Trinidad & Tobago 6, Brazil 2 (halftime 2-1)

Brazil and Trinidad brought down the curtain of the Hockey World League’s Men’s Round 2 tournament in Rio de Janeiro with an entertaining and energetic match.

After a tentative start with both teams posing questions for the opposing defences, Trinidad and Tobago took the lead in the 10th minute. Following a melee in the Brazilian circle with Trinidad’s Atiba Whittington being the quickest to pounce on a loose ball and to squeeze It over the goal line. Brazil, without their talismanic captain, Ernst Rost Onnes,  responded positively and following some good work down the right wing by Matheus Borges Ferreira, reminiscent of Brazilian soccer right wing icons Garrincha and Jairzinho.  Andre Patrocinio tucked the ball away to level the score.

Trinidad  regained the lead following a well worked penalty corner routine in the 25th minute with Marcus James getting his name on the score sheet.  Brazil had further opportunities to even the game but failed  to make anything out of two successive penalty corners as the halftime hooter sounded.

After the break, Trinidad and Tobago came out much the sharper of the two teams and three goals in the 40th, 41st and 52nd minutes by Dwain Quan Chan, Marcus James and Stefan Mouttet put the game beyond the Brazilians reach However, this Brazilian team never gives up and Eduard de Oliveira got his name on the score sheet after more wizardry down the right wing. Trinidad’s Ishmael Campbell concluded scoring activities in the 66th minute, making a final score of 6 – 2 in Trinidad & Tobago’s favour, meaning that they finished a creditable 4th in the tournament.