Guatemala, hosts of the 2000 instalment of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, rode their home advantage to be crowned CONCACAF futsal champions for the first time at the weekend. They beat Cuba on penalties in the final on Sunday 8 June at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City, capping an undefeated stretch of five games at the regional finals.

Guatemala, hosts of the 2000 instalment of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, rode their home advantage to be crowned CONCACAF futsal champions for the first time at the weekend. They beat Cuba on penalties in the final on Sunday 8 June at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City, capping an undefeated stretch of five games at the regional finals.

The USA, whom Guatemala beat handily in their semi-final, will complete the region's representation at Brazil 2008 after hammering Panama to finish third.

Guatemala's first regional title came thanks to some snazzy short-passing play and a forward-thinking approach over the course of the six-day, eight-team tournament. They opened their account with a 5-0 rout of Group A rivals Trinidad and Tobago, the outstanding Jose Rafael Gonzalez grabbing a pair of goals. They kept the momentum going with a thrilling 3-3 draw with Mexico in which Estuardo De Leno picked up a brace, before finishing second in the group thanks to another 3-3 draw with Cuba, who just edged them to first place on goal difference.

In Group B, the United States finished top of the heap after wins over Haiti and Costa Rica and a draw with Panama, who finished second with five points from their three pool matches.

The USA, defending futsal champions in the region, were tipped to get the better of Guatemala in their semi-final on Saturday, but the 7000-plus home fans helped tip the contest in the Central Americans' favour. A counter-attacking posture proved an inspired approach for the home side, as they won out 4-0 with the goals shared throughout the team.

The Chapines then went on to meet Cuba, who beat Panama 4-1 in their last four contest, in an anti-climactic final in which both sides were aware of their already-secure passage to the world finals. The score was 3-3 at the end of normal time, and the home team claimed their first-ever CONCACAF futsal title with a 5-3 win in the shootout.

USA sweat it out

While Cuba and Guatemala were able to relax on the final day of competition, Group B winners the United States found themselves in an all-or-nothing play-off after stumbling in their semi-final.

Fortunately for Keith Tozer's men, Panama put up only scant resistance in the third-place match. The Americans, for the first time in the championship, flexed their muscles and hit their true form to win out 7-1.

"Our goal was to come to Guatemala and qualify for the World Championships...and that's what we did," a relieved Tozer said after the game.

Cuba, Guatemala and the USA will now represent North, Central America and the Caribbean at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil in September and October. The New World trio join up with Thailand, Iran, China and Japan from Asia and Egypt and Libya from Africa. Europe will be represented by Portugal, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, Italy and the Czech Republic.

The qualifiers from Oceania and South America will be determined later this month, but Brazil qualify automatically as hosts.

2008 CONCACAF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP


Guatemala topped Cuba on penalties 5:3 after a 3:3 draw in the finals of the 2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City on Sunday.

In regulation, Carlos Madrigal had two goals and Eduardo Morales added another for Cuba, while Erick Acevedo, Jose Rafael Gonzalez and Marlon Noj each scored for Guatemala.

After scoreless extra time, the CONCACAF Futsal Championship was decided on penalties for the first time in history.

Acevedo, Carlos Eduardo Estrada, Gonzalez, Carlos Merida and Oliver Lopez all scored for Guatemala during the penalty kick shootout. Boris Saname, Isven Roman and Yulier Olivera scored for Cuba, but Eduardo Morales’ kick was saved by Guatemala’s goalkeeper Merida.

Guatemala claim their first CONCACAF Futsal Championship as they progressed along with Cuba to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008.

Guatemala City, GUATEMALA; Domo Polideportivo

Final
GUATEMALA – CUBA 3:3 (2:2), 5:3 pen (A: 5715)
Jose Rafael GONZALEZ 6’; Erick ACEVEDO 19’; Marlon NOJ 22’ – Eduardo MORALES 1’; Carlos MADRIGAL 17’ dp, 30’
Erick ACEVEDO (G), Carlos Eduardo ESTRADA (G), Carlos MERIDA (G), Oliver LOPEZ (G), Jose Rafael GONZALEZ (G) – Isven ROMAN (G), Boris SANAME (G), Yulier OLIVERA (G), Eduardo MORALES (SV)
GUA: 1-Carlos Merida – 3-Marlon Noj, 5-Manuel Aristondo, 10-Erick Acevedo, 11-Estuardo De Leon-C.
Subs: 2-Daniel Eduardo Tejada, 4-Jose Rafael Gonzalez, 6-Oliver Lopez, 7-Jannick Ramirez, 8-Reinaldo Rosales, 9-Carlos Eduardo Estrada. Booked: Lopez 32’
TD: Carlos Eduardo ESTRADA
CUB: 12-Pedro Lopez – 4-Yulier Olivera, 5-Eduardo Morales, 9-Fernando Chapman, 10-Isven Roman-C.
Subs: 2-Jhonnet Stalin Martinez, 3-Raudel Rodriguez, 6-Carlos Madrigal, 11-Boris Saname. Booked: Olivera 24’, Morales 39’
TD: Elddys Jesús VALDES
R1: Hector MESEN (CRC)
R2: Jason KRANC (USA)
R3: Francisco RIVERA (MEX)
TK: Victor PRENDAS (CRC)

GOALS
5-Eduardo MORALES (CUB) – 9
2-Daniel COLINDRES (CRC) - 5
3-Jamar BEASLEY (USA) – 4
3-Marlon NOJ (GUA) – 4
8-Victor Omar QUIROZ (MEX) - 4
7-Yefrid RUIZ (CRC) – 4
10-Erick ACEVEDO (GUA) - 3
11-Alquis ALVARADO (PAN) – 3
8-Jerwyn BALTHAZAR (TRI) – 3
11-Estuardo DE LEON (GUA) – 3
4-Jose Rafael GONZALEZ (GUA) – 3
7-Aramis HAYWOOD (PAN) - 3
9-Miguel LASSO (PAN) – 3
8-Yanan MONTOYA (CRC) – 3
9-Patrick MORRIS (USA) - 3
10-Sandre NAUMOSKI (USA) – 3
3-Luis Alejandro PANIAGA (CRC) – 3
10-Gustavo ROSALES (MEX) – 3
11-Matthew STEWART (USA) – 3
5-Denison CABRAL (USA) – 2
9-Fernando CHAPMAN (CUB) - 1
6-Michael CORDOBA (CRC) – 2
10-Apolinar GALVEZ (PAN) – 2
6-Carlos MADRIGAL (CUB) - 2
2-Jhonnet Stalin MARTINEZ (CUB) – 2
9-Ivan MEDINA (MEX) - 2
11-Julio Cesar MENDEZ (CRC) – 2
7-Yampier RODRIGUEZ (CUB) – 2
5-Israel SANTOYO (MEX) - 2
5-Edouard VOLTAIRE (HAI) – 2
5-Manuel ARISTONDO (GUA) – 1
1-Wlfredo CARBO (CUB) - 1
2-Dan DEGEER (USA) - 1
7-Wendell DOUGLAS (TRI) – 1
8-Carlos FARIAS (USA) – 1
11-Mijail GONZALEZ (MEX) – 1
4-Augusto HARRISON (PAN) – 1
10-Colin JOSEPH (TRI) – 1
1-Carlos MERIDA (GUA) - 1
8-Yosniel MESA (CUB) - 1
7-Ptah MYERS (USA) - 1
6-Jose Luis NAVARRETTE (MEX) – 1
4-Yulier OLIVERA (CUB) – 1
5-Alfredo PHILLIPS (PAN) - 1
7-Jannick RAMIREZ (GUA) - 1
8-Gilberto RANGEL (PAN) – 1
10-Isven ROMAN (CUB) – 1
6-Andrew ROSENBAND (USA) - 1
4-Eliacin RIGARDEN (HAI) – 1
2-Daniel Eduardo TEJADA (GUA) – 1
10-Adonay VINDAS (CRC) - 1

OWN GOALS
6-Brent ANTOINE (TRI) - 1
3-Bazil Jean Richard PATRICK (HAI) – 1
4-Yulier OLVERA (CUB) – 1