El Salvador falls on late goal at Beach Soccer World Cup

November 17, 2009

El Salvador allowed a goal with 48 seconds remaining, wasting a four-goal lead and enabling Ivory Coast to beat the CONCACAF champion 7-6 in the opening game for both Monday at the Beach Soccer World Cup.

Ludovic Ehounou scored three of his five goals in the final 11 minutes — including the winner, for Ivory Coast, after El Salvador jumped ahead 5-1 in the first 10½ minutes.

In another game, Russia scored twice in the first 10 minutes and coasted to a 5-1 victory over Costa Rica.

Ehounou put Ivory Coast ahead after only eight seconds, but Tomas Hernandez equalized less than six minutes later, Agustin Ruiz gave El Salvador the lead by 6:30 of the first period. Walter Torres scored less than a minute later and Frank Velasquez added a pair to put “los Catrachos” ahead 5-1.

After Kouassitchi Daniel scored to get Ivory Coast within 5-2 by the end of the first, Ehounou scored his second midway through the second and Frederic Aka added another to pull Ivory Coast within one. Ehounou then tacked on a pair less than a minute apart to give the Ivorians their first lead by 6:38 of the third.

Torres scored his second to equalize, but Ehounou completed his effort with less than a minute to play to disappoint El Salvador.

“I think we played well but we lost confidence after going four goals clear,” Torres said.

Russia used goals by five different players to take a 5-0 lead over Costa Rica 5:55 into the second period.

Delbert Cameron converted a penalty with 7:37 remaining leaving the Ticos to look toward their next game Tuesday against Argentina.

“The next thing we have to do is go into our next match with the conviction that we can win,” Costa Rica coach Jose Calvo said. “This is our first time in a World Cup, so nerves were a factor at times.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates