MANAGUA, Nicaragua (April 17, 2024) – The U.S. Men’s Futsal National Team received a late goal from Nilton de Andrade, but ultimately fell 2-1 to Panama in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship on Wednesday, concluding its run at the confederation’s qualifying tournament for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. De Andrade’s strike with 1:10 remaining in the second half was his team-leading fifth goal of the tournament, and tied the U.S. record for most goals at a single Concacaf Futsal Championship.
A back-and-forth start saw both teams lacking for chances, but the USA finally threatened with just over eight minutes left. Catching Panama out on the counter, Franck Tayou dribbled to the middle before laying off a backheel pass to de Andrade on the left, where the attacker hit a one-timer that was turned away by Jaime Penaloza.
Despite the promising opportunity, Panama would break through a minute later. After Manuel Andrade was whistled for a foul, Los Canaleros’ Abdiel Castrellon hit a swerving free kick that U.S. ‘keeper Robert Damron initially kept out, but captain Oscar Hinks was there on the doorstep to poke home the rebound with 7:18 remaining in the first half.
Panama made it 2-0 off another set play just two minutes later. Rumon Milord played a subtle kick-in to the top of the penalty arc for Aquiles Campos where the pivo held up and returned the pass for Milord who slammed home a left-footed shot with 5:19 remaining.
The USA nearly responded at 3:33, as David Ortiz received a dangerous centering pass, but his glancing effort was deflected out by a Panama defender and the Central American side went into the break with a 2-0 advantage.
The U.S. found it difficult to break through a Panama side looking to defend its lead, but nearly cut into the score line with 11:22 remaining in the second half. De Andrade made an impressive penetrating run before hitting an effort with the outside of his right foot which clanged off the right post.
With no breakthrough, the USA began deploying the “flying goalkeeper” with about five minutes remaining, replacing backstop Robert Damron with different attackers to gain a further offensive advantage.
With just three minutes left, the ball fell for Luiz Morales who turned and blasted a low effort that scraped just wide of the right post. At 2:10, Ortiz, who was the flying goalkeeper, hit a driven ball to the right post for Morales where the U.S. attacker headed just wide.
After sustained pressure, the USA finally broke through with 1:10 remaining. Sebastian Mendez laid off a pass for de Andrade on the left, where he turned his defender and fired to the top right corner past Penaloza.
The goal awakened the Panama side, who pushed their numbers back into attack and were able to thwart any additional U.S. danger, seeing out the remaining seconds to ensure qualification to the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Match: United States Futsal Men’s National Team vs. Panama
Date: April 17, 2024
Competition: 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship - Quarterfinal
Venue: Polideportivo Alexis Arguello; Managua, Nicaragua
Attendance: 300
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local time)
Weather: 96 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
PAN 2 0 2
PAN – Oscar Hinks 7’18” (First Half)
PAN – Ruman Milord (Aquiles Campos) 5’19”
USA – Nilton de Andrade (Sebastian Mendez) 1’10” (Second Half)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Robert Damron, 5-Luciano Gonzalez (Capt.), 6-Sebastian Mendez, 8-Franck Tayou, 10-David Ortiz
Substitutes: 2-Manuel Andrade, 3-Nilton de Andrade, 4-Alencar Ventura-Junior, 11-Luiz Morales, 13-Nicholas Lopez, 14-Erik Macias
Suspended: 7-Diego Burato, 9-Raphael Araujo, 12-Diego Moretti
Head coach: Hewerton Moreira
PAN: 1-Jaime Penaloza, 7-Claudio Goodridge , 8-Ruman Milord, 9-Aquiles Campos, 10-Alfonso Maquensi
Substitutes: 12-Jose Alvarez, 2-Jose Luis Caballero, 3-Oscar Hinks (Capt.), 4-Jose Escobar, 5-Abdiel Escobar, 6-Abdiel Ortiz, 11-Abdiel Castrellon, 13-Allan Aparicio, 14-Boxill Cuthbert
Head Coach: Alex Del Rosario
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Sebastian Mendez (Caution) 29.5” (Second Half)
Officials:
Referee: Diego Lopez (CRC)
Second Referee: Renier Fis Solis (CUB)
3rd Referee: Anthony Terborg (SUR)
Timekeeper: Manuel Rosario (DOM)