U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team falls to Iran and Argentina at CPISRA World Championships

The U.S. Paralympic National Team opened the CPISRA World Championships with a 9-0 loss against a highly favored Iran side.

Iran justified their position as one of the best sides in the world, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first half. The USA battled hard in the second half, holding Iran off while generating a few chances of their own.

The U.S. Paralympic National Team then continued the CPISRA World Championships on Friday with a hard-fought 2-1 loss against Argentina.

After Thursday’s loss against Iran, the USA came out with something to prove and matched up well against a difficult side.

Argentina took the lead in the 20th minute but the USA quickly equalized, with midfielder Marthell Vazquez setting up Rene Renteria for the tying goal.

The two sides continued to trade blows throughout the match, with the USA firing 19 shots to Argentina’s 24.

In the 51st minute, Argentina’s Brian Vivot grabbed what what proved to be the winning goal.

Match: U.S. Paralympic National Team vs. Iran
Date: May 3, 2012
Competition: CPISRA World Championship
Venue: Yevpatoriya, Ukraine

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                           0 0 0
IRN                           6 3 9

IRN – Mehri Farzad (penalty kick) 6th minute
IRN – Mehri Farzad 8
IRN – Atashafrouz Rasoul 10
IRN – Atashafrouz Rasoul 16
IRN – Akbari Moslem 23
IRN – Heidarimehr Morteza 27
IRN – Ansari Bahman 38
IRN – Ansari Bahman 42
IRN – Ansari Bahman 53

Lineups:
USA: 1-Keith Johnson; 9-Josh McKinney (capt.), 5-Bryce Boarman; 10-Marthell Vazquez, 16-Rene Renteria; 4-Chad Jones (2-Gavin Sibayan, 30), 11-Tyler Bennett (8-Dylan Brown, 50)
Subs not used: 6-Jerreme Wade, 7-Adam Ballou, 12-Charlie Howard, 18-Alex Hendricks
Head Coach: Jay Hoffman

IRN: 1-Nekoee Majd Mehran (Khazaeipirsarabi Moslem, 30); 9-Heidarimehr Morteza (Ansari Bahman, 30),, 8-Gholamhosseinpour Boshehri Ehsan, 2-Rastegarimobin Hashem; Akbari Moslem (3-Bakhshi Jasem, 30), 6-Mehri Farzad (Abdolreza Karimizade, 30); 11-Atashafrouz Rasoul (5-Hassani Sadegh, 30)

Stats Summary: USA / IRN
Shots: 4 / 15
Saves: 6 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 3 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
Referee: Gorban (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Zavada (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Secreta (UKR)
Fourth Official: Maksym Tiuterev (UKR)

Match: U.S. Paralympic National Team vs. Argentina
Date: May 4, 2012
Competition: CPISRA World Championship
Venue: Yevpatoriya, Ukraine

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                           1 0 1
ARG                           1 1 2

ARG – Mariano Morana (Matias Romana) 20th minute
USA – Rene Renteria (Marthell Vazquez) 24
ARG – Brian Vivot 51

Lineups:
USA: 1-Keith Johnson; 9-Josh McKinney (capt.), 5-Bryce Boarman (4-Chad Jones, 54); 10-Marthell Vazquez, 11-Tyler Bennett, 2-Gavin Sibayan; 16-Rene Renteria; 11-Tyler Bennett
Subs not used: 6-Jerreme Wade, 7-Adam Ballou, 8-Dylan Brown, 12-Charlie Howard, 18-Alex Hendricks
Head Coach: Jay Hoffman

ARG: 1-Gustavo Nahuelquin; 2-Mariano Morana, 4-Ezequiel Jaime, Carlos Ferreira; 9-Fabio Coria, 5-Brian Vivot; 11-Matias Romano

Stats Summary: USA / ARG
Shots: 19 / 24
Shots on Goal: 7 / 14
Saves: 12 / 6
Corner Kicks: 9 / 6
Fouls: 6 / 10

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
Referee: Barry Huizinga (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ross Haswell (GBR)
Assistant Referee 2: Maksym Tiuterev (UKR)
Fourth Official: Denis Romanov (UKR)