USA falls to Costa Rica in 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship Final

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The U.S. Futsal National Team claimed the silver medal at the 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship after a hard-fought 2-3 loss to Costa Rica in the tournament final on Sunday night in Guatemala City.

Luciano Gonzalez and Zach Reget each scored in a first half that saw all five goals with the Ticos scoring last to win their third consecutive regional futsal title and fourth overall.

The USA, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama will represent Concacaf at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania this September. Guatemala defeated Panama 3-2 in overtime to win the third-place match.

Despite playing its sixth match in seven days, the USA punched first less than five minutes in. Gonzalez recovered a ball at the top of the U.S. penalty box and went coast to coast unmarked before hitting a well-placed shot from the top of the Costa Rica penalty area past goalkeeper Cesar Vargas. It was the third goal of the tournament from “Lucho” to go along with two assists.

Adept at quick combinations and deep rotation, Costa Rica scored twice minutes apart to take the lead. Daniel Gomez worked a give-and-go on the right side before ripping a hard shot from the corner that snuck under U.S. goalkeeper Diego Moretti’s extended right hand to equalize. Juan Cordero then put the Ticos up shortly after when he pounced on a loose ball and fired from 12 yards out just beyond the reach of Moretti.

Reget brought the USA even with two minutes to go in the half on a beautiful goal. Jeremy Klepal advanced a crisp ball to Reget, who flicked the ball over his mark and then lifted a soft chip over the ‘keeper for his first goal of the tournament.

But Costa Rica would strike back just before the break on a well-connected passing play that ended with Gomez hitting a hard shot from the left side past Moretti. The teams traded opportunities in the second half, but Costa Rica did enough to hold and defend their title.

The four Concacaf teams now await the FIFA Futsal World Cup draw in June to learn who they’ll play in Lithuania this fall.

– U.S. FUTSAL MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: U.S. Futsal Men’s National Team vs. Dominican Republic
Date: May 9, 2021
Competition: 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship
Venue: Domo Polideportivo; Guatemala City, Guatemala
Attendance: No fans permitted
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. local

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
CRC 3 0 3

USA – Luciano Gonzalez (unassisted) 14’ 26” (First Half)
CRC – Daniel Gomez 8’39” (First Half)
CRC – Juan Cordero 6’54” (First Half)
USA – Zach Reget (Eduardo Buenfil) 4’43” (First Half)
CRC – Daniel Gomez 2’05 (First Half)

Lineups:

USA: 12-Diego Moretti (Capt.); 2-Zach Reget, 6-Jeremy Klepal, 7-Daniel Mattos, 14-Luciano Gonzalez

Substitutions: 1-Eduardo Macias, 3-Raphael Araujo, 5-Julian Escobar, 4-Alencar Ventura-Junior,, 9-Everson Maciel, 10-Ricardo Sobreira,, 13-Eduardo Buenfil

Suspended: 11-Tomas Pondeca
Injured: 8-Guilherme Veiga

Head coach: Dusan Jakica

CRC: 1-Cesar Vargas, 3-Daniel Gomez, 7-Edwin Cubillo, 10-Milinton Tijerino, 12-Enmanuel Gamboa

Substitutions: 14-Alvaro Santamaria, 2-Jose Guevara, 4-Gilberth Garro, 5-Jean Carlo Salas, 6-Victor Fonseca, 8-Juan Cordero, 9-Minor Cabalceta, 11-Pablo Rodriguez, 13-Diego Vargas

Head coach: Carlos Quiros

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Luciano Gonzalez (Caution) 4’13’ (First Half)
USA – Zach Reget (Caution) 17’08” (Second Half)
CRC – Jean Carlo Salas (Caution) 14’19” (Second Half)
USA – Diego Moretti (Caution) 2’46” (Second Half)

Officials:
1st Referee: Carlos Gonzalez (GUA)
2nd Referee: Roberto Lopez (PAN)
3rd Referee: Rivera Llerenas, Francisco Javier (MEX)
Timekeeper: Victorino Rodriguez (SLV)