On Day 8 of the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship (Men), new pool play began; with both Barbados and Uruguay winning the first cross-over matches. Barbados played Puerto Rico (Pool F) and took an early 1-0 lead just the 2nd minute off a penalty corner goal by Akeem Rudder. With great saves by keeper Marcos Sanchez Navarro, Puerto Rico kept Barbados from scoring more in the first half. With few attacking opportunities for Puerto Rico, the score remained 1-0 at halftime. And two minutes into the second half, it was Puerto Rico who scored off a penalty corner to tie the match 1-1. Barbados appeared to take this as a wake-up call and started to pressure strongly on attack. Again Akeem Rudder started the scoring for Barbados in the second half, as Barbados took a 2-1 lead in the 44th minute. A minute later, Che Warner scored a field goal and within a ten minute span Warner had a hat trick that made the score 5-1 in favor of Barbados. Puerto Rico continued to generate attacking opportunities, and a Bryan Marquez Cotto goal cut Barbados’ lead. Yet, Warner continued his hot-hand and put the match out of reach for Puerto Rico in the 67th minute when he made it a 6-2 (final) score.
In the second match on Day 8, Uruguay and Venezuela (Pool G) battled. The first half was a pretty even battle for possession, with Uruguay having slightly more attacking opportunities. Alexis Lopez gave Uruguay the 1-0 lead in the 16th minute; that remained the halftime score. In the second half, Uruguay looked to attack more, and Lopez scored back-to-back goals to put Uruguay ahead by three goals over Venezuela by the 51st minute. Following this, five different Venezuela players earned yellow cards; but only Uruguay’s Joaquin Rodriguez could capitalize, giving Uruguay a 4-0 lead. With two Uruguayan players then receiving yellow cards late in the match, Venezuela’s Nelson Alvarez made it a 4-1 score. With either team unable to score again in the final minutes, the final score remained 4-1.
Day 9 of the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship (Men) started with a Pool D match of Argentina and host Mexico. Argentina quickly applied their attacking pressure, but Mexico played good defense to keep Argentina out of their attacking circle. While Argentina had the majority of possession, Mexico had a few attacking opportunities. With a strong Mexico defense, it was not until Isidoro Ibarra scored off Argentina’s second penalty corner of the match in the 22nd minute to give Argentina the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Manuel Nicholas Sachetti made it 2-0 off a hard blast from the top of the circle. Mexico nearly scored off its first penalty corner, but it was called off. Mexico’s keeper Roberto Emilio Rodriguez Marrufo continued to make amazing saves to keep the score 2-0 at halftime. Argentina came out firing in the second half, scoring four goals (two more by Sachetti) within five minutes to put them ahead 6-0 over Mexico. Mexico however continued to try to attack and Roberto Antonio Monraz Rivera scored off their first penalty corner of the second half; the first time an opposing team has scored against Argentina in the tournament. Mexico continued to work hard on defense, but Argentina scored four more goals (two in the final minutes) to make it 10-1. Mexico earned a penalty corner in the final minute of the match, but could not find the back of the net. Thus, Argentina came away with the 10-1 win.
Trinidad & Tobago and Canada squared off in a Pool E match. Canada’s Keegan Pereira scored first off the first penalty corner of the match by either team. Afterwards, Canada started to dominate possession especially near their attacking circle. Keegan Pereira made it 2-0 off Canada’s second penalty corner of the match. Trinidad & Tobago earned a couple penalty corners, but could not convert. Canada continued their attacking pressure and Andrew Kanerva a goal to make it 3-0 in the 30th minute. In the second half, Trinidad & Tobago came out on the attack and earned a couple penalty corners, but they were blocked by Canada’s defense. Canada immediately earned a penalty corner of their own and the Gordon Johnston scored the goal to put Canada ahead by four goals. Trinidad & Tobago continued to fight for possession and play was in their attacking half for end of the second half. Unable to score off a couple penalty corners, Trinidad & Tobago could not get on the scoreboard. Kanerva scored a breakaway goal to put Canada ahead 5-0 over Trinidad & Tobago that remained the final score.
In Pool G, Jamaica and Venezuela battled. Both teams came out trading possession for much of the first half and looking for attacking opportunities. Venezuela earned the first penalty corner of the match, but could not convert. Cristian Vargas scored off Venezuela’s second penalty corner of the match to give Venezuela the 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. Jamaica’s Captain Kemar Mitchell soon tied the score off a penalty corner. Jamaica then took a 2-0 lead off a field goal by Brandon Clarke. Their lead would not last long however as Venezuela’s Jose Oropez scored just a minute later to make it a 2-2 tie at the halftime break. Venezuela came out with the attacking advantage to start the second half. Yet, it was Jamaica who took a 3-2 lead over Venezuela off a Mitchell penalty corner goal in the 46th minute. Venezuela continued to keep play in their attacking half, but could not capitalize off a number of penalty corners. Jamaica continued to make the most of their opportunities and Mitchell scored another penalty corner goal in the 59th minute to make it 4-2. Vargas cut Jamaica’s lead to one in the 60th minute. Venezuela continued their attacking pressure and Captain Wilber Bracamonte scored off a penalty corner to tie the match 4-4 in the 67th minute. With either team unable to score another in the final minutes, the final score remained 4-4.
Uruguay and Guatemala played in the other Pool G match of Day 9. Uruguay’s Matias Pereiro scored in the second minute; soon after, Alexis Lopez scored, giving Uruguay an early 2-0 lead over Guatemala. Guatemala played extremely strong defense and held Uruguay out of their attacking circle for much of the first half. Matias Pereiro made it 3-0 over Guatemala off a penalty corner in the final minutes of the first half. At the start of the second half, Uruguay immediately earned a penalty corner and again Matias Pereiro scored to put his team ahead by four. For the next twenty minutes, Guatemala did an incredible job of preventing Uruguay from scoring another goal as well as from having penalty corner. Guatemala even had a couple of attacking opportunities, including a penalty corner. Guatemala had trouble scoring, but Matias Pereiro continued to have the hot hand and gave Uruguay a 5-0 lead in the 60th minute off another penalty corner. Gabriel Maz also scored off a penalty corner to give Uruguay the 6-0 win over Guatemala.
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