In front of a packed house in National Taiwan University’s New Gymnasium, Argentina scored in the fifth minute as Diego Giustozzi found space on the left side of the U.S. defense and rocketed an uncontested 13-yard shot past a helpless Brett Phillips. Just seconds before halftime, the U.S. conceded their sixth foul and Argentina’s Fernando Wilhelm’s 10-meter penalty shot found the same upper corner as the first Argentina goal.

The U.S. held the greater possession – 64 percent to 36 percent according to the FIFA statistics, and also out-shot Argentina by one. But the Argentina defense would not break until the end, when Johnny Torres pulled the U.S. to within one with less than 30 seconds left on the clock.

The U.S. found themselves down in an 0-2 hole going into the locker room at halftime. After two shots in the first five minutes hit off Brett Phillips right post, Argentina found the score sheet in the fifth minute. The U.S. defense failed to rotate, and Giustozzi found himself in space on the right wing. He took a touch forward as Pat White tried to close, and drilled an eight-meter rocket into the upper right corner for his first goal of the tournament.

After the goal, the U.S. settled a bit and was content to knock the ball around in the back while looking for the target forwards to get in and play the ball. The U.S. forwards, particularly Todd Dusosky and Lee Tschantret, were roughed up in the first half with the officials letting the teams play a bit. The U.S. did get off eight shots, but the only two balls that Javier Guisande had to save were slow rollers that he picked up at his feet.

The U.S. was less than 30 seconds away from going into the locker room down just one at halftime, but the physical play caught up with them. Jamar Beasley tried to run around his defender in the U.S. attacking third with approximately 30 seconds to play, but was whistled for a foul when he tried to run through his defenders shoulder challenge. This was the sixth foul on the U.S., so the ball was brought all the way from the U.S. attacking third to the 10-meter spot. Wilhelm, who scored three consecutive 10-meter goals vs. Iran in Argentina’s final group match, stepped up drilling his shot into the upper right hand corner of the net. The U.S. staff had scouted Wilhelm, who took each of his 10-meter shots to the goalkeeper’s right. As instructed, Phillips guessed to his right as the shot went high into the opposite corner –  un-savable unless he had guessed correctly.

In the second half, the U.S. continued to control the run of play, but the Argentina defense took away the center of the field and left the U.S. unable to penetrate. The first U.S. chance came six minutes in as Torres went on a dribbling run up the left side. His cross from the corner was just off stride for John Ball who ran forward into the area.

In the 32nd minute, Beasley almost atoned for his previous mistake as he found himself in alone against Guisande. The Argentine goalkeeper came off his line to make a good save on a shot from point-blank range.

With just under three minutes to play, the U.S had two of their best chances of the night. On the first, Ball played the ball over the top to Lee Tschantret who had beaten the last defender and chose to one-time the ball with the outside of his foot, but the ball popped right to the goalkeeper. Just seconds later, Beasley fed an unmarked Tschantret on the left side of the area, but Guisande again comes across to make the big save.

With Ball on as the fifth attacker with just more than two minutes to play, the U.S. was able to get a few chances put together. Argentina, in turn, was able to counter attack and Ball retreated to make a pair of saves and Sean Bowers had a sliding block to keep the goal difference close. With 17 seconds to play, Argentina played a long ball that Tschantret headed to his right. As the ball rolled into the Argentina half on the right side, Torres ran onto the ball and struck a low laser that beat Guisande and drew the U.S. to within one with this third goal of the tournament. Argentina cleared the ball one last time after the restart and walked away with the victory.

2004 FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Second Round
Group F
28.11.2004: Taipei City, CHINESE TAIPEI; National Taiwan University Gymnasium (A: 1900)
ARGENTINA – USA 2:1 (2:0)
Diego GIUSTOZZI 5’; Fernando WILHELM 20’ dp – Johnny TORRES 40’
ARG: Javier Guisande – Leandro Planas, Carlos Sanchez, Hernan Garcias, Esteban Gonzalez.
Subs: Diego Giustozzi, Gustavo Barbona, Fernando Wilhelm, Rodrigo Petillo, Marcelo Gimenez, Cristian Bresciani. Booked: none
TD: Fernando LARRANAGA
USA: Brett Phillips – Sean Bowers, Todd Dusosky, John Ball, Johnny Torres.
Subs: Andy Gustaferro, Lee Tschantret, Jamar Beasley, Pat White, Joel Shanker, Pat Morris. Booked: Shanker 10’, Torres 30’
TD: Keith TOZER
R: Robert PORRITT (AUS)
R2: Massimo CUMBO (ITA)

29.11.2004: Taipei City, CHINESE TAIPEI; National Taiwan University Gymnasium (20:00)
UKRAINE – USA

01.12.2004: Taipei City, CHINESE TAIPEI; National Taiwan University Gymnasium (18:00)
BRAZIL – USA

Article by: Steven Torres - CONCACAF
                  David Applegate - U.S. Soccer