Paraguay tried go attacking Bermuda. Paraguay was looking to go on the counter attack. Melani ARMOA DELGADO had a good scoring opportunity for Parguay, but failed to convert. Bermuda received the first penalty corner of the match, but it was blocked by Paraguay’s keeper Claudia FLORES GUILLEN. However, Paraguay did not give up and kept trying to attack. Paraguay received a penalty corner but could not convert.  Parguay persisted on attack, but continued to be unable to score. Bermuda had a few scoring opportunities, but also could not score as they were unable to finish. ARMOA DELGADO received a green card late in the first half. And the score remained 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Paraguay pressured on attack, but Bermuda’s keeper Latonia FREY blocked shots. Bermuda again had trouble finishing their attacking opportunities. However, Bermuda did not give up and held really strong on defense to stop Paraguay from capitalizing upon much of their offensive pressure. Paraguay recovered the ball well and earned more penalty corners in the second half. Bermuda’s Constance FRANCIS received a yellow card. Soon after, Paraguay’s Sara RODRIGUEZ JARA and Maria GOMEZ BORDON for Paraguay also received yellow cards. Down players, Paraguay’s Captain Maria SERVIAN GIOSA scored to give Paraguay a 1-0 lead in the 56^th minute. Despite a few more penalty corner opportunities, Paraguay was unable to score again. Bermuda also had trouble finishing their attacking opportunities and were unable to score. Thus, Paraguay won their first match of the 2011 Pan Am Challenge.

MATCH QUOTES

Bermuda’s Coach Dafydd HERMANN-SMITH

On the match…

There were so many chances for both sides. In the end, Paraguay took [advantage of] a chance and we didn’t [take advantage] of any. That won Paraguay the game. It could have been a high scoring game. It is a very young team where half the team is under 20.

Bermuda’s keeper Latonia FRAY

On the match..

In terms of our chances, we did not put them away, but we tried.

On what was the hardest thing about the game winning goal (the game-winner) that Paraguay scored…

The hardest thing … actually nothing. Just our marking. I think it could have been well defended had I not had to commit too early.

On her tournament experience..

It has taught me a lot of things about international hockey. And about how we have to keep going in a match if we are down by goals or if there is not that much time left. It is the same as in any other tournament, that when you get down you have to get back up.

Paraguay’s Coach Julio RUSSO

On the match…

We are starting to play better and advancing little by little. I thought we played well and against a good team, Bermuda, who has improved. I thought in the second half we played even better and now we are getting ready to play Brazil.

On his teams improvement throughout the tournament…

I believe our improvement has been good. However, I thought we played better yesterday against Uruguay. We play well when we do what we can and what we know how to do and I thought we had a good game today.

Paraguay’s Captain Maria SERVIAN GIOSA

On the match…

We are now fighting for third place. This is a big improvement for Paraguay; especially because we train on a really small field and with six versus six. I am really happy with the result.