Classification matches of the Men's Indoor Pan American Championship

Day 6 – Men – 9^th place – Mexico vs. Venezuela: 2-3 (AET)

The first match on day six of the Men’s Indoor Pan American Championship was between Mexico and host Venezuela. Both teams were playing for a place in the 7^th place match. Four minutes into the match, Mexico received the first penalty corner of the match; that resulted in a penalty stroke. Mexico’s Oscar GALVAN NIEVES converted the stroke to give Mexico the 1-0 lead. Venezuela’s Yhosvany HERNANDEZ looked to score off the re-start but the ball went just wide of the goal. Venezuela continued their attacking momentum and received a penalty corner in the 7^th minute; that resulted in a goal by Daniel QUIROZ and tied the match 1-1. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Venezuela was awarded another penalty corner, but the shot was blocked by Mexico’s keeper Saul CORRAL ROUDRIGUEZ. Mexico was unable to convert a couple more penalty corners, which kept the score tied 1-1 at halftime. The second half was a fierce battle for possession. Mexico was awarded the first penalty corners of the second half. Mexico’s Cesar Paul GARCIA GOMES scored off a penalty corner to take the 2-1 lead over host Venezuela. Mexico then began to dominate possession for the rest of the second half. With less than three minutes remaining, Mexico substituted CORRAL ROUDRIGUEZ for a kicking back. Venezuela’s Yhosvany HERNANDEZ tied the match 2-2 in the 38^th minute; and the match went into extra time. In the 42^nd minute, HERNANEZ scored the golden goal that secured host Venezuela a place in the 7^th place match. With the win, host Venezuela also won its first match in the Men’s Pan American Indoor Championship.

Day 6 – Men – 5^th place – Guyana vs. Uruguay: 2-1 (AET)

The match for 5^th place between Guyana and Uruguay was a battle from the start. Throughout the first half both teams struggled to hold possession long enough to generate attacking opportunities. There were few penalty corners for either team in the first half. Guyana had a good opportunity to score off a penalty corner in the 17^th minute, but could not get the shot off. As time expired in the half, Uruguay ran back on their offensive end, but German MACCIO’s shot fell short; and kept the match scoreless at halftime. The second half began with Guyana dominating the possession, but Uruguay prevented Guyana from penetrating their attacking area. Midway through the second half, Uruguay’s Gastón POUQUETTE sent a cross pass to Mateo PEREIRO who had Guyana’s keeper beat, but the ball hit the side of the goal. With five minutes remaining, Guyana’s Marvin DANETT received a yellow card. Immediately after, Uruguay’s captain Rafael COLINA received a yellow card. Thus, both teams played with four field players for three minutes. With just under one minute left in the match, Uruguay’s Maximiliano TIXE scored. Immediately after, however, Guyana’s captain Devin MUNROE tied the match 1-1, which sent the match into extra time. The extra time was also a hard fought battle, but Guyana’s Robert FRANCE finally broke through in the 45^th minute to secure the 2-1 win over Uruguay and 5^th place finish.

Day 6 – Men – Semi-final – Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago: 5-1

The first semi-final of the Men’s Indoor Pan American Championship was between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. The match was faced paced and hard fought from the start. Trinidad and Tobago scored first off a Mickell PIERRE field goal in the 6^th minute. Midway through the first half, Canada had a chance to tie the match, but the penalty corner shot hit the side of the goal cage. In the 14^th minute, Canada tied the match off a field goal by Jonathan ROBERTS.  A penalty corner shot by ROBERTS gave Canada the 2-1 lead over Trinidad and Tobago in the 17^th minute; that remained at halftime. The second half continued to be a hard battle for possession; with either team unable to generate many offensive opportunities. Canada, however, went ahead 3-1 off a Brandon BARBER field goal in the 29^th minute. Canada nearly assured itself a spot in the championship match when another field goal by ROBERTS made the score 4-1 in the 35^th minute. BARBER scored another in the 39^th minute, which gave Canada the 5-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago; and secured Canada’s spot in the Championship match.

Day 6 – Men – Semi-final – United States vs. Argentina: 2-1

The match for the other spot in the Men’s Championship final was between the United States and Argentina. The match was fast paced from the start and play was mostly contained in the midfield. The United States scored first off a field goal by Robert SCHILLING. With 2 minutes remaining in the first half, the United States took a 2-0 lead off a penalty corner shot by Moritz RUNZI. The second half was very similar to the first, with both teams battling for possession. Argentina had a few more attacking opportunities than the United States; and Argentina made the score 2-1 off a penalty corner goal by Andres FAVA in the 30th minute. Both defences held strong, however, and prevented further scoring as well as many attacking opportunities. Thus, the match ended in a 2-1 victory for the United States; and secured the United States a place in the Championship final against Canada. Argentina will play against Trinidad and Tobago for 3^rd place.

Day 6 – Men – 7^th place – Peru vs. Venezuela: 2-3 (2AET)

The match for 7^th place in the Men’s Indoor Pan American Championship was between Peru and host Venezuela. Venezuela earned its place in the 7^th place match after its win earlier in the day over Mexico. From the start, Venezuela and Peru battled for possession. Midway through the first half, Venezuela went ahead 1-0 off a penalty corner goal by Daniel QUIROZ. Throughout the rest of the first half, play continued to be a fight between the two teams. Both teams had few attacking opportunities. In the 15^th minute, Peru’s Mario VINGERHOETS received a yellow card. Peru, however, earned a penalty corner in the 18^th minute; and Arturo MARQUEZ’s shot tied the match 1-1. The second half began with Peru on the attack. Behind the strong play of Venezuela’s keeper, Retssel MARCANO, the Venezuelan defense prevented Peru from scoring off many penalty corners early in the second half. In the 26^th minute, Peru’s Christopher KNIGHT received a yellow card. Soon after, Venezuela received a penalty corner, but the initial shot and the rebound were both saved by the Peruvian defense. With Peru still down a man, Venezuela received another penalty corner from which QUIROZ scored again in the 31^st minute. Venezuela led 2-1. Immediately after, Venezuela’s Krahis GAMBOA received a yellow card; and Peru’s fifth player returned. Peru had an opportunity to tie the match off a penalty corner, but was unable to do so. In the 35^th minute, Peru’s KNIGHT tied the match 2-2. With a minute remaining, Peru had a good shot on goal, but it bounced off the post. As time expired, Venezuela was awarded a penalty corner, but the shot was saved by Peru’s Felix MAFFERETTI to send the match into extra time. Both teams continued to battle in the first extra time. As a result, the match went into a second five minute period of extra time. With under a minute remaining, Irwin ALVIZU scored the golden goal for Venezuela. Host Venezuela’s extra time win over Peru secured their seventh place finish in the Men’s Indoor Pan American Championship.