U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM FALLS 3-2 TO BAHAMAS IN SECOND MATCH OF 2025 CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Cody Valcarcel Records First Brace for Beach MNT;
USA Can Still Advance With Two-Goal Regulation Win Against Panama on Thursday (6 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX)
NASSAU, Bahamas (March 12, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team received a brace from Cody Valcarcel, but ultimately fell 3-2 to Bahamas in the second match of the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship at Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium. With one point from two matches, the USA sits third in Group B going into the final matchday and can still advance to the semifinals via multiple scenarios, the most direct being a two-goal regulation win against Panama in Thursday’s group finale (6 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX).
The U.S. attack was relentless through much of the match, outshooting the tournament hosts 43-20, while forcing the Bahamian goalkeeping duo of Michael Butler and Julio Jemison to make a combined 24 saves on the night.
The teams traded two great chances through the opening five minutes of play. Just a minute in, U.S. attacker Gabe Silveira was fouled as he attempted a bicycle kick just outside the penalty area. On the free kick, Silveira hit a low, driven ball destined for the left corner, but Butler sprawled toward the post to keep it out.
Butler had his own chance three minutes later, when he juggled out of the back before rocketing an effort from midfield that forced his opposite number Chris Toth to push the ball over the crossbar at full extension.
Following those chances, the USA broke through for the game’s first goal just over four minutes into the first period. Toth lined an outlet pass to Alessandro Canale on the left who touched toward the right post for Valcarcel to fire home at 7:35. The goal was Valcarcel’s first in a Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship match.
The USA nearly made it 2-0 when Andres Navas’ corner from the right trickled to Chris Albiston who dug through the sand to push the ball toward goal only to have it cleared off the line at 5:35. Almost exactly a minute later, Andres Navas’ effort from midfield was turned away with a diving stop at the left post before Antonio Chavez’s follow up went just wide, taking the USA into the first period leading 1-0.
Second Period
After some back-and-forth play through the early minutes of the second, Albiston found himself with space at midfield and took the chance to juggle forward before hitting a blinding effort that trailed just over the cross bar with 8:35 remaining.
At 6:42, Toth juggled forward and let loose another blast from midfield that substitute ‘keeper Julio Jemison spilled straight to Silveira, but was able to deny the follow-up effort. The ball recycled to the left where Silveira unleashed a bicycle kick, but Jemison was equal to it again before it was cleared.
At 4:15, Tanner Akol let loose on another bicycle kick, but again Jemison parried it past the left post. Seconds later, Akol’s bicycle kick was handled about five yards outside the box, and Navas’ free kick was again denied by Jemison.
After surviving multiple U.S. chances Bahamas pulled level at 3:35 of the second period. Against the run of play, the ball fell for Brandon Adderly on the left who popped up a bicycle kick of his own before beating Toth inside the near post to level things at 1-1 heading into the second intermission.
Third Period
Charged by the equalizer, Bahamas took the lead just over a minute into the third when Toth received a back pass and was challenged by Wood Julmis, who poked the ball to the left before slotting home into the empty net to make it 2-1 with 10:59 remaining.
The U.S. nearly grabbed the equalizer when Toth juggled out of the back before unleashing a right-footed blast that Butler, who returned to goal at the start of the third period, pushed past the right post with 6:30 remaining.
Continuing to bend, but not break, Bahamas caught the U.S. out in transition for the third goal when Timothy Mullings broke free before his low effort took an awkward bounce off a bank of sand to beat Toth and make it 3-1 with 3:31 remaining.
Down two goals, the U.S. pushed the end of the match to a frantic pace and pulled one back when Toth looped a ball up the left to Valcarcel on the run. Entering the attacking third, Valcarcel took a touch to his right to beat a defender before pinging his shot off the left post for his second of the match at 2:51.
With two minutes remaining, a scramble in front of goal saw the ball poke out to Valcarcel, whose first-time effort was turned away by Butler at the near post.
The U.S. got two more chances in the dying seconds when Silveira attempted another bicycle kick before being fouled mid-air about five yards outside the penalty box. With only four seconds remaining, Silveira’s free kick was again saved by Butler, with the Bahamas ‘keeper coming across his goal to also deny Nico Perea’s rebound on the doorstep to confirm the host’s 3-2 win.
With Panama defeating Trinidad & Tobago 5-3 in Wednesday’s first match, the USA still remains alive for advancement heading into Thursday’s group finale against La Marea Roja (6 p.m. ET; FS2, ViX).
-U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
