U.S. Beach Men’s National Qualified for 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup With 5-2 Win Over Mexico

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica (May 22, 2021) – The U.S. Beach Men’s National Team is returning to the FIFA  Beach Soccer World Cup! The USA defeated Mexico 5-2 in the semifinals of the 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship to secure one of two regional berths to the World Cup in Russia in August.

 

Fredo Dilbert scored his first two international goals, and David Mondragon, Nick Perera and Alessandro Canale also scored to help the U.S. snap a five game losing streak against Mexico in beach soccer World Cup Qualifying.

 

The Stars and Stripes return to the FIFA World Cup for second straight appearance and sixth overall: 2005, 2006, 2007, 20013, 2019 and 2021. The U.S. will now play El Salvador on Sunday in the final of the Concacaf Championship (5:30pm ET, TUDN).

 

The USA scored first on a fantastic bike from David Mondragon halfway through the opening period. It was Mondragon’s second goal of the competition and fifth all-time in World Cup Qualifying.

 

The teams then traded four goals in the second period.

 

Mexico tied it on a quality bike from Cristofher Castillo. USA forward Fredo Dilbert then scored his first international goal on a diving header at the far post on a throw-in from Nick Perera. Dilbert is the 11^th different player to score for the USA in the 2021 Championships.

 

Perera then added his own when he took a rebound from a Gabe Silveira bike, set up his right and fired in his fourth goal of the week. Mexico’s Uriel Zuart got one back when his shot from a tight angle deflected off USA defender Jason Santos on the goal line.

 

But the USA would increase the lead seconds into the third period, when Alessandro Canale blasted in a shot from the right on a Perera restart for his fifth of this week. Dilbert, who returned to action against Panama after missing two game with suspected Covid-19, then closed out the scoring with his second on the day at the near post to ice the game.

 

Saturday’s win was the first over Mexico in this competition since 2007 and fourth overall. Mexico had defeated the USA in five straight, including a 2008 group match, 2009 Third Place, 2010 and 2017 semifinals, and 2019 final.

 

In addition to qualifying for the World Cup, the USA will now play for the regional title against El Salvador, which defeated Guatemala in the other semifinal to secure their own spot at the World Cup. The USA will be after its third Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship trophy and first since 2013, when they defeated El Salvador 5-4 in overtime to win its second Championship. The USA also won the 2006 trophy, and won the combined Concacaf-Conmebol Championship in 2007. El Salvador will be after its second title and first since 2009.

 

In addition to the 2013 final, the U.S. defeated El Salvador in the 2019 semifinals on penalty kicks after the teams tied 3-3. Overall, the teams are 3-3 in World Cup Qualifying: USA also won in 2007 (group), and lost in a 2008 (group), 2009 (Semifinals), and 2015 (Third Place).

 

 

- U.S. Beach Men’s National Team Match Report -

 

 

Match: U.S. Beach Men’s National Team vs. Mexico

Date: May 22, 2021

Competition: 2021 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship

Venue: Complejo Deportivo FEDEFUTBOL Plycem; Alajuela, Costa Rica

Attendance: No Fans Permitted

Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. local

Weather: 80 degrees; cloudy

 

Scoring Summary:   1          2          3          F

USA                            1          2          2          5

MEX                            0          2          0          2

 

USA - David Mondragon (Gabe Silveira)       5’46” (First)

MEX - Cristofher Castillo                                5’32” (Second)

USA - Fredo Dilbert (Nick Perera)                 1’48” (Second)

USA - Nick Perera                                          0’56” (Second)

MEX - Uriel Zuart                                            0’52” (Second)

USA - Alessandro Canale (Nick Perera)        11’56” (Third)

MEX - Fredo Dilbert                                        5’59” (Third)

 

Lineups:

USA: 1-Chris Toth, 2-Jason Santos, 5-Nicolas Perea, 7-Nick Perera (Capt), 8-Alessandro Canale

Substitutes: 12-Esteban Sapetniizky, 3-David Mondragon, 4-Fredo Dilbert, 5-Nicolas Perea, 6-Chris Albiston, 9-Antonio Chavez, 10-Gabriel Silveira

Head coach: Frances Farberoff

 

MEX: 1-Gabriel Macias (Capt.), 4-Edgar Portilla, 8-Erick Samano, 9-Cristofher Castillo, 10-Jair Aleman

Subs: 12-Erik Fraire, 2-Uriel Zuart, 3-Diego Rodriguez, 5-Salomon Wbias, 6-Nestor Martinez, 7-Jacob Montes de Oca, 11-Jose Vizcarra

Head coach: Franciso Cati

 

Misconduct Summary:

None

 

Officials:

Referee: Gonzalo Carballo (SLV

2nd Referee: Gumercindo Batista (PAN)

3rd Referee: David Cruz (SLV)

Timekeeper: Marco Navarro (CRC)