U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team Beats Mexico 4-0 to Qualify for Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics

CANOAS, Brazil (Nov. 15, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team got a brace from Michael Schmid and goals from Bennett Haas and Thomas Salvi to earn a comprehensive 4-0 win against Mexico at Complexo Esportivo da Ulbra on Friday to claim the bronze medal at the 2024 Pan American Deaf Games and qualify for the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

“This group came to Brazil with the clear objective of qualifying for the Deaflympics and today we achieved that goal,” said U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team head coach Everett Palache. “I’m very proud of the players for their commitment to the process, and just as we earned a medal today, we now put our focus toward doing the same this time next year in Japan.”

Picking itself up after a disappointing shootout defeat to Brazil in Wednesday’s semifinal, the USA got on the board early and never looked back. The goal onslaught began just five minutes into the game with Schmid scoring easily inside the left post after finishing a long-angled cross into the penalty area from Braden Anderson.

The USA doubled its lead 16 minutes later as dynamic winger Chris Bourdon built up the left and crossed for Haas. The U.S. attacker collected and took a couple touches in the box before firing his effort inside the left post in the 21st minute.

Schmid completed his brace before halftime, making an angled run toward the far right post to volley home a picture-perfect cross from Haas from five yards out to give the USA a 3-0 lead in the 32nd minute.

With the match in complete control and a berth in Tokyo in sight, second-half substitute Salvi scored the USA’s fourth and final goal in the 76th minute with an amazing 30-yard chip over onrushing Mexico goalkeeper Irvin Moreno after being sprung on a breakaway from a long ball out of the back from Kevin Oladimeji.

Defensively, goalkeeper Erik Jaspers was rarely challenged and recorded his second shutout of the competition, following Monday’s 0-0 draw with Argentina.

The win was the third of four victories by U.S. Soccer Extended National Teams on Friday, marking the first time four ENTs all won matches in the same day. It started with the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team’s 6-1 friendly win against Japan, followed by the U.S. Women’s CP National Team’s 9-2 victory over Republic of Ireland to open the 2024 IFCPF Women’s World Cup in Salou, Spain. The day closed with the U.S. Men’s CP National Team earning a 6-0 win against Thailand to advance from its group at the 2024 Men’s World Cup, also in Salou.

-U.S. MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Men’s Deaf National Team vs. Mexico
Date: Nov. 15, 2024
Competition: Pan American Deaf Games 2024 – Bronze Medal Match
Venue: Complexo Esportivo da Ulbra; Canoas, Brazil
Kickoff: 10 a.m. local (8 a.m. ET)
Weather: 80 degrees, sunny

Lineups:
USA: 12-Erik Jaspers, 3-Raul Silva, 6-Dawson Anderson (15-David Dircio, 61), 7-Chris Bourdon, 8-Eddie Perry (5-Kevin Oladdimeji, 46), 10-Braden Anderson, 11-JP Kanashiro (14-Owen Jacobs, 78) 16-Kevin Fitzpatrick (Capt.), 18-Aidan Burns (2-Samson Abraham, 46, 21-Bennett Haas, 22-Michael Schmid (9-Thomas Salvi, 74)
Substitutes not used: 1-Sam Lang, 4-Luke Haubruge, 13-Chad Johnson, 17-Tate Lancaster, 19-Arthur Goncalves, 23-Daniel De Moura
Suspended: 20-JJ Waterman
Head coach: Everett Palache

MEX: 2-Irvin Moreno; 4-Omar Resendiz, 5-Misael Daza (8-Ulises Perez, 46), 6-Luis Fernando García, 7-Jose Gonzalez, 9-Nestor Lopez, 10-Francisco Ibarra Fong (Capt.), 11-Alan Ventura, 12-Erik Figueroa, 13-Gael Ramos, 14-Jair Arana
Substitutes not used: 1-Diego Barroso, 3-Jesús Martinez
Head coach: N/A

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 14 / 4
Shots on Goal: 10 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 13 / 4
Offside: 3 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
USA – JP Kanashiro (Caution) 17th minute
USA – Braden Anderson (Caution) 62
MEX – Luis Fernando Garcia (Caution) 84

Officials:
N/A