NASSAU, Bahamas (March 15, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team used a third period goal from Antonio Chavez to earn a 1-1 draw before ultimately falling 7-6 to El Salvador on penalty kicks in the semifinals of the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship on Saturday at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium. Veteran forward Alessandro Canale also earned his 100th cap in the match, becoming the second Beach Soccer athlete to hit the century mark for the United States.
With the result, the USA will now face Bahamas in the Third-Place Match on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX).
FIRST PERIOD
After the first half of the period was devoid of many chances, El Salvador peppered the U.S. goal with three big opportunities only to have U.S. goalkeeper Chris Toth stand equal to each attempt.
With 5:36 remaining, El Salvador ‘keeper Eliodoro Portillo played a pass forward for Elmer Robles unmarked in front of goal. There, he popped up a bicycle kick, but was denied as Toth made an incredible reaction save down to his left.
With just under four minutes, Francisco Velasquez dribbled in from the right before unleashing a left-footed blast that Toth pushed past the right post. With just over a minute left Portillo juggled forward before letting loose on a right-footed blast that Toth, at full extension, pushed out for a corner kick.
The best U.S. chance of the period came with 18 seconds remaining as Toth volleyed the ball to Tanner Akol on the right before putting it across to Ricardo Carvalho, but his redirected effort was saved by Portillo.
SECOND PERIOD
The USA nearly grabbed the first goal two minutes into the second when Canale found himself with space on the left before centering for Gabe Silveira whose first-time effort clanged off the right post.
El Salvador responded with game’s first goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the second period. Portillo began the play with a lobbed ball out of the back to Elmer Robles on the left, before his volley found Andersson Castro who smashed home past Toth.
Toth made a double save with five minutes remaining, denying Velasquez’s initial chance before turning away Robles’ point-blank follow up.
Continuing to search for the U.S. equalizer,with 3:45 remaining Silveira took some space on the right side of midfield and let go a blistering shot that was turned away by substitute El Salvador ‘keeper Erick Najera to hold Los Cuscatlecos’ 1-0 lead heading into the third period.
THIRD PERIOD
The USA stayed focused and finally pulled level a minute into the third period when Toth flipped the ball to Chavez in space on the right where he drove a low blast that skipped off the sand over Najera to make it 1-1 with 11:03 remaining.
After Najera was whistled for picking up the ball twice in one possession, the U.S. was awarded a free kick from midfield. Portillo replaced Najera before the free kick and got down to his right to push away Andres Navas’ powerful take with six minutes remaining.
The U.S. then had a clear penalty shout with 2:10 left in the period. Akol popped up a bicycle kick in the penalty area and was hindered mid-air on the attempt by El Salvador’s Ruben Batres. The referee blew his whistle, and after a lengthy stoppage and discussion with the match officials, the call was deemed a foul on the U.S. attacker instead of pointing to the penalty spot.
With just over a minute remaining, Canale won the ball at midfield and broke free in the sand before earning a free kick just over 15 yards from goal, but the matchday centurion pulled his effort just past the left post, sending the teams into extra time locked at 1-1.
EXTRA TIME AND SHOOTOUT
The U.S. had another penalty shout a minute into the extra frame when Silveira was upended on another bicycle kick at the top of the box, but the match officials continued play. Without another chance for either side, the teams moved into a penalty kick shootout.
After both teams scored their first attempts, Silveira pushed his effort off the right post, but the USA got new life when Oscar Cruz pulled his attempt past the left upright. Both teams then converted each of their next five spot kicks, but the difference came when Najera used his leg to keep out Conner Rezende’s eighth round attempt. With the advantage, El Salvador’s Elmer Robles stepped up and put his penalty past Toth, to send Los Cuscatlecosto the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and into Sunday’s final.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
-U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Beach Men’s National Team vs. El Salvador
Date: March 15, 2025
Competition: 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship – Semifinal
Venue: Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium; Nassau, Bahamas
Attendance: 1,245
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 ET F PK
USA 0 0 1 0 1 6
SLV 0 1 0 0 1 7
SLV – Andersson Castro (Elmer Robles) 7:56 (Second Period)
USA – Antonio Chavez (Chris Toth) 11:03 (Third Period)
Shootout Summary:
USA - Andres Navas (goal), Gabe Silveira (post), Nico Perea (goal), Alessandro Canale (goal), Ricardo Carvalho (goal), Cody Valcarcel (goal), Tanner Akol (goal), Conner Rezende (saved)
SLV - Francisco Velasquez (goal), Oscar Cruz (miss), Heber Ramos (goal), Andersson Castro (goal), Melvin Gonzalez (goal), Agustin Ruiz (goal), Emerson Cerna (goal), Elmer Robles (goal)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth (Capt.); 5-Nico Perea, 7-Andres Navas, 9-Alessandro Canale, 10-Gabe Silveira
Substitutes: 2-Tanner Akol, 3-Antonio Chavez, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 6-Cody Valcarcel, 8-Conner Rezende, 11-Chris Albiston
Did not play: 12-Austin Collier
Head coach: Ian Carry
SLV: 12-Eliodoro Portillo (Capt.), 2-Oscar Cruz, 3-Heber Ramos, 8-Andersson Castro, 10-Agustin Ruiz
Substitutes: 1-Erick Najera, 4-Melvin Gonzalez, 5-Emerson Cernal, 7-Elmer Robles, 9-Ruben Batres, 11-Francisco Velasquez
Suspended: 6-Jason Urbina
Head coach: Rudis Gonzalez
Stats Summary: USA / SLV
Shots: 22 / 32
Shots on Goal:9 / 11
Saves: 10 / 8
Fouls: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks:3 / 7
Misconduct Summary:
none
Officials:
First Official: Arian Crespo (CUB)
Second Official: Jonathan Hernandez (CRC)
Third Official: Luis Torres (CRC)
Timekeeper: Wilfredy Villegas (GUA)