U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM DRAWS TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
2-2 BEFORE EARNING SHOOTOUT VICTORY IN OPENING MATCH OF
2025 CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Chris Toth’s Two Penalty Stops Push USA to Shootout Win in 2025 World Cup Qualifying Opener; Alessandro Canale and Gabe Silveira Tally U.S. Goals;
Beach MNT Continues World Cup Quest Against Hosts Bahamas on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; FS2 and ViX)
NASSAU, Bahamas (March 11, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team utilized goals from Alessandro Canale and Gabe Silveira to earn a 2-2 draw before Chris Toth’s two penalty saves gave the USA a 4-1 shootout win against Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match of the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship. With the shootout victory, the USA has one point in Group B heading into Wednesday’s match against hosts Bahamas (8 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX).
After both teams traded chances early, it was the veteran Canale who put the U.S. up with a touch of class midway through the first period. Toth collected the ball in the box and alertly picked out Canale on the left. There, the Venice Beach, Calif. product popped the ball up before throwing a bicycle kick that squeezed past Trinidad ‘keeper Jabari Gray and inside the right post.
Trinidad pulled things level with just over two minutes remaining in the first after Toth made a save off his line on an initial attempt. Akinola Gregory battled with Antonio Chavez for the rebound and buried the follow up shot into the empty net, taking the teams into the first intermission locked 1-1.
Following a tight start to the second frame, the U.S. retook the lead almost midway through the second period. With 6:26 remaining, Silveira collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area before being fouled by Trinidad’s Jordan Riley forcing the referee to point to the spot. On the take, Silveira calmly stepped up and slotted his shot to the right of Gray to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead.
Silveira came close again with two minutes remaining in the second, dispossessing Shane Hosipdales on the left before dribbling to the center and firing an effort that Gray did well to hold. Thirty seconds later, Silveira popped up a bicycle attempt at midfield which Nico Perea redirected just in front of goal, but Gray was quick to react again to keep the score at 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
The U.S. threatened in the third period, coming close a number of times. At 8:41, Antonio Chavez lobbed the ball over a Trinidad defender to push Tanner Akol through alone on goal, but the attacker pushed his effort just over the bar. With just under four minutes remaining, Toth’s pinpoint throw found Albiston on the left, but first-time header looped just above the crossbar.
Trinidad survived the close calls and pulled level with 3:40 left in the third. Canale appeared to be fouled as he was dispossessed by Gregory at midfield, but the referee allowed play to continue and the Soca Warriors attacker strolled in alone before firing past Toth to make it 2-2.
The U.S. nearly struck back just over a minute later when Andres Navas’ corner from the left found Canale, but his header clanged off the inside of the right post. The shot was the last U.S. chance before sending the teams to extra time.
After neither team found a significant chance in the three-minute overtime period, the match would be decided by penalty kicks.
In the shootout, Navas, Silveira, Perea converted their efforts through the first three rounds, while Toth shined by making stops on Kevon Williams and Anderson Peters in the first and third frames. With the USA on the verge of the victory, Canale stepped up and buried his penalty to hand the U.S. a 4-1 shootout win.
NEXT UP: The Beach MNT faces Bahamas in the second match of the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship on Wednesday, March 12 (8 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX).
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Playing his 97th international match, Alessandro Canale tallied his 73rd career goal and 26th in Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship play. Canale sits second all-time in both categories.
- Gabe Silveira bagged his 47th career goal and 16th in CBSC play in his 61st cap for the Beach MNT. Silveira sits third on the Beach MNT’s all-time goals list.
- Along with his two penalty stops, goalkeeper Chris Toth became just the second U.S. player to appear in seven different editions of the Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship.
- Andres Navas made his first appearance in Concacaf beach Soccer Championship play.
- Tanner Akol made his first CBSC appearance since 2019.
- The U.S. improves to a perfect 6-0 overall record against Trinidad and Tobago and 4-0 at the CBSC.
-U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Beach Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Date: March 11, 2025
Competition: 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship – Group B
Venue: Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium; Nassau, Bahamas
Attendance: 212
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: 70 degrees, windy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 ET F PK
USA 1 1 0 0 2 4
TRI 1 0 1 0 2 1
USA – Alessandro Canale (Chris Toth) 5:49 (1st Period)
TRI – Akinola Gregory 2:13
USA – Gabe Silveira (Penalty Kick) 6:26 (2nd Period)
TRI – Akinola Gregory 3:40 (3rd Period)
Shootout Summary:
USA – Andres Navas (goal), Gabe Silveira (goal), Nico Perea (goal), Alessandro Canale (goal)
TRI - Kevon Williams (saved), Jordan Riley (goal), Anderson Peters (saved)
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Toth (Capt.); 2-Tanner Akol, 3-Antonio Chavez, 5-Nico Perea, 9-Alessandro Canale
Substitutes: 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 6-Cody Valcarcel, 7-Andres Navas, 8-Conner Rezende, 10-Gabe Silveira, 11-Chris Albiston
Did not play: 12-Austin Collier
Head coach: Ian Carry
TRI: 1-Jabari Gray, 7-Jordan Riley, 8-Jessie Bailey, 10-Shane Hospedales, 11-Kevon Woodley,
Substitutes: 2-Jay-Son Joseph, 3-Akinola Gregory, 4-Kairon Joseph, 5-Anderson Peters, 6-Kevon Williams, 9-Kareem Perry, 12-Zane Coker
Head coach: Chad Apoo
Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 31 / 29
Shots on Goal: 11 / 9
Saves: 7 / 9
Corner Kicks: 12 / 3
Fouls: 6 / 6
Misconduct Summary:
none
Officials:
First Referee: Jonathan Hernandez (CRC)
Second Referee: Luis Torres (CRC)
Third Referee: Fernando Calvillo (GUA)
Timekeeper: Wendy Lara (GUA)
