Canada Soccer – A Monday night 7:4 win over Curaçao has put Canada within a victory of qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016. With three points after two matches at the 2016 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, Canada can qualify on Tuesday 10 May with a win over Cuba.

In the 7:4 win, Canada’s first ever at the CONCACAF Futsal Championship, star-of-the-game Nazim Belguendouz led the way with two goals and two assists. Other Canada goals were scored by Daniel Chamale, Marco Rodriguez, Vahid Assadpour, Frederico Moojen, and Eduardo Jauregui. (Read the match summary and report)

In truth, several scenarios exist for Canada to finish among the top-two in the group, with leaders Costa Rica the first nation already qualified for Colombia 2016. After two days, Costa Rica (six points, +7 goals difference) leads the group ahead of Canada (three points, +2 goals), Curaçao (one point, -3 goals), and Cuba (one point, -6 goals).

On the last day of the group phase, Canada will face Cuba (17.30 local / 19.30 ET / 16.30 PT) while Costa Rica will face Curaçao (20.00 local / 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT). Both matches will be broadcast on CONCACAF TV via Facebook.

In the opposite group, Panama is in first place (six points, +10 goals) followed by Mexico (three points, +2 goals), Guatemala (three points, +1 goals), and Honduras (0 points, -13 goals). No nation in this group has qualified or been eliminated yet, with the last match day to feature Mexico against Panama and Guatemala against Honduras.

From the eight-nation CONCACAF Futsal Championship in Costa Rica, four nations (two from each group) will qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016. At the end of the group phase, the ranking is based on points, with the first tie breaker goals difference in all group matches and the next tie breaker goals scored.

Futsal is a unique, fast-paced indoor sport played across Canada and around the world. Canada Soccer is committed to the growth and promotion of the game. At the elite club level, Canada Soccer supports domestic competition through the annual Futsal Canadian Championship. Canada Soccer also supports playing opportunities provided by the National Futsal Team in international competitions including the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

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Canada came away with a 7:4 victory over Curaçao on the second match day of the CONCACAF Futsal Championship. The result gave Canada a win and a loss after two matches, with all matches played at the BN Arena in Hatillo, San José, Costa Rica.

The squad was coming off a disappointing but very close 2:3 loss to the defending champions, Costa Rica, on Sunday night in a match they felt they should have won.

Using that momentum to their advantage from the get-go, Canada opened the scoring in the first minute when Nazim Belguendouz scored from a kick-in that took the slightest deflection off of goalkeeper Gino Costina.

Curaçao tied it up in the sixth minute when captain Ashar Bernardus laid off a pass to the far right side of the court where Djuric Ascension blasted one that Josh Lemos could only get a piece of.

The Caribbean nation continued to press hard with a slew of shots but Lemos continued his fine form throughout the competition stopping a trio of point bank range shots.

However, a bad turnover from Daniel Chamale  gave Every Janzen a clear cut breakaway on Lemos and buried it up high to give Curaçao a 2-1 lead.

Chamale would make up for his mistake immediately after when he received a chip pass from a sliding Eduardo Jaragui that led to a 3-1 in which Chamale would hold onto and put down low on Costina to bring Canada even at two.

Marco Rodriguez would Canada the lead immediately after with an absolutely delightful goal when Nazim Belguendouz sent a crisp cross court pass that Jacob Orellana perfectly dummied that allowed Rodriguez to fool his defender with a left foot roll and finishing with the left to go up 3-2 at halftime.

The Canadians doubled up their lead only 17 seconds into the half when Vahid Assadpour blasted a one-timer up high off a corner from Rodriguez.

Curacao countered not long after when Germaine Geerman’s shot was stopped by Lemos but Luidjino Hojer was there to tp home the rebound to bring it back within a single goal.

Assadpour would strike again with a left footed strike that came off a subtle heel pass from Rodriguez at the pivot slot to put Canada up 5-3.

Curaçao would do their best to keep in the game and scored in the 33rd when Ascension was given much room to dribble and wind up a shot that beat Lemos down low to get back within one.

But Freddy Moojen would take the wind right out of the Curaçaon’s sails 30 seconds later after taking a great pass from Assadpour to once again make it a two goal game.

Canada would seal the victory when Bryan Pereira would slip and turnover the ball to Robert Renaud who delivered a pass to Eduardo Jaragui on a two on one to win 7-4.

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CONCACAF Futsal Championship
Group B
8 May (20.00 local / 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT) Costa Rica 3:2 Canada
9 May (19.30 local / 21.30 ET / 18.30 PT) Canada 7:4 Curaçao
10 May (19.30 local / 21.30 ET / 18.30 PT) Cuba v Canada

Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at canadasoccer.com.