US FUTSAL team gets 1-1 draw against Panama

Story Courtesy of the Chicago Storm

Chicago Storm goalkeeper Jeff Richey made 17 saves as the U.S. Futsal National Team played to a 1-1 draw Wednesday in the CONCACAF Futsal Championships in Group B play at Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S. heads into a critical match at 1 p.m. (CST) on Thursday against Costa Rica. Team USA and Costa Rica are tied atop Group B with four points apiece. The winner is guaranteed a spot in Saturday’s semifinals. Costa Rica routed Haiti, 12-0, on Wednesday.

“Right now we have to beat Costa Rica to move on,” U.S. head coach Keith Tozer said. “We’ve played Costa Rica in this same scenario before and we’ve done it.”

The U.S. is 3-0 against Costa Rica all-time, including a 2004 victory in the CONCACAF Championships and a 2007 win in the Pan American Games. Costa Rica won the 2000 CONCACAF with a 2-0 victory against Cuba, which eliminated the U.S. in the semifinals.
Courtesy of the Chicago Storm
On Wednesday, the U.S. and Panama went into halftime without a goal. But early in the second half, Alquis Alvarado gave Panama a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. The U.S. responded with Sandre Naumoski’s goal in the 31st minute for a 1-1 tie.

U.S. CONCACAF Championships Schedule:
Tuesday, June 3: U.S. 5, Haiti 3
Wednesday, June 4: U.S. 1, Panama 1
Thursday, June 5: vs. Costa Rica, 1 p.m. (CST)
Saturday, June 7: Semifinals, 3 p.m./5 p.m. (CST)
Sunday, June 8: Championship, 3 p.m./5 p.m.* (CST) * if necessary

Futsal features four field players and a goalkeeper on each team. Unlike the MISL, Futsal has no walls, the ball is smaller and has less bounce than traditional soccer balls, and the goals are much smaller. The game was invented in Brazil, and it is sanctioned by FIFA as the only form of international indoor soccer.