The quarter-finals beckon in the Bahamas as the competition hots up.
All eight quarter-finalists are now known at the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 2017 after the group stage drew to a close on Thursday.
Panama were one team to leave it late to secure their progression, doing so with an 8-4 win over Turks and Caicos Islands.
While the Islanders had no hopes of a quarter-final place, the door was left ajar for Panama thanks to Costa Rica’s defeat to El Salvador as Shubert Perez’s men passed a stern test.
Costa Rica were beaten 8-2 by Group D winners El Salvador as a hat-trick from the impressive Melvin Alexis Segovia ensured there were no slip-ups for the 2009 champions.
In the day’s opening game, Guadeloupe edged a tense battle with Canada to ensure second place behind Mexico.
It was winner takes all for a spot in the next stage in a thrilling contest that saw Guadeloupe twice fight back from behind – eventually winning through courtesy of Theo Gelas’ late strike.
Mexico signed off their successful Group B campaign with a dominant 10-0 win against Barbados, captain Angel David Rodriguez grabbing a hat-trick.
The sides were first and fourth in the pool respectively and, the match proved true to form, as Rodriguez hit a treble in a win that looks set to serve the defending champions well ahead of the quarter-finals on Friday.
With hosts Bahamas not in action, United States were handed the primetime slot and they brought a close to their group campaign with a 4-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, which ensures them top spot in Group C.
In a very evenly matched contest, late goals in the first and second periods from Irvin Garcia gave the US an advantage in their quest for first place before late goals from Alessandro Canale and Oscar Reyes helped keep their 100 per cent record intact.
The group’s other match saw Antigua and Barbuda claim their first win as they held off a late fightback to beat US Virgin Islands 6-3 on Thursday.
Thursday results
13.45 – Canada 3-4 Guadeloupe
15.00 – Antigua and Barbuda 6-3 US Virgin Islands
16.15 – Mexico 10-0 Barbados
17.30 – El Salvador 8-2 Costa Rica
18.45 – Panama 8-4 Turks and Caicos Islands
20.00 – USA 5-1 Trinidad and Tobago
Friday fixtures
12.30 – Barbados v Turks and Caicos Islands
13.45 – Belize v US Virgin Islands
15.00 – Canada v Costa Rica
16.15 – Guyana v Antigua and Barbuda
17.30 – El Salvador v Jamaica
18.45 – USA v Panama
20.00 – Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago
21.15 – Bahamas v Guadeloupe
