MOSCOW, Russia – El Salvador’s 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup kicked off with a 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Belarus following a 5-5 draw to open Group C on Friday at Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium in Moscow, Russia.
Jose Batres and Heber Ramos each had a pair of goals for the Central Americans as regular time ended in a 4-4 draw.
The two teams would play an extra time period in which each side would find an additional goal, the 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship winners getting their score from Frank Velasquez.
Matters had to settled in a penalty shootout and Belarus were able to emerge with the win, as they converted all five attempts, while El Salvador scored four.
El Salvador will look to bounce back when they return to action on Sunday versus Brazil.
On Saturday, the United States will aim to collect their first three points of the tournament when they face off against Japan in Group A.
The U.S. went toe-to-toe with hosts RFU (Football Union of Russia) in their opener, only to come up just short 5-4 in extra time.
Nicolas Perea and Alessandro Canale each had braces in the opener and will look to add to their totals against the Japanese.
