As expected, host Bahamas sealed their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship with a nail-biting 5-4 win over Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago, while the United States powered past Panama 5-1 to also book their spot on Thursday’s final matchday in Group B at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility in Nassau.
The Bahamas topped the group with six points, while the United States finished second with four points, edging Panama—who also ended with four points—on goal difference. Trinidad and Tobago finished without a point after three games.
Semi-finals action, set for Saturday, will likely see the Bahamas face Group A runners-up Guatemala, while the United States are on course for a clash with El Salvador. The two finalists will automatically qualify for the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The Bahamas thrilled the home crowd with the hard-fought victory over Trinidad and Tobago to secure their place atop Group B.
It was the Soca Warriors who struck first through Jordan Riley in the 10th minute of the opening period, but the hosts responded swiftly. Wood Julmis netted the equalizer three minutes later, and Lekenson Chery added another goal just a minute after to give the Bahamas a 2-1 lead. Riley, however, grabbed his second in the dying seconds of the first period to level the match once more.
The second period was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading goals. Brandon Adderley’s brace in the 11th and seventh minutes kept the Bahamas in the fight, while Akinola Gregory (ninth) and Zane Coker (fifth) struck for Trinidad and Tobago to keep the score deadlocked at 4-4 heading into the final period.
It was Kyle Williams who ultimately delivered the decisive blow, when he found the back of the net in the seventh minute of the third period to put the Bahamas ahead. The hosts held firm in the closing minutes to ensure they advanced.
Earlier, the United States kept their qualification hopes alive with their commanding victory over Panama.
Ricardo Carvalho got the Stars and Stripes off to a flying start with two goals in the sixth and first minutes of the opening period to give the Americans an early 2-0 lead.
Panama pulled one back through Alfonso Maquensi in the sixth minute of the second period, but Andrés Navas restored the two-goal cushion shortly after in the third minute. The United States continued to press, and Gabe Silveira added a fourth in the 11th minute of the final period before Navas completed his brace two minutes later to seal the victory and a semi-final berth.
Photos: Concacaf Media
