Canada loses 7-3 to host Guatemala at CONCACAF futsal qualifier

THE CANADIAN PRESS

GUATEMALA CITY — Canada has dropped its opener at the CONCACAF futsal championship.

Guatemala defeated Canada 7-3 late Monday, scoring four unanswered goals in the second half. Humberto Escobar scored twice in each half to pace Guatemala.

Canada led 2-0 on an own goal by Estuardo De Leon and a penalty by Matthew Rios.

Alvaro Yaques Green also scored for Canada but was sent off in the 24th minute for a deliberate handball, and will miss Tuesday’s match against the United States.

Canada booked its ticket to the eight-team regional championship by defeating El Salvador 7-6 on aggregate last week.

The Canadians needed to score twice in the last 16 seconds last Friday to advance.

Futsal is a five-a-side indoor version of soccer, played over two 20-minute periods. It is believed to date back to Uruguay in 1930.

Canada is in Group A with host Guatemala, Panama and the U.S. at the qualifier, which runs through July 8. Group B consists of Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica and St. Kitts.

The four semifinalists will advance to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in November in Thailand.

CONCACAF covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

11:15ET 03-07-12