U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team Defeats Trinidad and Tobago 5-2 to Secure Spot in Quarterfinals of 2021 Concacaf Championship

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica (May 18, 2021) – The U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship with a 5-2 victory against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday afternoon. Alessandro Canale scored twice to give him four goals in two games, Nick Perera and Gabriel Silveira scored their third goals of the competition and goalkeeper Chris Toth notched his first.

 

With six points in Group C after two games, the USA and Costa Rica are guaranteed to finish in the top two and will square off on Wednesday in the group stage finale with first and second on the line.

 

After new players jump-started Monday’s opening match, the veterans did all the damage on Matchday 2.

 

Nick Perera scored first on a free kick from distance and goalkeeper Chris Toth doubled the lead when he juggled forward near mid-court before ripping a shot past Trinidad goalkeeper Jabrai Gray. Toth now has seven career World Cup Qualifying goals and has scored in four of the five Concacaf Beach Soccer Championships that he’s participated in. This was his first at this tournament since 2017. Alessandro Canale closed out the period by heading in his own rebound off the crossbar at the back post.

 

Trinidad and Tobago had the better of play in the second, forcing Toth to make two diving saves. However, the U.S. again closed the period with a goal in the final seconds on a well-worked play.Canale started it on the left offensive end when he played a ball back to Toth. The goalkeeper pushed it wide right to Antonio Chavez, who controlled it in the air and took two juggles forward before hitting a hard ball to the back post where Gabriel Silveira flicked in a header unmarked.

 

Trinidad broke through to start the third period on a fortuitous play. The USA tried to reset with a back pass to Toth, but the ball skipped sideways off the sand in front of the ‘keeper and David McDougall did well to follow the play and easily score.

 

Canale then scored his second and team-leading fourth of the tournament on a free kick from midfield. He now has 18 goals over his four Concacaf Championship tournaments. Akinola Gregory added another for Trinidad on a half-bike to close out the scoring.

 

The USA now faces host Costa Rica on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET, live on TUDN.

 

 

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

 

Match: U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Date: May 18, 2021

Competition: 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship

Venue: Complejo Deportivo FEDEFUTBOL Plycem; Alajuela, Costa Rica

Attendance: No fans permitted

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. local

Weather: 82 degrees; partly cloudy

 

Scoring Summary:   1          2          3          F

USA                            3          1          1          5

TRI                              0          0          2          2

 

USA - Nick Perera                                                      9’45 (First)

USA - Chris Toth                                                        8’15” (First)

USA - Alessandro Canale                                          0’19” (First)

USA - Gabriel Silveira (Antonio Chavez)                   0’17” (Second)

TRI - David McDougall                                         11’28” (Third)

USA - Alessandro Canale                                          6’50” (Third)

TRI - Akinola Gregory                                     6’25” (Third)

 

Lineups:

USA: 1-Chris Toth, 2-Jason Santos, 3-David Mondragon, 7-Nick Perera (Capt), 10-Gabriel Silveira

Substitutions: 12-Esteban Sapetniizky, 5-Nicolas Perea, 6-Chris Albiston, 8-Alessandro Canale, 9-Antonio Chavez

Unavailable: 4-Fredo Dilbert

Head coach: Francis Farberoff

 

TRI: 1-Jabari Gray, 6-Ryan Augustine (Capt.), 7-Lemuel Lyons, 8-Jesse Bailey, 9-Hakeem King

Substitutions: 12-Zane Coker, 2-Joash Baird, 3-Akinola Gregory, 4-Shallun Bobb, 5-Omri Baird, 10-David McDougall, 11-Kevon Woodley

Head coach: Ramiro Amerelle

 

Misconduct Summary:

TRI – Alex Bryan (Caution)                            3’50” minute (Second)

 

Officials:

Referee: Gonzalo Carballo (SLV)

2nd Referee: David Cruz (SLV)

3rd Referee: Juan Andres Angeles (CRC)

Timekeeper: Jonathan Hernandez (CRC)