United States and Cuba traded possession throughout the first part of the first quarter. The United States earned the first penalty corner of the match. The United States’ Moritz Runzi made sure the United States capitalized as he completed a well-executed corner play to give the United States the lead in the 9th minute. Two minutes later, Cuba looked to tie the match, but a high shot was blocked by the United States keeper Christopher Rea. With either team unable to finish in the final minutes of the first quarter, the United States kept the lead going into the second quarter. Throughout the beginning of the second quarter play was in the midfield. In the middle of the second quarter the United States earned a couple more penalty corners. This time it was Aki Kaeppler to complete the penalty corner play to give his team a two goal lead over Cuba in the 24th minute. The United States maintained their attacking intensity and Will Holt scored in the 28th minute to make it United States 3, Cuba nill to close out the first half.
The second half started with Cuba on attack and quickly earning a penalty corner. Cuba’s Maikel Trizant converted the penalty corner in the 32nd minute to pull Cuba within two goals of the United States. The United States Captain Pat Harris kept trying to work the ball in the midfield, but Reynaldo Gonzalez and Yasmanny Gutierrez played strong in the midfield for Cuba. For the rest of the third quarter Cuba had more of the possession, but like the United States was unable to get the ball out of the midfield and into their attacking half. The fourth quarter continued as the third left off with both teams battling in the midfield. Cuba’s Yoandy Blanco found the back of the net past Rea to pull Cuba within one goal in the 51st minute. Following Blanco’s goals, the overall intensity of the match increased and the United States traded penalty corners in the final minutes. While the United States was unable to convert their penalty corner, Blanco capitalized off Cuba’s penalty corner opportunity to tie the match in the 59th minute. With Cuba able to hold off a last minute United States attack the final result was a 3-3 United States Cuba draw.
The first day of the 2015 Pan American Games Men began with a Pool A match between Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to the start of the match, Trinidad and Tobago’s keeper Andrey Rocke was honored for his 100th cap. Both teams battled for possession throughout the first quarter. Rocke made a number of big glove saves to prevent Argentina from converting their penalty corners. Argentina’s keeper Juan Vivaldi also saved a Trinidad and Tobago penalty corner during the first period. The first period ended scoreless. In the second period, Argentina had more attacking opportunities than Trinidad and Tobago, but Rocke continued to be a rock to stop Argentina from getting on the scoreboard. Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat finally converted one of Argentina’s penalty corners in the 26th minute for the first score of the match. Three minutes later, Lucas Vila went on to score three goals right before the end of the first half. Thus, the first half of the match ended Argentina 4, Trinidad and Tobago nill.
The third quarter began with Argentina continuing their rapid scoring from the end of the first half as Matias Paredes fired a shot past Rocke in the 37th minute. Argentina was soon awarded two more penalty corners and Nicolas Della Torre converted the second to put his team ahead by six goals in the 42nd minute. Behind the strong defense and leadership of Captain Darren Cowie, Trinidad and Tobago kept Argentina from scoring further in the third quarter. Throughout the fourth quarter, Trinidad and Tobago continued their strong defense, but eventually could not withstand Argentina’s attacking pressure. In the final four minutes of the match, Argentina scored five goals; including another penalty corner drag flick by Pelliat, two goals by Facundo Callioni and one by Joaquin Menini. Thus, Argentina came away with a big 11-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
