Costa Rica earns first trip to U-20 Women’s World Cup

February 2, 2010

Costa Rica earned its first trip to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada in Saturday’s third-place game of the CONCACAF championship.

The result sent Costa Rica to Germany in July with the United States and Mexico, who were to play in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship final later Saturday, and denied the two-time and defending champion Canadians their first trip in five tries.

The Ticas become the first team from outside North America to earn a berth at the World Cup from CONCACAF. Katherine Alvarado’s goal in the 19th minute was the difference, despite Canada enjoying slightly better possession and chances.

Alvarado lofted a free kick from 35 meters on the left that Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc appeared to have covered. But LeBlanc drifted three meters off her line and then had to retreat, flailing unsuccessfully with her outstretched arm as the ball carried over her and under the bar into the goal.

It was only the third goal in five games allowed by Canada, and the second straight that LeBlanc appeared to flub.

In Thursday’s semifinals, she allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands, bounce off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute, enabling Mexico to win 1-0.

It also was the second straight game Canada was held without a goal and extended its goalless streak to 232 minutes.

Canada started quickly, creating its first chance 93 seconds after the opening kickoff when Christabel Oduro’s header off a cross from Bryana McCarthy was headed just wide at the right post.

Costa Rica had a goal disallowed a minute later for offside when LeBlanc was able to block Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno’s initial shot from outside the area, but wasn’t able to corral the rebound and Carolina Venegas tapped in the rebound.

After leaving Adriana Leon, who had two of Canada’s six goals, on the bench to start the match, coach Carolina Morace inserted her to start the second half. The Canadians had the majority of possession in the final 45 minutes, but were largely limited to chances from distance with Costa Rica often committing 10 players behind the ball.

It swarmed around the Costa Rican net for much of the final 15 minutes, forcing the ball into the Tica area in the 84th before it was finally cleared.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, canadians, cedeno, concacaf championship, corner kick, first chance, five games, free kick, mccarthy, offside, opening kickoff, place game, rebound, straight game, World Cup

Costa Rica earns first trip to U-20 Women’s World Cup

January 31, 2010

Costa Rica earned its first trip to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada in Saturday’s third-place game of the CONCACAF championship.

It was only the third goal in five games allowed by Canada, and the second straight that LeBlanc appeared to flub.

In Thursday’s semifinals, she allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands, bounce off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute, enabling Mexico to win 1-0.

It also was the second straight game Canada was held without a goal and extended its goalless streak to 232 minutes.

Canada started quickly, creating its first chance 93 seconds after the opening kickoff when Christabel Oduro’s header off a cross from Bryana McCarthy was headed just wide at the right post.

It swarmed around the Costa Rican net for much of the final 15 minutes, forcing the ball into the Tica area in the 84th before it was finally cleared.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, Adriana Leon, berth, bryana, Canada, canadians, Carolina Morace, Carolina Venegas, cedeno, Christabel Oduro, concacaf championship, corner kick, Cynthia LeBlanc, defending champion, first chance, five games, guatemala city, Katherine Alvarado, leblanc, mccarthy, Mexico, North America, opening kickoff, place game, Raquel Rodriguez, United States, World Cup

Leroux leads United States to U-20 Women’s title

January 31, 2010

Sydney Leroux scored her tournament-leading sixth goal with three minutes remaining to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday and its second CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship crown.

It was the United States’ second victory in six days over its southern neighbor, finally subduing Mexico on a rapid attack out of the midfield.

Kristie Mewis sent a ball from the edge of the center circle down the left to Leroux. The UCLA forward outraced Bianca Sierra, took one touch and then beat Marylin Diaz before unleashing a left-footed strike from well outside the goal box that Mexican keeper Aurora Santiago was able to get her finger tips to but unable to stop.

“I was in absolute shock,” said Leroux describing her reaction. “I was so excited I put my hands in the air and ‘AAHHHH”, I screamed. It was the same excitement as when I scored in the World Cup.”

Leroux, the Golden Ball winner at the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, was a threat throughout the match, including putting a header off the foot of the left post in the 37th minute. She was fouled frequently and struggled to beat the offside trap until the goal.

The Americans won all five of its games in the 11-day tournament, outscoring its opponents 15-2.

Despite its loss, Mexico was the first team other than the United States or Canada to reach the final of the CONCACAF Championship and suffered two losses, both to the United States. It lost 2-1 on Monday in the Group B finale.

Both will head to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany along with third-place game winner Costa Rica, which qualified with its 1-0 victory over defending and two-time champion Canada earlier in the day.

The Americans had the possession and chances early, the best coming on Leroux’s header off the post from Toni Pressley’s free kick out of the midfield.

Charlyn Corral was again the focus of Mexico’s attack, testing the U.S. defense as early as the eighth minute.

Just before halftime, U.S. coach Jill Ellis inserted Teresa Noyola for Casey Short, and the Americans were much more dominant in the second half.

Mexico’s chances were largely limited to shots from distance, the best coming in the 53rd when Liliana Godoy’s free kick from 40 meters had to be tipped over the bar by leaping U.S. keeper Bianca Henninger.

But the United States continued to push forward, sending in Zakiya Bywaters who hit the side netting in the 54th and Vicky DiMartino’s shot high in the 64th.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aurora, ball winner, Bianca Henninger, Bianca Sierra, Canada, Casey Short, champion canada, championship crown, charlyn corral, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, eighth minute, finger tips, game winner, Germany, guatemala city, hands in the air, Jill Ellis, kristie, Kristie Mewis, leroux, Liliana Godoy, marylin, Mexico, offside trap, place game, southern neighbor, SYDNEY, teresa noyola, Toni Pressley, U.S, United States, Vicky DiMartino, world cup in germany, Zakiya Bywaters

U.S. reaches CONCACAF U-20 Women’s final, returns to World Cup

January 29, 2010

The United States will return to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup to defend its title, qualifying with a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica on Thursday in the semifinals of the CONCACAF championship.

Kristie Mewis and Teresa Noyola scored second-half goals to send the United States to the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time, finally solving a defensive Costa Rica which lost central defender Marianne Ugalde midway through the first half after a collision with goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia.

Mewis put the United States ahead in the 60th and Noyola added the insurance 11 minutes later to seal the victory.

The United States will face Mexico in a rematch of Monday’s Group A finale won by the Americans 2-1, while Costa Rica will play Canada in the third place game for the last of CONCACAF’s three berths in the World Cup in Germany in July.

It was the second straight time the United States has beaten Costa Rica in the semifinals, having won 4-0 two years ago in Mexico.

Costa Rica had the better of play for the first 10 minutes, including Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno’s free kick from 30 meters that skipped off the top side of the crossbar in the fourth minute. But except for Katherine Alvarado’s free kick that smacked the left post in the 45th, the Ticas were defensive for most of the match.

The United States began to build possession and forced Tapia to tip a Jenna Richmond header on the right post in the 31st.

Rachel Quon sent a right-footed, bending ball toward the near post, where Mewis ran on to it, beat defender Paolo Alvarado and goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia and deflected it into the net from the top of the goal box.

After Daniela Cruz was yellow carded for tripping Sydney Leroux as the U.S. captain ran laterally across the top of the box, Noyola scored her second by hitting a 23-meter free kick over a five-player wall and just inside the left post.

Costa Rica pulled within a goal in the 77th the help of some fortuitous bounces. Ana Aguilar crossed a ball from the right that deflected off U.S. defender Toni Pressley and then Crystal Dunn before Vasquez Cedeno volleyed the bounding ball with her right from eight meters past U.S. keeper Bianca Henninger.

It was only the second goal allowed in four games by the United States, but the second in as many games having allowed a second-half injury time strike by Mexico in its final group match.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aguilar, Ana Aguilar, berths, Bianca Henninger, Canada, cedeno, central defender, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, crossbar, daniela, fifth consecutive time, Germany, guatemala city, jenna, Jenna Richmond, Katherine Alvarado, Kristie Mewis, leroux, Marianne Ugalde, match, Mexico, midway, Paolo Alvarado, place game, Priscilla Tapia, quon, Rachel Quon, raquel, straight time, tapia, teresa noyola, Toni Pressley, U.S, United States, world cup in germany

Guatemala wins Women’s U-20 debut

January 21, 2010

Guatemala won its debut match in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, getting a pair of first-half goals by Ana Martinez and holding off Cuba 2-1 on Wednesday.

Martinez’s goals capped a dominant first half by Guatemala, which completed an opening day at the fifth CONCACAF championship.

Defending champion Canada defeated Costa Rica in the tournament opener earlier in the day at Estadio Cementos Progreso. Both games observed a moment of silence before kickoff for the victims of last week’s earthquake in fellow CONCACAF nation Haiti.

Guatemala dominated the game from the start, except for a brief surge by Cuba to start the second half when Yezenia Gallardo scored to get within a goal in the 62nd minute.

Martinez, who was replaced in the 74th minute, put Guatemala ahead in the eighth minute. Shannon Brooks launched a free kick from midfield, and with the Cuba backs slow to react, Martinez ran behind them and volleyed a right-footed shot into the opposite side netting from just outside the goal box.

She opportunistically capitalized for her second six seconds into first-half injury time. Londy Barrios’ ball out of the back found Idania Perez, who touched the ball between Marianela Morales and Jessica Pupo before tipping it ahead.

Martinez, streaking along the right, ran onto the loose ball, took a touch and finished to double Guatemala’s lead.

Cuba stiffened in the second half, forcing Guatemala goalkeeper Yoselin Franco o dive to push away Rachel Pelaez’s free kick in the 58th, and nearly scoring when Yoana Calderon dispossessed Brooks just outside the area before shooting wide.

But Cuba finally converted when Morales launched a ball from her own half that defender Marilyn Rivera appeared to have covered. But her trap got away from her, and Gallardo seized possession at the top of the area, took one touch and hit a left-footed shot past Vanessa Ovando.

Guatemala, however, quickly resumed control, keeping possession in the Cuban half and threatening the goal several times.

Cuban keeper Lucylena Martinez dived to thwart free kicks from Katherine Ramos in the 78th and Perez in the 79th, but the Caribbean islanders mounted little offense of their own to threaten Guatemala.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: Ana Martinez, Caribbean, cementos progreso, champion canada, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, Cuba, defending champion, eighth minute, Franco, free kick, gallardo, Guatemala, Haiti, injury time, Jessica Pupo, Katherine Ramos, loose ball, marianela, marilyn rivera, midfield, moment of silence, ovando, pelaez, pupo, Rachel, Shannon, shannon brooks, six seconds, Vanessa Ovando, yoselin

U.S. presence to be large at Women’s U-20 Championship

January 16, 2010

There will be a lot of “Americans” playing in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

While the reigning world champion United States will be deep in locally hewn talent looking to earn a second confederation title when play begins on Wednesday, nearly every other country will arrive in Guatemala City with some players that have been developing their game in the USA.

“I think it’s something we all give a lot credit as to what’s happening in the U.S.,” said Leonardo Cuellar, the long-time coach of Mexico’s senior women’s team who will be an assistant with El Tri in Guatemala. “The structure of the competition, from club to school level, is the best in the world.”

Cuellar used 12 U.S.-born players when Mexico competed in the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and while Mexico has shifted its reliance on U.S. players to a more supplemental role, other nations have followed his lead in scouting the American school and club system, particularly U.S. colleges, for potential players.

Every country in the CONCACAF championship except Cuba listed on its preliminary 30-woman roster at least some who play in the United States.

“American women are like the Brazilian men. They’re in demand,” said Tony DiCicco, who coached the U.S. women’s senior team to Olympic and World Cup championships as well as the U.S. women’s under-20 team to the 2008 World Cup crown. He is now manager of the Boston Breakers in the Women’s Professional Soccer league.

“Clearly international coaches are looking for American collegiate players, and younger (ones) in some cases, looking to pick up one, two or more players.”

The players can fall into one of several categories. There are those who were born in their native country, moved to the United States at an early age and came through the American youth soccer and school system. Additionally, there are players who were recruited or went to U.S. colleges. And there are others, who were born in the United States, with foreign ancestry.

With both two-time and defending champion Canada and the United States stocked with talent from the American and/or Canadian colleges, the two head their respective first-round groups and are expected again to meet in the final. Three teams will qualify for the U-20 World Cup World Cup in Germany July 13-August 1.

Other than the United States and Canada, Mexico is the only other country to claim a World Cup berth from CONCACAF, and this time challenges generally are believed to come from Costa Rica and Jamaica. With Trinidad and Tobago hiring former Norwegian and Canadian women’s coach Even Pellerud to head their women’s program, Cuellar also believes the Soca Princesses are a threat.

But the whole region has improved, DiCicco said, and some of that has to do with U.S. women’s college soccer – which Cuellar attributes to a U.S. federal law regarding funding of sports known in the United States as Title IX.

Cuellar, who played for the San Diego Sockers and San Jose Earthquakes in the old North American Soccer League and was a women’s coach in the U.S. college system at California State-Los Angeles, notes the use of U.S. college players has its drawbacks, too.

While Mexico’s team will have six U.S.-based players, including key defender Alina Garciamendez and her Stanford University teammate Teresa Noyola, it will be without five others because of the U.S. academic calendar which will require those players to remain in school.

“Either they didn’t do well the previous semester, or they’re in their senior year, and they need to complete a class, or they’ve already used dates and they can’t miss any more…,” Cuellar said explaining some of the reasons why some players are not always available.

Trinidad also will be without key players because of their classes.

The use of American players by other countries can be a touchy subject, both in the United States and at home. Some believe that countries should use only native-born players and some Americans feel their players are being “poached.”

Cuellar says Mexico only uses a player that has taken the initiative to get citizenship. DiCicco and other U.S. officials say their challenge is to educate American players that if they play for another country, the road back into the U.S. system is much narrower.

“The feeling is, we may not have lost a (Giuseppe) Rossi, we haven’t lost that level of a player yet, but it’s going to happen,” DiCicco said, referring to the striker who was born and raised in the New York suburbs but chose instead to play for Italy, the country of his parents. “We should be flattered so many players are asked to come into foreign programs, but we have to be careful of not losing so many top players.”

By Brian Trusdell

Tags: american women, american youth soccer, ancestry, brazilian men, concacaf championship, confederation, el tri, guatemala city, international coaches, leonardo cuellar, professional soccer league, senior women, time coach, tony dicicco, world champion, world cup championships, world cup crown, younger ones

2009: U-17 year ends on missed penalty for Mexico

December 18, 2009

It was a moment Carlos Campos will want to forget.

It was November 5 when the Mexican midfielder couldn’t convert a penalty kick in a shootout against South Korea in the Round-of-16 of the Under-17 World Cup.

South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin-long dove to his left, blocking Campos shot.

Mexico was eliminated and perhaps embarrassed.

Coach Jose Luis Gonzalez squad appeared headed to the quarterfinals, leading 1-0 approaching injury time. But a South Korean goal two minutes into added time forced extra time – and eventually penalties.

“It hurts to lose, because the guys left it all on the pitch,” Gonzalez said. “It’s sad to lose this way but that’s soccer. We have to leave with a sense of accomplishment, with our heads held high because the Mexican national team in this game and throughout this tournament left everything on the pitch.”

And it left a dramatic finish. And with all the drama went the final remaining team representing CONCACAF in the World Cup.

The United States had been eliminated the day before with a 2-1 loss to Italy.

Costa Rica and Honduras didn’t reach the knockout stage, both finishing last in their respective groups.

Just like Mexico’s finish, there was plenty of drama in 2009 for CONCACAF U-17 teams.

Besides Mexico’s loss to South Korea, the Americans equalized with Italy early in the second half in their second-round match, giving hope that coach Wilmer Cabrera’s squad would accomplish an upset. But the U.S. euphoria lasted only five minutes, when the Italians reclaimed the lead and won 2-1.

Then there was the cancellation of the semifinals and finals of the CONCACAF championship in the border town of Tijuana, Mexico, due to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.

Mexico and the United States were on a path to meet in the title match and set up a showdown in front of a chaotic crowd at Estadio Caliente.

It is anybody’s guess what could have transpired if the long-time rival countries met. Fans wanted to see U.S. striker Jack McInerney, who led the tournament with five goals in three games, take on a Mexican defense that shutout all three of its group rivals, outscoring them 11-0.

Instead, Mexico, the U.S., Costa Rica and Honduras sealed their tickets to the World Cup having already reached the semifinals.

Both Honduras and Costa Rica finished 1-1-1 in their groups with wins against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.

Both Central American nations hoped for similar success at the World Cup.

Bur Costa Rica finished 0-1-2 with its only point coming in a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.

Honduras lost all three of its group matches against Argentina, Germany and host Nigeria, scoring only one goal.

The United States reached the second round of a U-17 World Cup for the fourth-straight time, overcoming an opening 2-1 loss to Spain with a pair of 1-0 victories over Malawi and the United Arab Emirates.

The Americans failed to capitalize on a Spanish side that played with a man down for the last 88 minutes and costing them a second-round match against Burkina Faso.

Mexico, the 2005 World Cup champion, also couldn’t exploit its advantages, failing to close out South Korea with the victory seemingly at hand.

Gonzalez’s team went 2-1 in the group stage, like the United States, overcoming an opening 2-0 loss to eventual 2009 champion Switzerland to beat Brazil and Japan.

But penalty kicks doomed it.

“There are no excuses,” Gonzalez said. “It was Korea’s turn to win. I felt it was a great game from both sides, and we simply were the ones to lose.”

Maybe Mexico’s fortune will be different in the next U-17 World Cup. After all, they are hosting the tournament in 2011.

By Ivan Orozco

Tags: added time, Carlos Campos, concacaf championship, euphoria, Goalkeeper, injury time, italians, jose luis gonzalez, knockout stage, mexico and the united states, penalty kick, quarterfinals, rival countries, south korea, south korean, swine flu, tijuana mexico, time rival, wilmer

Costa Rica, El Salvador claim berths in Beach Soccer World Cup

June 21, 2009

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Costa Rica and El Salvador both advanced to their first Beach Soccer World Cup, eliminating favorites Mexico and the United States in the semifinals of the CONCACAF championship on Saturday.

Costa Rica outlasted El Tri 2-1 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw while El Salvador subdued the United States 5-3 to assure CONCACAF of a champion from neither Mexico nor the USA for the first time.

It will be El Salvador’s second straight trip and Costa Rica’s first to the Beach Soccer World Cup, this year set for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.

In an earlier game, Canada handed the Bahamas its third straight loss, 4-3, to claim fifth place.

Jose Agustin scored for a third straight game, tallying twice in the opening four minutes to give El Salvador a 2-0 lead. The United States twice pulled within a goal, the last time when Raphael Xexeo scored to cut the deficit to 5-4, but Agustin scored his third of the game with 2:23 remaining to seal the victory for El Salvador.

Isaac Rodriguez and Christopher Flores rallied Mexico from an early deficit to give El Tri a 2-1 lead. But Richard Sterling equalized for Costa Rica with 5:40 to go in the third period and send the game to extra time. A goalless extra period sent the match to penalties, where Gustavo Rosales hit the post on his attempt, giving Enzo Mora the chance to claim a World Cup berth for Costa Rica.

“I can hardly believe we’re actually going to the World Cup, but we deserve it more than anybody,” Costa Rica coach Christian Ovares said. “We beat Mexico in their home in front of thousands of fans. I think we‘ve made a point. We belong among the best 16 teams in the world.”

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Tags: Agustin, Bahamas, beach soccer, berths, Canada, Christian Ovares, Christopher Flores, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, Dubai, El Salvador, el tri, extra time, flores, four minutes, Gustavo Rosales, Isaac Rodriguez, Jose, jose agustin, Mexico, mexico and the united states, mora, penalty kicks, puerto vallarta, puerto vallarta mexico, richard sterling, soccer world cup, straight game, straight loss, straight trip, third period, united arab emirates, United States, USA, world cup berth

CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship rescheduled for June 17-21 in Puerto Vallarta

May 21, 2009

NEW YORK – The CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship will be played June 17-21 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, rescheduled after initial plans for the tournament were postponed due to swine flu concerns.

The United States will open the tournament on Wednesday, June 17 against the Bahamas in Group B at Unidad Deportivo Agustín Flores with host Mexico facing Canada in Group A in the second game of a doubleheader.

Costa Rica in Group B and El Salvador in Group A will begin play the following day, with round-robin play concluding on Friday before the semifinals and finals on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament originally was to be played April 29-May 3 in Puerto Vallarta, but an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico in late April resulted in government officials closing schools nationwide for a week. CONCACAF responded in kind, cancelling the semifinals and finals of the Under-17 Championship in Tijuana and postponing the second of the Champions League final in Cancun and the Beach Soccer Championship in Puerto Vallarta.

Two teams will qualify for the Beach Soccer World Cup to be played in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.

The Bahamas will be making its debut in the CONCACAF championship while Canada is returning after a two-year absence.

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Tags: april 29, B., Bahamas, beach soccer, Canada, Cancun, champions league, CONCACAF Beach, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, doubleheader, Dubai, El Salvador, flores, flu, government officials, initial plans, Mexico, New York, outbreak, puerto vallarta, puerto vallarta mexico, saturday and sunday, second game, soccer championship, soccer world cup, swine flu, tijuana, united arab emirates, United States

From frolic to fierce, beach soccer has matured over last two decades

April 26, 2009

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – From a leisurely pastime on a sandy shore, beach soccer has matured.

Now with a world championship under the auspices of FIFA, the game is more than just a way to spend afternoon among the swimwear clad.

Rules have become standardized, tactics have become more sophisticated and the crowds have grown.

“In some countries, like in Europe where the weather is a bit cold, they played with shoes, like in Hungary,” Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) General Manager Gabi Renales said recalling the origins of the modern game. “Some others tried to play with socks. But they quickly removed them because they saw on our Web site that players were playing without.”

In less than two decades, beach soccer has developed into a professional endeavor, with the CONCACAF championship in Puerto Vallarta set to test the best of the region. The six-team confederation championship April 29-May 3 will send two countries to the World Cup in Dubai in November.

Largely credited with beginning at Rio de Janeiro’s Leme beach among the locals, the current incarnation of what has become known as beach soccer began in the early 1990s with Italian-born American Giancarlo Signorini, who is generally recognized as the first person to begin to write formal rules for the game, Renales said.

In 1992, eight years after the founding of the AVP pro beach volleyball tour, a beach soccer exhibition was held in Los Angeles by the creators of BSWW, and by 1993 the first professional competition was held in Miami Beach between teams from Italy, the United States and Brazil.

A year later, another exhibition was held in Los Angeles during the World Cup and the first known broadcast of a beach event was televised from Rio’s famed Copacabana beach. The game has stopped since.

A first world championship was staged in Rio in 1995 and the Pro Beach Soccer Tour – a 60-game three-continent event launched in 1996. By 1998, the European Pro Bach Soccer League – now known as the Euro BS League – had begun and world championships became an annual event.

By attracting internationally recognized players such as Eric Cantona of France, Michel of Spain and Brazilians by the likes of Romario, Junior and Zico, the game has grown exponentially, now played in 75 countries across all six confederations.

Also hastening the growth was the merger of Pro Beach Soccer with Octagon Koch Tavares in 2001, unifying all the major commercial players. By 2004, FIFA had endorsed the game and the first World Cup was staged a year later in conjunction with BSWW.

Standardized to five-a-side (four field players and goalkeeper) on a field 35-37 meters (38-40 yards) long and 26-28 meters (28½-30½ yards) wide, games have three 12-minute periods, with a three-minute extra time period and penalty kicks to decide a winner.

All free kicks are taken by the player fouled and, borrowing from ice hockey, a yellow card result in a player being sent off the field for two minutes while his team plays a man short. A red card gets a player ejected, but teams can replace him after two minutes.

Renales says it’s easy to identify the experienced teams, like Brazil.

“The way Brazilians play, they play with the ball in the air, in order to do all of the actions,” Renales said. “Teams that are not that skillful, tend to push the ball on sand, play ‘football’ in the sand, and in the end not, it’s not real beach soccer.”

Now even indoor beach soccer leagues exist in the colder climes, and a players train specifically for the sport.

“Youngsters started to play on sand, to develop the necessary skill to play real beach soccer,” Renales said. “They’re in much better physical shape. You run a lot on sand, and the sport has become more technical, faster.”

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