Trinidad and Tobago will face Mexico in the quarter finals of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship after suffering a narrow 4-3 loss to reigning champions Panama on Thursday.
As the very last game of the group stages here in Puerto Vallarta, the winner of this tie would face Guatemala in the quarter-finals, while the loser would take on hosts, Mexico.
Trinidad and Tobago got off to a flying start when Bailey drove in from the ring wing to spin a low shot into the bottom corner and grabbing an initial lead.
They were only ahead for a minute though, as it didn’t take long for Maquensi to level the match up, setting himself up for a fine looping volley. Woodley retook the lead with a volley of his own, an unstoppable effort that left the keeper with no chance.
The second period began with Garcia nodding in an equalizer, showing that Panama had no intention of being left behind in this race for the top spot. Soon after, Woodley squeezed between two defenders to snatch the advantage for a third time with a fine finish, but just like clockwork the equalizer came again, with Maquensi bagging his second with an equally fine finish.
It was impossible to separate the sides as the match passed the halfway point and it looked as if extra time would be inevitable. But early in the third period, Eliecer Garcia was gifted too much time at the back post as he headed Panama into the lead for the first time in the match.
Enrique Shubert Perez’s men fought hard to hang onto this lead and see the game out, claiming three points and earning themselves a match against Guatemala in the quarter-finals, while Trinidad and Tobago are set to challenge Mexico.
Goals: 0-1: Bailey, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Maquensi, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Woodley, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Garcia, min. 11 (2); 2-3: Woodley, min. 9 (2); 3-3: Maquensi, min. 7 (2); 4-3: Garcia, min. 10 (3);
2019 CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP PUERTO VALLARTA
Yesterday’s Results
Wednesday 15th May
10:45 – Guadeloupe 3(2)-(0)3 Guyana (Group D)
12:00 – Bahamas 12-2 Bonaire (Group C)
14:15 – Jamaica 2-5 Guatemala (Group A)
15:30 – USA 11-2 Antigua and Barbuda (Group C)
16:45 – El Salvador 7-1 Belize (Group D)
18:00 – Mexico 8-5 Costa Rica (Group A)
Today’s Results
Thursday 16th May
10:45 – Belize 2-3 Guyana (Group D)
12:00 – Antigua and Barbuda 9-4 Bonaire (Group C)
14:15 – USA 3-2 Bahamas (Group C)
15:30 – Turks and Caicos Islands 6-8 US Virgin Islands (Group B)
16:45 – El Salvador 8-1 Guadeloupe (Group D)
18:00 – Panama 4-3 Trinidad & Tobago (Group B)
Tomorrow’s Fixtures
Friday 17th May
14:15 – El Salvador v Bahamas (Quarter-final)
15:30 – USA v Guadeloupe (Quarter-final)
16:45 – Panama v Guatemala (Quarter-final)
18:00 – Mexico v Trinidad and Tobago (Quarter-final)