On May 14, 2023, the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team defeated Mexico 5-0 in the final of the the 2023 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship to claim the USA’s third confederation championship, and first since 2013.
Having already qualified for the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup by virtue of beating El Salvador 5-2 in the semifinal the day before, the USA put in a legendary performance against its regional rivals just a month on from dropping a 4-3 decision to El Trí in the Acapulco Cup.
The USA got the scoring underway just over two minutes in when Gabe Silveira’s long-distance effort beat Mexico goalkeeper Gabriel Macias.
WATCH: USBMNT 5, Mexico 0 | May 14, 2023
The teams kept it close through the remainder of the first period, but the USA built on its advantage in close succession toward the end of the second frame. With 2:48 remaining, Ricardo Carvalho lobbed a ball forward for Nick Perera, and the USA’s all-time leading goal scorer expertly poked it past Macias. Just 27 seconds later, Carvalho dispossessed a Mexico defender at the back before firing home to make it 3-0.
Not content to just defend the lead, the USA added two more goals in the third period. With five minutes remaining, Alessandro Canale lined up a free kick from 25 yards which swerved inside the right post. With just under three minutes remaining, Canale one-touched a long ball out of the back into space for Silveira who slotted home his second of the match to cap the scoring at 5-0.
Along with claiming a third Concacaf Beach Soccer crown, the 5-0 result stands as the USA’s largest margin of victory against Mexico in any senior-level competition.
FINAL MAY 14: USA 5-0 MEXICO
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 F
USA 1 2 2 5
MEX 0 0 0 0
USA - Gabe Silveira (Rezende) 9:54 (1st Period)
USA - Nick Perera (Carvalho) 2:48 (2nd)
USA - Ricardo Carvalho 2:21 (2nd)
USA - Alessandro Canale 5:06 (3rd)
USA - Gabe Silveira (Canale) 2:51 (3rd)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth, 5-Nicolas Perea, 7-Nick Perera (Captain), 9-Alessandro Canale, 10-Gabriel Silveira
Substitutes: 12-Austin Collier, 2-Alvaro Franco, 3-Antonio Chavez, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 6-Cody Valrcarcel, 9-Alessandro Canale,11-Chris Albiston
Did not Play: None
Head coach: Francis Farberoff
MEX: 1-Gabriel Macias, 4-Edgar Portilla (Captain), 5-Hector Acevedo, 7-Diego Martinez, 11-Jose Vizcarra
Substitutes: 12-Antonio Echeverria, 2-Juan Morales, 6-Alejandro Garcia, 8-Enoch Lopez, 9-Cristofher Castillo
Head coach: Francisco Cati
Misconduct Summary:
SLV - Elmer Robles (caution) 4:27 (3rd Period)
USA - Nick Perera (caution) 2:53 (3rd)