USA Drops Hard-Fought 4-3 Result to Japan at Beach Soccer World Cup

ASUNCION, Paraguay (Nov. 23, 2019) – The U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team battled to the end, but ultimately fell 4-3 to Japan at Los Pynandi Stadium in the teams’ second Group A game at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Alessandro Canale’s two goals bookended a strike from U.S. goalkeeper Chris Toth as the USA gave the group leaders all they could handle. The U.S. beach boys can still advance, pending the result of the groups’ later game this evening (Paraguay needs to beat Switzerland), with a victory against tournament hosts Paraguay on Monday, Nov. 25 (7 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo) combined with a Japan victory against the Swiss on the groups’ final matchday.

In contrast to the USA’s opening game, the match vs. Japan did not offer up a goal until deep into the first period as the combatants played an even game with solid defense limiting both teams to half chances and an odd Japan shot that clipped the cross bar.

With the first break looming, Canale gave the USA a 1-0 lead when he headed home a long cross-court throw-in from David Mondragon down past the charging ‘keeper into the center of the net. It was the third World Cup goal of Canale’s international career.

However, Japan struck back on the restart. A blast from Ozu was deflected by Ryan Futagaki, wrong-footing Toth as the ball rolled into the right side of the net.

Japan then took a 2-1 lead in second half. GK Tomoya Ginoza threw the ball down the right and Toth came out to challenge Takuya Akaguma who chipped a cross to the middle of the court for Naoya Matsuo to slide home just before as U.S. defender arrived.

The U.S. netminder then made a string of great plays to first keep his team in the match and then level the score. He first saved a bike attempt before making another save by diving at the feet of a Japan attacker 30 seconds later to break up a dangerous attack and earn a free kick.

Toth converted the freekick from long distance, his shot hitting the sand in front of Ginoza, bouncing over him, off the post and into the right side of the goal to make it 2-2 through the end of the second period.

The third stanza was an even battle until Japan broke through five minutes into the frame. Ozu Moreira set up Teruki Tabata to make it 3-2.

Toth was on his game again, making a great save on a bike with a little under five minutes left in the match to keep it a one-goal game. The save paid off minutes later when Toth tried a full-court blast that Canale redirected with his head into the goal to make it 3-3.

But once again, Ozu, a top-five beach player in the world, scored on the restart with a swerving drive that got through two lines of U.S. defenders.

In the final minute, Nick Perera, who was marked all game by Ozu, earned a free kick that he put on goal, but Ginoza made a great save to deny the last-gasp equalizer.

-U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team Match Report-

Match: U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team vs. Japan
Date: Nov. 23, 2019
Competition: 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
Venue: "Los Pynandi" World Cup Stadium
Kickoff: 3:50 p.m. ET
Attendance: ---
Weather: 95 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:        1          2          3          OT        F
USA                              1          1          1          -           3
JPN                               1          1          2          -           4

USA – Alessandro Canale           9^th minute
JPN – Ozu Moreira                    9
JPN – Naoya Matsuo                 13
USA – Chris Toth                       20
JPN – Teruki Tabata                   30
USA – Alessandro Canale           33
JPN – Ozu Moreira                    33

Lineups:

USA: 1-Chris Toth, 4-Gabe Silveira, 5-Adrian dos Santos, 7-Nick Perera (capt), 10-Oscar Reyes,
Substitutes: 12-Juan Cervantes, 2-Jason Leopoldo, 3-Ryan Futagaki, , 6-Jason Santos, 8-Lucas Roque , 9-Alessandro Canale, 11-David Mondragon
Head coach: Eddie Soto

JPN: 12-Tomoya Ginoza, 2-Takuya Akaguma, 6-Naoya Matsuo, 7-Takaaki Oba, 10-Ozu Moreira
Substitutes: 1-Shingo Terukna, 3-Tomoyuki Iino, 4-Kosuke Matsuda, 5-Teruki Tabata, 8-Masayuki Komaki, 9-Shusei Yamauchi, 11-Masanori Okuyama
Head coach: --

Misconduct Summary:
JPN – Shusei Yamauchi (caution)            35^th minute
USA – Alessandro Canale (caution)         35

Stats Summary:            USA      JPN
Shots:                           42        37
SOG:                             9          13
Corners:                        8          1
Fouls:                           4          4

Officials:
Referee:  Sofien Benchabane (FRA)
Second Referee: Gionni Matticoli (ITA)
Third Referee: Alex Valdiviezo (PER)