CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS EL SALVADOR 2015 (FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – CONCACAF QUALIFIER EL SALVADOR)

The 9-7 overtime win for the Bahamas over Jamaica went one way and then another, with both sides obviously playing for more than just pride. The Reggae Boyz opened matters up with a goal , but the Bahamas went fought inch for inch and made the match as tight as possible, and no lead was ever safe as the Jamaicans refused to relent in the same way as the Bahamas did not want to. Late rallies dictated this match and the match eventually headed to overtime where the Bahamas regained the lead for good. The win gives the Bahamas a good feeling going forward as they advanced to the semifinals and secured 7^th place in a very strong field. Jamaica will be proud of their effort also, securing 8^th place in the entire CONCACAF region.

The opening frame was played at rapid pace and both teams scored early, only to see their momentum stop, as the defenses dug in and solidified their strategies. Jamaica got on the board first and took the early 1-0 lead; however, the lead lasted only a minute due to a quick answer from the Bahamas. The period wound down with another score from each side, the last coming from the Rake and Scrape Boys on a penalty kick and the game went into the first break tied at 2. The teams did not want to let up or give the other side any kind of advantage and they exchanged goals again, this time in the opening minutes of the second period. The score remained the same until the halfway point of the match when Williams, of the Bahamas, notched his second of the match to give his side the 4-3 lead.

One of the most back-and-forth competitive matches all week continued to flourish in the final frame and St Fleur, the prolific goal scorer for the Bahamas, netted his third of the match to give the Rake and Scrape Boys the 5-4 lead. Jamaica did not quickly forget the goal and they continued to march and attempt to get the equalizer but they did not see it come in the opening minutes of the final period. The Bahamas scored their sixth of the match and looked to be running away with things, but in the same minute, Jamaica did it again, scoring, to put that score at 6-5 in favour of the Bahamas. The Jamaicans continued their comeback push and took the lead once again, for the first time since the opening frame, by using the third and fourth goals from Benjamin to make the score 7-6 for the Reggae Boyz. The splattering of late shots proved fruitful for the Bahamas as they scored a last minute equalizer making the score 7-7 and heading to overtime. The extra frame was back and forth also, however the slide tilted towards the Bahamas as Christie scored the deciding goal, with the Bahamas adding a late insurance goal, making the final score 9-7.

Goals: 1-0: Benjamin, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Williams, min. 8(1); 2-1: Anderson, min. 1 (1); 2-2: St Fleur, min. 1 (1); 2-3: St Fleur, min. 10 (2); 3-3: Benjamin, min. 8 (2); 3-4: Williams, min. 6 (2); 4-4: Anderson, min. 3 (2); 4-5: St Fleur, min. 11 (3); 4-6: Hanna, min. 7 (3); 5-6: Wilson, min. 7 (3); 6-6: Benjamin, min. 5 (3); 7-6: Benjamin, min. 4 (3); 7-7: Christie, min. 0 (3); 7-8: Christie, min. 1 (et); 7-9: Williams, min. 0 (et).

Results:

Saturday 04.04.15

16:30 – Jamaica 7-9 (aet) Bahamas (7^th Place Match)

17:45 – Guatemala vs. Trinidad and Tobago (5th Place Match)

19:00 – USA vs. El Salvador (3rd Place Match)

20:15 – Mexico vs. Costa Rica (Final)

Photos: Manuel Queimadelos/beachsoccer.com