Days 3 and 4 of the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship (Men) are complete. Day 4 (September 13) ended on a high note with Guatemala’s Kristhian Alexis Velasquez Letona scoring Guatemala’s first international goal. Guatemala made it a 3-1 score in the 43rd minute. Despite strong defense by Guatemala, Brazil won the Pool A match 7-1 behind two goals by Fabian Rickebach and Matheus Borges, respectively, to get their first tournament win. On Day 3 (September 12) Brazil was beat 5-nill by Trinidad & Tobago. Trinidad & Tobago asserted themselves early in the 6th minute off a field goal by Ishmeal Campbell. Brazil played strong defense, but Trinidad & Tobago had a 3-0 lead at halftime thanks to a field goal by Quinn Clark and a penalty stroke by Cogie Butler. Dominic Jaikaransingh and Shakiel Joseph scored in the 44th and 48th minutes to put Trinidad & Tobago ahead by five. Brazil continued to play strong defense, but could not generate scoring opportunities. Behind another big win (8-0) against Jamaica, Argentina currently sits atop Pool A. Argentina took an early lead off back-to-back penalty corner goals by Captain Gonzalo Peillat. Behind the strong play of keeper Giovanni Green, Jamaica held Argentina to three goals in the first half; and even had some shots on goal, but could not convert. Argentina had more offensive intensity in the second half that Jamaica could not equal. Thus, the match ended 8-nill, with Pelliat’s third penalty corner goal in the second half, he moved atop the Men’s goal scoring list thus far in the tournament. In their next match, Argentina and Trinidad & Tobago will battle for the top spot in Pool A.
Thanks to a huge win (15-0) over Puerto Rico, host Mexico currently sits atop Pool B having scored one more goal than Canada. Andres Rangel Martinez and Jose Eduardo Islas Briones started the scoring for Mexico in the first six minutes of the match. By halftime, Mexico had a commanding 9-nill lead over Puerto Rico; with goals from seven different players. Puerto Rico did not let up, however, and played really strong defense to prevent Mexico from scoring again until the 58th minute. In their 15-0 win, Mexico’s Rangel Martinez (four goals), Jose Alberto Diaz Licona (three goals), Captain Guillermo Antonio Pedraza Saenz (three goals) all had multiple goal performances. Against Uruguay, Matthew Sarmento’s hat trick led Canada to a 6-nill victory. Canada dominated possession throughout the match and with Uruguay unable to convert its few penalty corners Canada came away with the win. The next match for both Mexico and Canada, respectively, will be against each other and a battle for the top spot in Pool B.
In Pool C, the United States has the top spot. The United States escaped a relentless Barbados squad who had a three goal second half comeback, as the United States had a 5-0 lead at the halftime. Barbados scored first off a penalty corner by Akeem Rudder in the 6th minute; but the United States had a one goal advantage after goals by Hans Kaeppler and Ranveer Kundi in the 9th and 12 minutes, respectively. The United States continued their attacking pressure and the halftime score was 4-1. Like the first half, Barbados opened the scoring off a penalty corner by Che Warner that made it a 4-2 score. Another goal by Kaeppler gave the United States a 5-2 lead, but Barbados continued to attack and a minute later Warner put in a penalty stroke to pull Barbados within two goals. Barbados continued to fight for attacking opportunities, but their fourth goal in the final minute off a penalty corner was not enough to tie the match; and the United States narrowly escaped with a win. The other Pool C match was also a thriller that was between Chile and Venezuela. Venezuela took an early 1-0 lead off a field goal by Nelson Alvarez. Bothe teams continued to fight for possession, and a field goal by Chile’s Felipe Tapia tied the match 1-1 right before halftime. The second half was even more of a battle and both teams played very strong defense to prevent the other from taking the lead. Chile was unable to capitalize off three yellow cards awarded to Venezuelan players in the second half. And Venezuela finally broke through the defense to take the 2-1 lead in the 67th minute of the match due to a field goal by Cristian Vargas. In an exciting final few minutes, Chile tied the match 2-2 with a field goal by Fernando Renz. With either team unable to score another within the final two minutes, Chile and Venezuela finished the match tied 2-2. The next match in Pool C will also be a battle for the top spot with a match between the United States and Chile.
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