This month in U.S. Futsal National Team History
February 9-12, 1987
USA TAKES SEVENTH IN SECOND FIFA INDOOR SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN SPAIN 1987In their second year as a national team program, the U.S. Five-A-Side Team (now Futsal) opened 1987 taking seventh place at the second FIFA Indoor Soccer Tournament in La Coru๑a, Spain from February 9-12. Under Head Coach John Kowalski, the Americans traveled to Spain for the eight-team tournament with seven veterans from the previous FIFA Indoor Soccer event held in Hungary 1986. The squad was mostly composed of members of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA), the college level of the NCAA and one overseas player.
Placed in Group B for the first round, the U.S. battled Belgium to a 1:1 draw in the opener on Feb. 9. Forward Zoran Savic opened the scoring in the 15th minute of the first half for the USA, but Belgium equalized six minutes later for the Americans first-ever draw in
Five-A-Side history.
In the second game, two goals by Savic gave the U.S. a 2:1 edge at halftime over Spain on Feb. 10. The host scored back-to-back tallies in the second half and held on to a 3:2 win over the USA.
The Americans ended group play with another one-goal defeat as Portugal earned a 4:3 victory on Feb. 11.
Savic, midfielder Jim Gabarra and forward Tom Silvas each had a tally in the loss for the U.S.
Unable to advance out of their group and into the semifinals, the USA qualified for the seventh/eighth placement game on Feb. 12.
The Americans ended an international four-game winless streak by posting a 5:3 win over Italy for seventh place match.
Gabarra and forward Brent Goulet each scored twice, while midfielder Chris Hellencamp added a tally for the USA.
U.S. Five-A-Side National Team Roster (Club)GOALKEEPERS A.J. Lachowecki (Louisville Thunder AISA) Toni Pierce (Milwaukee Wave AISA)
DEFENDERS Paul Caligiuri (Hamburg West Germany), Rudy Glenn (Chicago Shoccers AISA), Mike Windischmann (Adelphi University NCAA)
MIDFIELDERS Eric Eichmann (Clemson University NCAA), Jim Gabarra (Louisville Thunder AISA), Chris Hellenkamp (Louisville Thunder AISA)
FORWARDS Brent Goulet (Warner Pacific College NCAA), Rudi Pikuzinski (Canton Invaders AISA), Zoran Savic (Louisville Thunder AISA), Tom Silvas (UCLA NCAA)
Delegation (Hometown)HEAD OF DELEGATION Gene Edwards (Milwaukee, Wis.)
SECRETARY GENERAL Kurt Lamm (New York, N.Y.)
HEAD COACH John Kowalski (Sewickly, Pa.)
ASSISTANT COACH Walt Chyzowych (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
TRAINER Arnold Trachtenberg (Fort Lee, N.J.)
Second FIFA Indoor Soccer Tournament in LaCoru๑a, SpainFebruary 9-13, 1987
Final Results, StandingsGroup ATeam (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Spain (3, 3-0-0, 10:5, 6)*
Belgium (3, 1-1-1, 7:6, 3)*
Portugal (3, 1-2-0, 7:11, 2)^
USA (3, 0-2-1, 6:8, 1)^
Group BTeam (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Holland (3, 3-0-0, 11:3, 6)*
Brazil (3, 2-1-0, 7:8, 4)*
Hungary (3, 1-2-0, 4:5, 2)^
Italy (3, 0-3-0, 2:8, 0)^
* Advance to Semifinals
^ Advance to Placement Matches
Feb. 9
USA Belgium, 1:1
Spain Portugal, 4:0
Hungary Italy, 1:0
Holland Brazil, 5:1
Feb. 10
Spain USA, 3:2
Belgium Portugal, 4:3
Holland Hungary, 2:1
Brazil Italy, 3:1
Feb. 11
Portugal USA, 4:3
Spain Belgium, 3:2
Brazil Hungary, 3:2
Holland Italy, 4:1
Feb. 12
Seventh Place: USA Italy, 5:3
Fifth Place: Hungary Portugal, 7:5
Semifinals:
Spain Brazil, 4:2
Belgium Holland, 1:1 (5:4 pks)
Feb. 13
Third Place:
Brazil Holland, 1:1 (4:2 pks)
Final:
Spain Belgium, 1:1 (5:4 pks)
Photo Attached:
1987 U.S. Five-A-Side Team at FIFA Indoor Soccer Tournament in La Coru๑a, Spain
Written and compiled by
Steven Torres.
For more information contact:
futsal_indoorsoccer_world_news@hotmail.com
