.
Despite the fact that these two sides had netted 44 goals between them so far in the tournament, hitting the crossbar was the closest either side came to continuing that amazing form in the first period, which ended with the stalemate intact.
It came though, in the second period, and it was Akol who took his tournament tally to eight as he slid in at the near post to turn in an off-target shot. That was all that separated the sides at the second break but after the restart, it didn’t take long for the number eight to score again, rising high to power in an overhead.
Bahamas got off the mark midway through the final period when Munnings headed in from close range. It looked like it was too little too late, but Francois scored just two minutes from time to level the scores up.
However, just seconds after, a foul in the area gifted Perera a penalty which he coolly placed in the corner to make it 3-2. Last minute pressure from Bahamas was dealt with effectively by the defenders in white until the clock eventually ran out to confirm USA’s perfect group stage campaign. Bahamas finish in second place.
Goals: 1-0: Akol, min. 6 (2); 2-0: Akol, min. 11 (3); 2-1: Munnings, min. 7 (3); 2-2: Francois, min. 2 (3); 3-2: Perera, min. 2 (3);
Turks and Caicos Islands v US Virgin Islands (Group B)
The Group B third place finish was the reward for victory here today as neither team could now progress to the next round of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship Puerto Vallarta.
Bryan put Turks and Caicos Islands ahead after a matter of minutes but the match was a close one as US Virgin Islands created threatening chances early on too. However, Beljour drove into the box to blast in a second to double the lead and then Bryan converted a penalty to make it three.
After a tight opening few minutes, the match began to look more one-sided by the first whistle, especially when Beljour squeezed in his second thanks to a bizarre goalkeeping error from Curtis Walker. There was time for Aranes to slide in and opener for Ruy da Silva’s men, but they started the second period trailing 4-1.
Two minutes into the second period and the men in blue were on the attack again, as Charles pounded a freekick into the underside of the crossbar to score an unstoppable goal and bring the difference between the teams to just two, once more.
As the second period was coming to an end, Josep followed up on a saved shot to bring the US Virgin Islands to 4-3. Just seconds later Schultz drove a low shot under the keeper to level up and the incredible comeback was on!
They had the momentum and Vollmer hit a shot from his own area which bobbled past everyone to miraculously put them ahead. From being 4-0 down US Virgin Islands went into the second break leading 4-5!
It went to 4-6! Aranes hit his second and Christopher Bryan’s side seemed totally overwhelmed by what was happening and unable to put a stop the barrage of attacks.
Singh spun in the box to pull one back, and then Bryan scored his third to tie the scores again.
But just when there was hope of getting back into the match that they had let slip, two late goals from US Virgin Islands denied the game’s second incredible comeback as they end the tournament in third… what a game to round off their tournament!
Goals: 1-0: Bryan, min. 8 (1); 2-0: Beljour, min. 6 (1); 3-0: Bryan, min. 3 (1); 4-0: Beljour, min. 2 (1); 4-1: Aranes, min. 0 (1); 4-2: Charles, min. 10 (2); 4-3: Josep, min. 4 (2); 4-4: Schultz, min. 4 (2); 4-5: Vollmer, min. 2 (2); 4-6: Aranes, min. 9 (3); 5-6: Singh, min. 7 (3); 6-6: Bryan, min. 5 (3); 6-7: Labrada, min. 3 (3); 6-8: Aranes, min. 0 (3);
El Salvador v Guadeloupe (Group D)
After both teams had qualified for the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship Puerto Vallarta, there was just the matter of organizing who finished first and second in the group.
Two brilliant goals put El Salvador on the front foot in the opening few minutes, as Ruiz and Robles struck within seconds of each other. Guadeloupe mounted attacks but simply weren’t clinical in front of goal and the first period ended with the score at 2-0.
The match was still close and in beach soccer a two-goal lead can disappear very quickly…
But after 30 second El Salvador had three, when Velasquez watched and waited for a high ball to drop to him and smashed it through several pairs of legs to get his name on the match report too. Minutes later Portillo the goalkeeper followed suit, and an initially close match had suddenly become very one-sided.
Ramirez rounded the keeper to create a simple finish for himself and give El Salvador number five. The third period saw the gap widen even further between the sides as a Ramos golazo of a freekick pushed the advantage to six.
Six became seven and then eight as Ruiz bagged two more, but there was time before then end of the match for Guadeloupe to score when Geolier struck, but that was all they had before the final whistle.
With the three points in the bag, El Salvador confirm a first-place finish in Group D with a perfect run in the competition so far.
Goals: 1-0: Ruiz, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Robles, min. 9 (1); 3-0: Velasquez, min. 11 (2); 4-0: Portillo, min. 9 (2); 5-0: Ramirez, min. 10 (3); 6-0: Ramos, min. 10 (3); 7-0: Ruiz, min. 3 (3); 8-0: Ruiz, min. 3 (3); 8-1: Geolier, min. 2 (3);
Panama v Trinidad & Tobago (Group B)
As the very last game of the group stages here in Puerto Vallarta, the winner of this tie would face Guatemala in the quarter-finals, while the loser would take on hosts, Mexico.
Trinidad and Tobago got off to a flying start when Bailey drove in from the ring wing to spin a low shot into the bottom corner and grabbing an initial lead.
They were only ahead for a minute though, as it didn’t take long for Maquensi to level the match up, setting himself up for a fine looping volley. Woodley retook the lead with a volley of his own, an unstoppable effort that left the keeper with no chance.
The second period began with Garcia nodding in an equalizer, showing that Panama had no intention of being left behind in this race for the top spot. Soon after, Woodley squeezed between two defenders to snatch the advantage for a third time with a fine finish, but just like clockwork the equalizer came again, with Maquensi bagging his second with an equally fine finish.
It was impossible to separate the sides as the match passed the halfway point and it looked as if extra time would be inevitable. But early in the third period, Eliecer Garcia was gifted too much time at the back post as he headed Panama into the lead for the first time in the match.
Enrique Shubert Perez’s men fought hard to hang onto this lead and see the game out, claiming three points and earning themselves a match against Guatemala in the quarter-finals, while Trinidad and Tobago are set to challenge Mexico.
Goals: 0-1: Bailey, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Maquensi, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Woodley, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Garcia, min. 11 (2); 2-3: Woodley, min. 9 (2); 3-3: Maquensi, min. 7 (2); 4-3: Garcia, min. 10 (3);
Yesterday’s results
Wednesday 15th May
10:45 – Guadeloupe 3(2)-(0)3 Guyana (Group D)
12:00 – Bahamas 12-2 Bonaire (Group C)
14:15 – Jamaica 2-5 Guatemala (Group A)
15:30 – USA 11-2 Antigua and Barbuda (Group C)
16:45 – El Salvador 7-1 Belize (Group D)
18:00 – Mexico 8-5 Costa Rica (Group A)
Today’s results
Thursday 16th May
10:45 – Belize 2-3 Guyana (Group D)
12:00 – Antigua and Barbuda 9-4 Bonaire (Group C)
14:15 – USA 3-2 Bahamas (Group C)
15:30 – Turks and Caicos Islands 6-8 US Virgin Islands (Group B)
16:45 – El Salvador 8-1 Guadeloupe (Group D)
18:00 – Panama 4-3 Trinidad & Tobago (Group B)
Tomorrow’s fixtures
Friday 17th May
14:15 – El Salvador v Bahamas (Quarter-final)
15:30 – USA v Guadeloupe (Quarter-final)
16:45 – Panama v Guatemala (Quarter-final)
18:00 – Mexico v Trinidad and Tobago (Quarter-final)
Stay up to date with the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship Puerto Vallarta 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide and Concacaf websites.
