USA, El Salvador, Bahamas, Mexico punch semifinal tickets

The knockout stage of the 2023 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship at the Malcolm Beach Soccer Facility in Nassau, Bahamas got going on Friday night with United States, El Salvador, Bahamas and Mexico all advancing to the semifinals, CONCACAF said.

It said the US captured a dramatic 5-4 win over Costa Rica with a goal in the last minute.

“Things were knotted at 2-2 after the first period on goals from Conner Rezende and Tomas Canale of the US and Costa Rica’s Roger Mora and Lonis Calero,” CONCACAF said. “A scoreless second period gave way to an action-packed third period in which Greivin Pacheco and Jeaustin Medina scored for the Ticos, while the US got a pair of goals from Gabriel Silveira. Just when it looked like extra time would be needed, an own goal from Medina in the final minute gave the U.S. the 5-4 win.”

CONCACAF said defending champions El Salvador are also through to the final four after topping Guatemala 7-2.

“Heber Ramos and Exon Perdomo paced El Salvador to a 2-0 lead after one period,” it said. “That two-goal advantage stayed intact after goals from Jason Urbina and Andres Cruz for the Cuscatlecos, while Guatemala got scores from Jose Lem and Pablo Crocker.

“El Salvador then put the win on ice with a trio of third period goals, as Perdomo, Melvin Gonzalez and Ramos all found the back of the net to seal the victory,” it added.

CONCACAF said host nation Bahamas brought the home fans to their feet in a 4-2 win over former champions Panama.

Kyle Williams and Gary Joseph scored to make it 2-0 Bahamas through the first period, CONCACAF said.

It said Panama then got goals from Nagdiel Del Rosario and Luis Quintero, while Williams added another for Bahamas to make it 3-2 Bahamas after two periods.

“Michael Butler tacked on an insurance goal in the third period to secure the Bahamas win,” CONCACAF said.

It said the fourth and final semifinalist is Mexico following their 2-0 win versus Trinidad and Tobago.

“No goals were to be found through the first two periods, setting up a dramatic third period in which El Tricolor got scores from Cristofher Castillo and Hector Acevedo for the 2-0 win,” CONCACAF said.