MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Costa Rica, Panama, and the United States started at the top of their respective groups as the 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship got underway on Saturday at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragua.
The encounter between Cuba and Canada was the only stalemate from the first day of the group stage. Sunday will provide a clearer picture in the qualification to the knockout stage with the second round of matches.
United States and Guatemala start atop Group C
The United States started its campaign with a 7-4 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Darius Ollivierra opened the scoring for the Soca Warriors two minutes in before David Ortiz would equalize for the U.S. in the 9’. Nilton De Andrade would extend the lead just a minute after. Ortiz converted for a brace with five seconds left for halftime.
Oliveirra would score again in the 23’ to bring the score within two to start the second half. Diego Burato extended the U.S. lead just seconds later. Che Benny scored in the 25’ for Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. scored three unanswered from Nicholas Lopez in the 32’, Franck Tayou in the 34’, and another from de Andrade in the 35’. Matthew Woo Ling converted from the penalty spot for Trinidad and Tobago with four minutes left in the match.
Guatemala began the tournament with a 7-5 win over the Dominican Republic. Roberto Alvarado scored five minutes into the encounter to give Guatemala the lead. Marco Gomez equalized in the 14’ before David Rondon followed in the 16’ to send the Dominican Republic up by one at the half.
Rondon scored again one minute into the second half. Alan Aguilar got one back for Guatemala in the 22’ and Alvarado tied the game seconds after. Guillermo Lopez scored in the 25’ for the Dominicans before Alvarado would get his hat-trick in the 26’ to equalize once more. Guatemala would win the encounter with goals from Fernando Campaignac in the 28’ Marvin Sandoval in the 34’ and Patrick Ruiz in the 36’.
Trinidad and Tobago will face Guatemala in the first of Sunday’s encounters. The Dominican Republic and the United States will play right after to conclude the second day of Group C activity.
Costa Rica and Mexico off to winning starts in Group A
Mexico began the day in Group A with a 7-3 victory over Suriname. Ike Adams scored three minutes in to put Suriname up, but Daniel Soltero would draw in the 4’. Lorenzo Donner retook the lead for Suriname in the 8’ until Eddie Sanchez equalized in the 13’. Miguel Giorgana put Mexico in the lead for the first time in the 14’, and Luis Magaña extended it in the 15’.
The Mexican contingent continued strong in the second half with goals from Eder Giorgana in the 28’, Carlos Rivera in the 30’, and Luis Magaña in the 36’. Giovanni Blatz scored a third for Suriname in the 39’.
Costa Rica began its title defense with an 8-3 win over Haiti to take first place in Group A. Diego Chavarria opened the scoring for the defending champions in the 5’ and earned his brace in the 7’ before Yosel Leon made it three unanswered in the 8’. John Preval answered for Haiti in the 13’. Goalkeeper Cesar Vargas got a fourth for Costa Rica in the 14’ by finding the open net from long range. Minor Cabalceta struck a fifth and sixth for the Ticos in the 16’ and 17’, earning his brace. Christo-fils Voltaire got one back for Haiti in the 17’ before his teammate Brhorhado Borgella cut down the deficit further in the 18’. Victor Fonseca scored for Costa Rica in the 20’ to put a bow on a 10-goal first half.
Daniel Gomez scored the lone goal of the second half in the 22’. The match was decided after Haiti could not continue due to various injuries, which prevented them from fielding a complete team.
Suriname and Costa Rica will meet on Sunday as Group A continues. Haiti and Mexico are scheduled to follow that encounter.
Panama takes lead, Cuba-Canada delivers classic in Group B
Cuba and Canada drew 5-5 in a back-and-forth match. Iduan Martinez put Cuba up seven minutes in. Jonathan Hernandez, who assisted on the first goal, would extend Cuba’s lead seconds later. Barbaro Alvarez made it three in favor just one minute later. Canada cut the deficit by two goals in the final six minutes of the first half with goals from Safwane Mlah in the 15’ and Montacer El Harchali in the 17’.
Loic Kwemi equalized for Canada five minutes into the second half. Twenty seconds later, Iduan Martinez retook the lead for Cuba. Jorge Gonzalez followed up with another goal for the Caribbean nation in the 31’. Mlah scored a fourth for Canada one minute later. Kwemi tied the match at five apiece in the 36’.
Panama defeated Nicaragua, 6-3, to take first place of Group B. Ruman Milford placed Panama in the lead in the 3’ on a combination play with Aquiles Campos. Claudio Goodridge delivered a blast in the 13’ to extend the lead by two.
Exequiel Sequeira equalized for Nicaragua in the 22’ to cut the deficit to a minimal difference. Abdiel Ortiz responded for Panama in the 23’ after striking with power off a short corner kick service, restoring the two-goal lead. Oscar Hinks scored a fourth for the Panamanians in the 25’. Lester Kripp took one back for Nicaragua in the 28’ as the host nation continued to rally. Abdiel Escobar made it five for Panama in the 34’. Wesly Ruiz ignited the crowd with a goal for Nicaragua in the 36’ but Abdiel Ortiz scored seconds after to negate any comeback.
Canada and Panama will meet on Sunday night with first place in Group B on the line. Nicaragua will meet Cuba in the final match of matchday two.
