U.S. captain Sean Bowers leads the U.S. through the traditional pre-game greeting line.

HEREDIA, Costa Rica (Monday, July 26, 2004) - A flury of goals in the second have gave the U.S. a conformable 6-0 win over Guyana on Monday night at the Palacio de los Deportes in Heredia, Costa Rica, in the second group play match of the 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Championship.

Defender Pat White picked up a pair of goals and one assist, while forward Todd Dusosky also tallied twice. Midfielder Joel Shanker scored the game-winner in the 20th minute, and forward Andy Guastaferro scored on a penalty kick as well. In addition to White, Sean Bowers, Danny Kelly, Lee Tschantret and Don D'Ambra picked up assists on the night.

"The difference between tonight's game and last game is two things," head coach Keith Tozer said after picking up international win No. 18. "Some of the things that we worked on in the last two days really came out in this game, and we finished our chances. Versus Panama we were just not able to finish them and tonight we were.

"This was a good victory for us, and now we go on to Cuba and with a victory there we move on."

The U.S. came out firing for the second straight match, and again the ball was not finding the back of the net. The U.S. had 20 shots to Guyana's 10 before Shanker's tally gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead with 18 second left on the clock. On the goal, Bowers had pushed up from his normal defensive position and found himself in the post. After receiving the ball with his back to goal, he held of his defender long enough to play the ball outside to Shanker on the left wing. Shanker wasted no time and drove the ball to the far post.

In the second half the U.S. would continue with the momentum. After Guyana goalkeeper Orin Parris saved a Bowers’ shot in the 21st minute, the U.S. would score four goals on their next eight shots. The first two goals of the second stanza both came off the foot of Dusosky. Ninety seconds into the half Kelly took the ball into the middle of the field as Dusosky faded out to the left wing. Kelly fed Dusosky who blasted a shot high to the far post. Just minutes later, Dusosky would score a carbon copy of his first goal with White providing the service.

With 13 minutes to play in the game, D'Ambra drew a foul outside the penalty area and Tschantret stepped up to take the kick. When a third Guyana defender came central to the wall, Tschantret played the ball outside to White who blasted the ball home for a 4-0 U.S. lead. One minute later, Guastaferro drew a penalty kick as a defender attempted a slide tackle in the area. The Chicago Storm forward took the spot kick himself and blasted the ball to the left of the goalkeeper.

The U.S. closed out the scoring with less than five minutes left on the clock after a poor throw by Parris. White lifted his leg and settled the ball forward to D'Ambra and took off for the goal. D'Ambra played the ball ahead for White and his shot went right through Parris and into the goal.

In net for the U.S., Brett Phillips earned his first career shutout for the team in his 12th appearance. He made eight saves on the night. The U.S. played without John Ball, who sat due to a red card suspension from the opening match.

The U.S. currently sits second in Group B with four points behind Cuba who has picked all six possible points in their first two matches. The U.S. can clinch to top spot in the group with a win over Cuba on Wednesday night, and a tie or a Panama loss ensures the U.S. a second place finish. If the U.S. loses, and Panama wins, the goal differential in the first three games will be the deciding factor. The first tiebreaker (head-to-head) will be a wash because of the 2-2 tie between the teams. The second tiebreaker is goal differential. The U.S. is currently six goals ahead of Panama in this category, but this will ultimately be decided by margin of victory for Panama and defeat for the U.S. The other tiebreakers are goals for, goals against and draw from lots.

 Wednesday will mark the fourth time in three CONCACAF Futsal Tournaments that the U.S. has faced Cuba. Cuba is the only CONCACAF team with a winning record vs. the U.S., as the USA has dropped two of the three meetings since 1996. In 1996, Cuba topped the U.S. 5-3 in group play before the U.S. came back to win 7-3 in the semifinals. In 2000, however, Cuba returned the favor with a 4-2 defeat of the U.S. in the semifinals sending the U.S. to the third place game and no chance at a berth to the FIFA Futsal World Championship. This year, cuba is 2-0 with a 10-3 win over Guyana and a 2-0 win over Panama.

"They have extremely good goalkeeping," Tozer said. "You can't shoot directly at the guy. You have to get guys far post and running through the box. I think they are very organized defensively - ball possession is going to be crucial for us as will be staying away from foul trouble so we don't get any 10 meters called against us.

"I think we have a good chance against them. They are a good team and we are a good team. Whoever is going to take advantage of the other team's mistakes is going to come out on top."

All three of Tozer's players from Milwaukee Wave have now recorded a goal for the U.S. Forward Greg Howes scored in the opener vs. Panama, and Dusosky and White each found the back of the net twice Monday night.

"I am very proud of them," Tozer said. "Of course, there are on this team not because I coach them in Milwaukee, it's because they are very good players. Pat had a good game organizing us in the back and going forward to get his two goals. I thought Todd did a very good job of posting up and holding the ball, directing the attack from up top and then he had two very good finishes."

- U.S. National Futsal Team Game Reports -

Participants:  U.S. National Futsal Team vs. Guyana
Competition: CONCACAF Futsal Tournament
Location: Palacio de los Deportes
Date: July 26, 2004

Scoring Summary:
                                1st     2nd     Final
United States           1        5          6
Guyana                     0        0          0

USA – Joel Shanker (Sean Bowers) 20th minute
USA - Todd Dusosky (Danny Kelly) 22'
USA - Dusosky (Pat White)  24'
USA - White (Lee Tschantret)  28'
USA - Andy Gusastaferro (PK)  29'
USA - White (Don D'Ambra)  36'

Lineups:
USA – 1-Brett Phillips, 6-Sean Bowers (c), 4-Greg Howes, 5-Todd Dusosky, 10-Lee Tschantret
Subs Used: 7-Pat White, 2-Andy Guastaferro, 8-Danny Kelly, 9-Joel Shanker, 11-Don D'Ambra
Head Coach: Keith Tozer

GUY – 1-Orin Parris, 2-Gerald Grititen, 9-Eron Hayde, 12-Dewayne Ali, 14-Alton Fraser
Subs Used: 3-Orville Bobb, 5-Travis Wateron, 7-Dewayne Douglas, 8-Travis Grant, 11-Norris Carter, 16-Omalie Norman Nassy (c)
Head Coach: Mark Joseph

Stats Summary

Misconduct Summary:
GUY - Travis Grant (caution)  12th minute
GUY - Travis Grant (caution)  21'
GUY - Travis Grant (ejection) 21'

Referee: Victor Prendas (CRC)
Second Referee: Donald Campos (NCA)

Group B Standings

Schedule:
July 28, 2004
USA vs. Cuba
Panama vs. Guyana

Article by: David Applegate - U.S. Soccer