Team USA opened the 2018 Socca World Cup with a victory over Team Kazakhstan on Sunday, June 23 in Lisbon Portugal.  The team, made up primarily of players from Sporting AZ FC, is coached by Tom Hurdle (HC Sporting AZ FC/AC Scottsdale Community College) and directed by Small Goal Soccer founder Adam Thelwell.

The tournament, hosted by the International Socca Federation (ISF), is the first of its kind.  Socca is a mix of traditional football and futsal.  Forty minute matches are played on a smaller field with five field players and a goalie.  Unlimited substitutions are allowed, and the offside rule is not in effect, resulting in a fast paced exciting game that focuses on quick, accurate passing.  Slide tackling is not allowed, and balls that cross the touch line are put back into play by pass-ins, instead of throw-ins.

Kazakhstan struck first in the 4th minute with a goal by Alexander Chepukavichus due to solid passing.  An isolation play lead to a 2v1 in the corner of the goal box, and a quick shot to the back of the net.  Kazakhstan’s next opportunity came in the 16th minute when Mo Salama forgot the no-sliding rule in the keeper’s box, which resulted in a penalty shot.  Goalkeeper Andrew Weber easily parried the resulting shot, put low and to the right.

Team USA began to find a rhythm, as team captain Jon Guse (who also serves as captain for Sporting AZ FC) sacrificed his body for a flying header that went wide.  The squad finally found the back of the net on the counter when Andrew Weber collected the ball and quickly put it back into play across the half line.  Dominic Papa (Sporting AZ FC) used a nifty skill to place the ball at the foot of Scott Crandall who took a confident strike to the near post (19′).

Crandall, a league coordinator with Small Goal Soccer, struck again in the 27th minute. This time, a perfectly placed corner-kick found the head of a leaping Mo Salama (Sporting AZ FC) that easily beat the keeper to give Team USA a lead they would not relinquish.  Guse put the cherry on top after a Andy Szerlag through-pass was intercepted but mishandled by a Kazakh defender, leaving the ball uncontrolled between two defenders and the opposing keeper.  A sneaky move got his foot on the ball, and the ball in the back of the net.

Group play continues for the United States at 3pm Arizona time against Slovakia.  All matches are available on your digital device at www.MyCujoo.com.  To view the replay and highlights of this match, click here.