Dominant Argentina sends message to Pan Am rivals

8th Men's Pan America Junior Championship - Day 2

Day 1 Match Reports - part 1, part 2, part 3

A dominant Argentina displayed its favouritism for the 8th Men's Junior Pan American title with three goals to Pedro Ibarra and a double to Lucas Vila highlighted a 10-2 trouncing of USA on day two in Cuba.

In other day two matches, Chile outclassed Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 and Mexico came from a two-goal half time deficit to upset Canada 3-2.

As the only team to have played two matches, Argentina sits atop Pool A on six points followed by the USA.Pool B is locked in a three-way tie between Chile, Puerto Rico and Mexico. A full points table is available at the end of this article.

Match reports by Graciela H. Ortiz, PAHF Media Officer.

Chile 5 defeated Trinidad & Tobago 0
Goals: Chile - Thomas Kannegiesser 4m 14m 53m, Alfredo Thiermann 33m, Fernando Fernández 55m

Chile made their debut trouncing Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 on the second day of the 8th Men's Junior Pan American Championship in San Antonio de Las Vegas.

Chile kept the pace in the first half, reaching several times their rival circle with danger.

The Andes team went to half-time leading 3-0, though the difference could have been bigger, but the South Americans 'crashed' against a good defence and goalie Sheldon McKellar, who shone in the penalty corners.

Nevertheless, Trinidad & Tobago did not play defensively as they always tried to play in attack, though their advances did not harm Chile.

The South Americans opened the score, in the fourth minute, through Thomas Kannegiesser, who increased the lead, in the14th minute.

Two minutes before the break, Alfredo Thiermann put his team 3-0 ahead after a brilliant solo play.

Things did not change after half-time, though Trinidad & Tobago tightened their marks, controlling better their rivals during the first 15 minutes of the half.

But Chile continued attacking to score again through combinations and solo plays. Thus, they scored the fourth through Kannegiesser again after an accurate combination with Cristián Zarhi, in the 53rd minute. And two minutes later, Fernando Fernández sealed the match.

Chile will play again on Friday against Mexico at 4pm local time, while Trinidad & Tobago face Puerto Rico at 11am.

Mexico 3 defeated Canada 2
Goals: Mexico - Leopoldo Ríos Benítez 46m, Oscar Galván 56m, Jorge Gómez 66m; Canada - Mark Pearson 12m, Jonathan Roberts 32m

In the most exciting match of the tournament, Mexico came from behind to defeat Canada 3-2 in the second game of the day.

Canada went to half-time with an undeserved 2-0 lead, but the Mexicans bettered their precision in the second half and showing a great stamina and speed won an incredible match.

The game started even, but step by step Mexico took control of midfield and play. Then, they reached Canada's circle several times, getting four penalty corners. However, they missed the chances because of bad execution.

However, Canada opened the score - in the 12th minute - through Mark Pearson.

A solo play by David Jameson finished in a penalty corner that Jonathan Roberts netted for the 2-0 lead, three minutes before half-time.

Mexico attacked from the very beginning of the second half, pressing Canada hard who counter-attacked.

Mexico's hopes reborn when Leopoldo Ríos Benítez closed the gap with a wonderful corner dragged shot, in the 46th minute.

Mexico improved the corners execution and thanks to one of them equalized, in the 56th minute, through Oscar Galván from a corner deflection.

Mexico increased the pressure and after an excellent rush through the right wing by Rubén Martínez, Jorge Gómez capitalized on a cross to put his team ahead, four minutes before the final whistle, taking the victory.

Argentina 10 defeated USA 2
Goals: Argentina - Tomás Alonso 2m, Facundo Callioni 5m, Lucas Vila 10m 65m, Lucas Argento 18m, Pedro Ibarra 32m 55m 62m, Tomás Argento 42m, Lucas Rossi 59m; USA – Patrick Harris 67m 68m

Argentina demolished USA10-2 in the last match of the day to quickly race to the top of the Pool A.

The title holders dominated throughout the match, except the last minutes when the US netted twice.

With this result, Argentina lead Pool A with six points, followed by the US with three, while Barbados and Jamaica have no points. Cuba will make their début on Friday facing Jamaica.

Argentina will have a rest day on Friday, but they will clash against the hosts on Saturday. Meanwhile, United States will play on Monday against Jamaica.

Argentina's dominance was absolute during the first half, showing their technic and quality throughout the field.

Meanwhile, the United States tried to stop the South Americans attacks, but Argentina's rotation and skills were enough to net four in the first 35 minutes. The result could have been bigger, but the brilliant performance by North American goalie Jebediah Saez prevented it.

Argentina scored early through Tomás Alonso, who capitalized on a right cross, just two minutes from the start.

Three minutes later, Facundo Callioni netted the second after a series of rebounds.

Lucas Vila put his team 3-0 ahead from a penalty corner, in the 10th minute, while Lucas Argento took advantage of a corner rebound to increased Argentina's lead, in the 18th minute.

Only three minutes from the re-start, Argentina scored their fifth by Pedro Ibarra.

Argentina did not slow their rhythm, and in spite of they missed a penalty stroke (by Juan Saladino, in the 48th minute), they netted five more from Tomás Argento (in the 42nd minute), Pedro Ibarra (in the 55th and 62nd), Lucas Rossi, in the 59th, and Lucas Vila, in the 65th minute.

But the South Americans relaxed in the last minutes and the US took advantage of this to produce their first penetrations in their rival circles. Then, they got the first short corner of the match, in the 67th minute, that captain Patrick Harris capitalized on with a strong shot.

Only few seconds later, Harris again scored the second from a strong hit.

For more information, visit the Pan American Hockey Federation web site: www.panamhockey.org.