By Christopher A. Vito

VIRGINIA BEACH –– The 3,000 fans looking for a three-peat at the North American Sand Soccer Championships will need to be patient.

Vying for its third straight U.S. Open crown, Team Rio was unseated Sunday afternoon by Lusitanos, 5-2, in the championship match of the annual pro/am tournament.

Lusitanos won the title in its first year of competition. Two goals each from tournament MVP Belchior and Madjer, the tournament’s top goal scorer, helped their cause.

Primarily composed of Portuguese soccer stars, Lusitanos scored the game’s first three goals, all in the first of three periods. In the second, Team Rio surged back with two of its own. Madjer and Belchior iced the game with third-period goals. After the game, Madjer said he was uncertain whether Lusitanos would defend its title next year.

“It’s a very good tournament. We like it,” he said. “Tournaments like this strengthen the sport in the U.S.”

With the win, the players of Lusitanos walked away with $8,000 in prize winnings. Each of the 12 teams left Virginia Beach with a share of the $25,000 purse.

In an earlier bronze-medal game, the Hampton Roads All-Stars defeated Williamsburg-based Virginia Legacy, 7-6. Following the win, Hampton Roads goalkeeper Daryl Fischer was honored as the tournament’s top keeper.

Christopher A. Vito, (757) 466-2630
Christopher.Vito@pilotonline.com