The two top Futsal clubs in the state of Maryland put on a show at the Futsal Nationals this year. Denison Cabral Futsal Academy (DCFA) and Southern Maryland Futsal Club (SMFC) collect eight medals this weekend in Baltimore playing against some of the top Futsal clubs from all over the country such as MACSA (CA), LSTS Futsal (NJ), New England Futsal Academy, Manhattan Kickers, WI Futsal Academy, San Francisco Boys & Girls, Di Bufala Sport Club and others.
Under 11 Girls Division Daynattiville(Champions) **SMFC Wolverines (Second place)
Under 12 Girls Division **DCFA FLAMENGO (Champions) Explosion Fire (Second place)
Under 16 Girls Division **SMFC U16's (Champions) LSTS United (Second place)
Under 19 Women's Division LES BOIS U17 ELITE (Champions) **SMFC U19's (Second place) **DCFA Palmeiras (Third place)
Women's Open Division HPC EAGLES (Champions) **SMFC (Second place)
Under 14 Boys Division MOUNTAIN LIONS (Champions) EXPOS (Second place) **DCFA Corinthians (Third place)
Under 15 Boys Division LSTS FUTSAL (Champions) **DCFA U-15 Cruzeiro (Second place)
Thanks to the referee's for volunteering they're time and supporting the event. Come on ref!! lol (Just kidding) You guys did great, thanks again.
Hey futsal friends, Let's take this opportunity and thank our Vice President of US Futsal and President of Maryland Futsal, Mr. James Oman for the great support and hard work. We appreciate his dedication and help for the success of the National Futsal tournament here in Baltimore for the first time ever! Thanks Mr. Oman :)
Thanks to all the volunteer's and the staff for your help and hard work.
THANKS US FUTSAL FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT! WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR...
NOTE: Congratulations to MAGIC SANTOS (Boys U12 Champions) and CHARM CITY (Men's open Champions) both also from Maryland.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND US PICTURES OF THE TOURNAMENT AND INFO. ABOUT YOUR CLUB OR TEAM.
Guarda City, Portugal (July 7, 2008)- The Southern Marland Futsal Club Men´s team placed third place after beating Angola (Africa) futsal team 9-7. After a slow start, SMFC was down 2-0 early, and went into the locker room down 3-2 at half time. The second half was controlled by SMFC, and did a much better job finishing their chances; and at one point SMFC were up three goals. The Angolans scored a couple of late goals, and after pulling their goalkeeper, SMFC scored a late goal to seal the win. SMFC finished third behind 1st place Benfica (Lisbon, Portugal), and 2nd place Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal). SMFC were also able to pick other individual honors along their way to receiving their third place medals; Mike Shifflet was named Most Valuable Goalkeeper of the tournament; Denison Cabral was named Most Valuable Player for the third place match, and Garfield Shaw was named Most Valuable Player for SMFC´s win over Limeirinha (Guarda, Portugal).
Guarda City, Portugal (July 7, 2008)-After losing a close first match to Coimbra Futsal Club (Coimbra, Portugal) 7-4, SMFC bounced back and beat Limeirinha (Guarda Portugal) 9-7, and finished second overall in their group. SMFC started out both matches down 2-0, and at times had problems defending both Coimbra and Limeirinha, but SMFC had no problems scoring goals; SMFC were able to score 13 goals in the two games.
Guarda City, Portugal (July 4, 2008)- Happy 4th of July! The SMFC team arrived in Portugal late yesterday, after travelling nearly 24 hrs, and still trying to adapt to the 5 hr time difference. After the SMFC´s arrival, coach Danny took the team through a light training session last night, following dinner. After a good night sleep, SMFC are getting resting today and preparing for the first game, tonight at 6pm, against Coimbra (Portugal), and the second game will be at 10pm against Limeirinha (Portugal). To Follow the team, you can click on http://www.kebrostress.com/KEBROSITE/GoldenCup08/index.html. The next post will be tomorrow morning.
By: Charles F. Gardner JS Online Keith Tozer's excellent futsal adventure just keeps going and going.
The U.S. national futsal team extended its time on the court with a 7-1 victory over Panama in the third-place game of the CONCACAF championships, held last week in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Despite not having a single returning player from its 2004 CONCACAF gold-medal winning team, the U.S. and coach Tozer qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Championships, to be held this fall in Brazil.
"If we had lost, the (U.S.) futsal program probably would have gone dormant," the Milwaukee Wave coach said of the importance of claiming the third and final regional qualifying spot. "Now we're hopping on the treadmill, and instead of jogging, we're in a high sprint."
Chicago Storm player and former Wave midfielder Matt Stewart scored three goals in the second half against Panama, and Philadelphia Kixx defender Pat Morris added two goals in the victory.
The U.S. defeated Haiti, 5-3, tied Panama, 1-1, and routed Costa Rica, 6-2 in the group stage of the tournament, but host Guatemala posted a 4-0 victory over the Americans in the semifinals. That set up the must-win game against Panama.
"Panama likes to drop back in a diamond zone defense," Tozer said. "So we decided to change strategy and drop back and counterattack. To make it work, we needed to get the first goal, and we did (a restart goal by Morris in the seventh minute)." Tozer has coached the U.S. futsal team since 1996 and is now introducing a completely new set of players to the five-a-side game.
Baltimore Blast star Denison Cabral, a native of Brazil but now a U.S. citizen, is the captain of the squad. He grew up playing the game, but that's not the case for his teammates.
Also playing a key role on the reshaped squad is Detroit Ignition forward Jamar Beasley, brother of U.S. national team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley.
Cabral and Beasley sat out the semifinal vs. Guatemala due to yellow-card accumulation (two yellows meant a suspension).
The game was tied at halftime, but Guatemala scored twice in a 2-minute span before scoring twice more when Tozer pulled goalkeeper Nick Vorberg and went for a fifth attacker. Vorberg was the only Wave player on the squad. "There was a crowd of more than 8,000, and I could not communicate with a player 10 feet in front of me, it was so loud," Tozer said. "They had drums, music. The atmosphere was electrifying."
The world championships draw is set for July 10, and a field of 20 teams will participate, with four groups of five countries each.
Tozer said he has spoken with U.S. Soccer Federation officials, and he has been given approval for a trip to Europe in late August and a trip to Central America in September for tune-up matches before the world championships.
"Our men's and women's national teams play more exhibition and friendly matches than any other federation in the world," Tozer said. "They've really gone out there to help our country in futsal."
U.S. Futsal Routs Panala 7-1; Secures Berth In FIFA World Championships
Stewart gets hat trick in 7-1 victory
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (June 8, 2008) — Scoring early to draw Panama out of its favored tight zone, then making it pay for coming out, the U.S. national futsal team defeated Panama 7-1 on Sunday in the third-place game of the 2008 CONCACAF Championships, qualifying for the FIFA World Championships in Brazil.
Pat Morris and Andy Rosenband did the first-half damage, then Matthew Stewart connected for three scores in the second half as the U.S. qualified for the worlds for the third time in four CONCACAF Championships. It is the Americans’ second bronze medal in the CONCACAF, but the first time three teams were taken from the region for the worlds.
“The futsal program was on a treadmill today,” said U.S. Head Coach Keith Tozer. “And if we’d have lost, it would probably be on speed no. 1. If we won, it would go up to 10. Now we’re full speed ahead to get ready for the world championships.
“I’m extremely proud of the guys to come here, finish 3-1-1, get a medal, but most importantly, do what we really came to do — for a non-futsal nation, be considered one of the top teams in our region. We look forward to the challenge in Rio de Janeiro in September.”
Following the deflating 4-0 loss to Guatemala in the semifinals, the U.S. was challenged to return to the form it showed in crushing Costa Rica 6-2 at the close of Group B play. And it would have to do that without two field players, Dan DeGeer and Ptah Myers, who were sitting out for card accumulations. While not closing down Panama as convincingly in the back end, the U.S. clearly responded well.
Morris beat Oscar McFarlane at the far post on a direct kick in the 7th minute, after Denison Cabral took the ball away and drew a foul just outside the arc on the right flank. Soon after, Panama began to extend its defense and even engage in some man marking. It was a tactic Panama never had to use in its 1-1 tie with the U.S. in group play.
Finally, in the 19th minute, the open floor proved beneficial to the U.S. Sandre Naumoski made a run down the left side, into the corner, and left a ball for Rosenband streaking down the middle. His one-time finish sent the U.S. into the break up 2-0.
“I thought the game plan, the guys executed to a T,” Tozer said. “The first time we played Panama, we pressured them full-court but couldn’t create any counterattacks because of our pressure. This time, we dropped the pressure to halfcourt to give us space to get in behind them, and it worked.”
While Panama was able to generate some chances in the second half, keeper Jeff Richey kept his sheet clean until the game was well in hand. Richey made 19 saves and allowed just four goals in three CONCACAF starts.
“Jeff played brilliant,” Tozer said. “He was brilliant in the Costa Rica game, then today he did a really good job of controlling the area, a good job of seeing the ball and making big saves when we needed it.”
Stewart scored the first of his goals at the end of a classic target play in the 24th minute. Mike Apple held firm just above the top of the arc and left the ball for Stewart. He made one move then chipped the ball over a sliding McFarlane to make it 3-0.
Captain Denison Cabral set up the fourth goal in the 29th, deking two defenders and McFarlane on the right flank, then sliding a pass between the defenders to Stewart in the box.
Rosenband’s steal lead to a disputed fifth goal by Beasley, whose shot struck the underside of the crossbar and went straight down, and Stewart and Morris closed out the U.S. scoring late. Stewart led the U.S. with five goals in the tournament.
Guatemala and Cuba will join the U.S. in Brazil from the CONCACAF region. Twenty teams, including host Brazil and defending champion Spain, will vie for the FIFA World Championship beginning Sept. 30 in Rio and Brasilia.
Participants: U.S. National Futsal Team vs Panama Competition: CONCACAF Futsal Championships 2008 Location: Domo Polideportivo, Guatemala City, Guatemala Date: June 8, 2008
1st 2nd Final PAN 0 1 1 USA 2 5 7
Scoring Summary: USA — Pat Morris, 7th minute USA — Andy Rosenband, 19. USA — Matthew Stewart, 24. USA — Matthew Stewart, 29. USA — Jamar Beasley, 36. USA — Matthew Stewart, 38 PAN — Alfredo Phillips, 38 USA — Pat Morris, 38.
To the Futsal fans, friends and our families, we would like to thank you very much for your support during the 2008 Concacaf tournament in Guatemala. I am humbled by the confidence you showed in the team, your positive comments and all the support. We made to the 2008 Futsal World Cup in Brazil and we will be sharing with you all the scores, game stats and more videos from the tournament.
I enjoyed sharing with you the details and the info. about 2008Concacaf and now I will be posting info. about my next trip to PORTUGAL staring July 1st representing US and Maryland when we will be participating in this important and very competitive tournament involving some of the top Futsal teams in the World!
Please continue to let me know what you think and how I can help.
I also want to thank Matt Schroeder for helping me with all the blog setup and video posts.
AFTER A GREAT US FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFIED TO FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008 after the 7x1 win vs. Panama this afternoon in Guatemala. Guatemala wins the 2008 Concacaf tournament in the penalty kicks vs. Cuba. More info. will be available soon
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (June 5, 2008) — Keith Tozer has coached the U.S. national futsal team in 55 international matches over 12 years, including four CONCACAF Championships and two FIFA World Championships.
Thursday’s performance, he said, might have been the best of them all.
Forced to defeat Costa Rica or miss the final round of the CONCACAF Championships for the first time under Tozer, the Americans turned 40 minutes of heart, focus and strong defensive pressure into a 6-2 victory that propelled them to first place in Group B at Domo Polideportivo. They will face Guatemala at 4 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals. Cuba and Panama are in the other semifinal.
“It was a tremendous moment for U.S. futsal,” Tozer said, “and now, our job is not done. We really want to qualify for the World Championships, which will be our first goal in our first match on Saturday, and with a victory there, then we’ll go for the gold on Sunday.”
Cheered on for the third straight day by a handful of Marines stationed in Guatemala and exhorted by a sweat-soked Tozer throughout the match, the U.S. had plenty of heroes on the court on Thursday.
Six different players scored the goals. Matthew Stewart, whose miss of an open net at the end of Wednesday’s tie with Panama prevented the U.S. from advancing then, forced a turnover and fed Jamar Beasley for the game’s first goal in the 14th minute. Stewart also scored the fifth U.S. goal with another steal deep in the Costa Rica end.
“Matt brings so much heart and desire to the games that he plays in,” Tozer said. “Matt came back today and played a superb game.”
Newcomer Dan DeGeer, at 22 the youngest player on the U.S. roster, was pressed into service when Beasley received his second yellow card of the game in the 20th minute. All he did was score the eventual game-winner — again on a steal in the back end — and set up the final goal, by Denison Cabral.
Jeff Richey was credited with 32 saves just 24 hours after holding Panama to a single goal.
“I thought Jeff played an unbelievable game in goal, and we needed that,” Tozer said.
And it all was keyed by full-court defense so spirited that Costa Rica spent much of the game failing to advance the ball past the center line.
After Julio Cesar Mendez scored in the 20th minute to pull Costa Rica within 3-2, the U.S. controlled the second half. Mike Apple nearly scored in the 22nd minute when he struck the underside of the crossbar with a long shot, but it took until the 27th minute for the game to break open.
DeGeer simply stepped in front of a slow pass in front of the Costa Rica goal and one-timed it high past keeper Javier Alfaro before he could react. Four minutes later, Stewart made his second big play of the match and also went high to beat Alfaro. Finally, in the 32nd minute, Ptah Myers rolled a cross from the corner in front to DeGeer. His attempt was blocked but Denison Cabral cleaned up to seal the match.
Costa Rica employed the fifth attacker at that point, with 8:41 to go, but Richey and the U.S. defense allowed nothing.
Pat Morris and Sandre Naumoski, teammates on the Philadelphia KiXX, had the other two first-half goals for the U.S. Naumoski’s goal was his third of the tournament, best on the team.
“How we played today, especially against such a very, very good, experienced Costa Rican team — and not only win, but win convincingly — was just a fantastic win by the U.S. team,” Tozer said.
Participants: U.S. National Futsal Team vs. Costa Rica Competition: CONCACAF Futsal Championships 2008 Location: Domo Polideportivo, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Date: June 5, 2008
Scoring Summary: 1 2 Final CRC 2 0 2 USA 3 3 6
USA — Jamar Beasley 14th minute. CRC — Daniel Colindres 16. USA — Pat Morris 18. USA — Sandre Naumoski 20. CRC — Julio Cesar Mendez 20. USA — Dan DeGeer 27. USA — Matthew Stewart 31. USA — Denison Cabral 32.
Lineups: Costa Rica — 1-Javier Alfaro, 2-Daniel Colindres, 6-Michael Cordoba, 9-Marcos Carvajal, 10-Adony Vindas. Subs used: 3-Luis Alejandro Paniaga, 4-Carlos Chavez, 5-Danny Aguilar, 8-Yanan Montoya, 11-Julio Cesar Mendez Did not play: 12-Didier Herrerra Not available: 7-Yefrid Ruiz Head coach: Carlos Quiros
USA — 12-Jeff Richey, 4-Mike Apple, 5-Denison Cabral, 9-Pat Morris, 11-Matt Stewart Subs used: 2-Dan DeGeer, 3-Jamar Beasley, 6-Andy Rosenband, 7-Ptah Myers, 8-Chile Farias, 10-Sandre Naumoski. Did not play: 1-Nick Vorberg Head coach: Keith Tozer.
