CANADA MAINTAINS ITS LEADERSHIP IN GROUP B. THEIR RIVAL COMES FROM THE US VS CHILE MATCH

Canada beat Mexico 6-0 to qualify for the 2017 Pan American Cup semifinals with goals from Balraj Panesar, Scott Tupper, Gordon Jhonston (PC) and John Smythe. Mexico will play for the 5th to 8th position.

The first quarter showed two patience teams, without taking risks, without showing any weakness to the rival. Although they had some approaches to the area they didn’t show any effectiveness. It was until minute 13  when Iain Smithe enters the area and shoots, but Moises Vargas clears it out without any problems.

Little by little spaces opened for Canada. At 19 'Canada tried again, this time with Taylor Curran who tried to drag, but the ball was deflected. The match picked up pace when Balraj Panesar pulled a push over Vargas and Canada celebrated his first goal of the match. 2 minutes passed until after Guillermo Gonzalez  foot gave them another penalty corner. Scott Tupper scored the 2-0.

The second half of the match had the most penalty corners of the match for both teams. But it was the team led by Paul Bundy who managed to be effective and turn them into goal. Gordon Johnston in the minutes 42 'and 50'. Floris Van Son's with a solitary run had time acomodate himself and score another goal. A few seconds after finishing the third quarter, Vargas was again protagonist, cut a move of the Canadian striker but unfortunately in his action he ends up injured and was replaced by Martín Gutierrez. In the minute 55 Keegan Pereira's goal finished the match with a result of 6-0 for Canada, who with this result ends up leading the group B, waiting for their rival (USA or Chile) for the semifinals.

Men’s semifinals will be played on August 10 from 5:00 p.m. The continental champion qualifies for the FIH 2018 World Cup. The Pan American hockey tournament will continue tomorrow with the last date of the ladies' tournament. Chile vs Uruguay (12:00) for Group A, Mexico Vs. Canada (17:00) followed by Group B United States Vs. Brazil (19:00).