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Comets Weekly

August 4, 2004 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Kansas City Comets News Release


Last weekend, the U.S. National Futsal team had two formidable obstacles en route to the CONCACAF Championship medal: Costa Rica and Cuba. On Friday in the semifinal round against hometown team Costa Rica, the United States took a quick 1-0 lead after Andy Guastaferro (Chicago Storm) scored in the ninth minute. Greg Howes (Milwaukee Wave) added another in the 26th minute to give the United States a 2-0 lead at halftime. Howes and Joel Shanker (Philadelphia KiXX) both scored in the second half and ensured the United States' fourth overall berth to the FIFA Futsal World Championship and first since 1996. Cuba beat Mexico 5-4 to advance to the championship match.

The Americans faced Cuba in the finals on Saturday. The match was predicted to be close as the teams tied 1-1 earlier in the tournament. Both teams battled hard, but the United States edged out Cuba and won the CONCACAF Futsal Championship by a score of 2-0. Forwards Howes and Don D'Ambra (Philadelphia KiXX) scored goals for the U.S. The United States becomes the first team in tournament history to have shutout wins back-to-back in semifinal and championship matches. The team is also the first to have three shutouts in the entire tournament, with a shutout against Guyana coming earlier in the tournament.

U.S. goalkeeper Scott Hileman had 10 saves in the game to ensure the win and was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. The United States also won the Fair Play Award. Jefrid Ruiz of Costa Rico walked away with the Top Scorer Award and Juan Carlos Portal of Cuba was named Most Valuable Player.

The United States and Cuba both secured spots in the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship Tournament by clinching wins in the semifinal round. The Futsal World Championship Tournament will be held November 21-December 5 in Chinese Taipei.

LOOK... Pictures of Anthony Maher!

Anthony Maher of the Syracuse Salty Dogs (11-7-3) is leading the team in goals with five and is in third in total points with 10. To see recent action shots of Anthony from Syracuse's newspaper, The Post-Standard, click here.

For more information about the Syracuse Salty Dogs of the A-League, click here.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from August 4, 2004


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