El Salvador vs. Bahamas (Photo: Manuel Queimadelos / Beachsoccer.com)
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CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS EL SALVADOR 2015 (FIFA BEACH
SOCCER WORLD CUP – CONCACAF QUALIFIER EL SALVADOR)
The 6-0 win for El Salvador over the
Bahamas was a scary display of beach soccer for the rest of the competition as
they showed a complete lack of mercy and played as complete a game as they have
all tournament. They forced mistakes, limited their own errors, scored goals,
and saved shots. The hosts took an early lead, using an array of shots and
techniques, then played keep-away from the Rake and Scrape Boys. The crowd was
feeding off the team and vice-versa and the energy was a thing of beauty.
The
victory assures El Salvador a spot in the semifinals and they will face a very
good looking Costa Rican side
on Friday. The winner of that match will be going
to Portugal in July for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The Bahamas played an
extremely good tournament, turned some heads, surprised people and they look to
be getting stronger as a team. They will play in the 5th place
playoff in
Friday against Trinidad and Tobago.
There were no shortage of opportunities for
El Salvador in the opening frame and with a deep team, they never have a
shortage of scoring options. The Bahamas rode out the early attacks from the
hosts and played really well to keep the score level at 0 going into the heart
of the frame. The Rake and Scrape Boys were not generating many offenses
chances of their own, but that suited them alright as long as they were within
striking distance and kept the score close, which they did. The great defensive
effort eventually gave way to a goal at the midway point in the period, but the
game was far from over. When the first 12 minutes came to an end, Los
Custcatlecos had found their way to a 2-0 lead. If you have ever seen food
explode in a microwave or witnessed the exact moment that water boils out of a
heating pot, you know exactly what the game and stadium felt like on the
opening restart of the middle frame. The fans erupted when Ruiz, the captain,
scored to push the lead to 3-0 and create an atmosphere that is rarely rivaled
in sports. The El Salvadorians tallied one more goal in the period and took a
4-0 lead into the final frame.
El Salvador vs. Bahamas (Photo: Manuel Queimadelos / Beachsoccer.com)
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The Bahamas did not struggle on defense,
they were playing extremely sound but the aggressiveness and quick agility of
El Salvador did make for a disadvantage. The Bahamas stopped many shots and
attacks in the opening minutes of the final frame and even rattled the frame of
El Salvador’s goal, but the comeback was not happening fast enough. More
than halfway through the final period, neither side had scored and Los
Cuscatlecos held the comfortable 4-0 lead. Both squads knew exactly how the
other played and what to expect in the match but El Salvador was just too much
for the Bahamas on this day and when the last whistle sounded, the El
Salvadorians were up 6-0.
Goals: 1-0: Batres, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Velasquez, min. 1 (1);
3-0: Ruiz, min. 11 (2); 4-0: Batres, min. 6 (2); 5-0: Velasquez, min. 3 (3);
6-0: Ruiz, min. 0 (3).
Results:
Thursday 02.04.15
16:30 – Costa Rica 2-1 Trinidad and Tobago (Quarterfinals)
17:45 – USA 7-3 Jamaica (Quarterfinals)
19:00 – Mexico 5-2 Guatemala (Quarterfinals)
20:15 – El Salvador 6-0 Bahamas (Quarterfinals)
Upcoming Matches:
Friday 03.04.15
16:30 –Jamaica vs. Guatemala (Playoff for 5th Place)
17:45 –Trinidad and Tobago vs. Bahamas (Playoff for 5th
Place)
19:00 – USA vs. Mexico (Semifinals)
20:15 – Costa Rica vs. El Salvador (Semifinals)
Photo
credit: Manuel Queimadelos/beachsoccer.com
For more information
www.beachsoccer.com
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Related:
USA defeats The Bahamas 6-2 at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships
Bahamas advances to CONCACAF quarters with victory
Bahamas win in up-and-down thriller
