Mexico, Panama earn berths to 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Final Round Qualification

Mexico and Panama earned the last two berths to the 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Final Round Qualification in Costa Rica, after winning their respective North/Central Zone Preliminary Zone Series on Saturday evening.
After winning the first-leg 10:4 on Thursday (20 May), Mexico completed the two-game Series 2 sweep over visiting El Salvador with 7:5 victory in the second-leg at the Gimnasio Carlos Martínez Balmori in Pachuca, Hidalgo and claimed the series 17:9 on aggregate.

Mario Alberto Verti scored twice for the tricolor, while Sanchez Barriga, Jose Garcia, Victor Huerta, Arturo Lopez and Carlos Ramírez had a tally each in the victory. Alexander Luna had three goals and Geobani Rafael Cetino added two more for El Salvador in the loss.

Also on Saturday, the host Panama won the North/Central Zone Series 1 with an 11:6 aggregate victory over Canada. After losing the first-leg 5:4 on Friday (21 May), the canaleros posted a 7:1 win over the maple leafs at the Gimnasio Roberto Duran in Ciudad de Panamá.

Two goals each by Apolinar Gálvez and Juan Murillo, while Ameth De Leon, Enrique Valdés and Moisés Williamson all added another for Panama in the victory. Jaime Lotresti had the only goal for Canada in the loss.

Mexico and Panama join Cuba, Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and the host, Costa Rica in the 2004 CONCACAF Futsal Final Round Qualification from 23-31 July. COMPLETE SCHEDULE

The eight-team CONCACAF Final Round will qualify two nations to the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship, to be held in Chinese Taipei from 21 November - 5 December.

2004 CONCACAF FUTSAL QUALIFYING

North/Central Zone

Series 1

22/5/2004
Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMA
Gimnasio Roberto Duran
CANADA – PANAMA 1-7 (1-3)
Jaime LOTRESTI – Apolinar GÁLVEZ-2; Juan MURILLO-2; Ameth DE LEON; Enrique VALDÉS; Moisés WILLIAMSON
R: Jorge RUIZ (CRC)
R2: Victor PRENDAS (CRC)
Panama wins 11:6 on aggregate

Series 2

22/5/2004
Pachuca, Hidalgo MEXICO
Gimnasio Carlos Martínez Balmori
EL SALVADOR – MEXICO 5-7 (1-4)
Alexander LUNA-3; Geobani Rafael CETINO-2 – Mario Alberto VERTI-2; Sanchez BARRIGA; Jose GARCIA; Victor HUERTA; Arturo LOPEZ; Carlos RAMÍREZ
Sent off: Francisco RAMÍREZ (MEX) 27’
R: Vianey BOGANTES (CRC)
R2: Adrian RODRIGUEZ (CRC)
Mexico wins 17:9 on aggregate