Canada Eliminated from CONCACAF Futsal Championship After 8-5 Loss to Panama

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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In need of a win by three or more goals to bridge the goal difference at the 2012 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, Canada came up short in its group finale against Panama. Canada held the lead once, but ultimately conceded more than it scored in a 8-5 loss to Panama. The 4 July match was played at Domo Polideportivo in Ciudad Guatemala.

The loss eliminated Canada from the 2012 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, ending the team’s dream of qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012.

Panama opened the scoring early in the first half with a goal by Oscar Hinks, but Canada came back with a pair of quick goals by Steve De Blasio to take a 2-1 lead. Panama then equalised in the 13th minute as Miguel Lasso hit the target.

Before the first half was done, Aquis Alvarado, Claudio Goodridge and Lasso (second goal) made it 5-3 for Panama, with Matthew Rios scoring for Canada on a penalty kick.

Early in the second half, Rios scored his second goal of the game to bridge the difference at one. Panama then scored a pair of goals (Carlos Perez and Oscar Hinks) before both sides traded late goals in an 8-5 win for Panama.

Canada’s futsal team featured Joshua Lemos, Roy Blanche, Vincent Cournoyer, Bruno Xavier, Steve De Blasio, Matthew Rios, Robbie Aristodemo, Robbie Tice, Daniel Chamale, Alex Elliott, Louis-Charles Laliberté, Jordan Ongaro, Alvaro Yaques and Ian Bennett.