Costa Rica (pictured) celebrates after defeating Panama in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship final on May 14, 2016, in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rica became the first team to retain the CONCACAF Futsal Championship with a 4-0 triumph over Panama on Saturday before a crowd of 3,264 at BN Arena.
In a final that brought two teams together with perfect 4-0-0 records, the host got a pair of goals from Christopher Molina and broke its own record for the most consecutive wins in tournament history at nine.
Panama, which finished third in the 2012 edition, was shutout for the first time in its last 16 tournament games.
After Alejandro Paniagua opened the scoring with an 11th minute penalty kick, Molina broke the game open with strikes on either side of halftime.
In the 20th minute, he stuffed the ball into the net from a severe right-sided angle and made it 3-0 seven minutes after the break, drilling a clever pass from Erik Brenes into the upper-right corner.
Diego Zuñiga completed the scoreline in the 34th minute. His left-footed jab from just outside the penalty area from a well-worked corner kick deflected off goalkeeper Daniel Atencio before crossing the line.
The two finalists, as well as Guatemala and Cuba, have qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be played in Colombia later this year.
FINAL SCORING SUMMARY
May 15, 2016
Costa Rica 4, Panama 0
1-0 Alejandro Paniagua, Costa Rica (10:20 pen)
2-0 Christopher Molina, Costa Rica (19:06)
3-0 Christopher Molina, Costa Rica (26:18)
4-0 Diego Zuniga, Costa Rica (33:09)
