In thrilling match, Canada beats Brazil in the penalty shoot out to advance to the gold medal match. Taken together with the other semifinal result of Argentina’s 6-0 defeat over Chile, Argentina and Canada advanced to the gold medal match. Chile and Brazil will play in the bronze medal match. Mexico and United States will play for fifth place. In the match for seventh place, Cuba will face Trinidad and Tobago. Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat leads all scorers with 14 goals and in second place on the goal scoring list is Argentina’s Lucas Vila with 8 goals. Please check back here for live score updates, social media, post-match interviews and more during the final day of the Men’s competition on 25 July.
Semifinal: Brazil vs. Canada: 0-0 (ht: 0-0) SO: 3-5
The second mens semifinal was between Brazil and Canada. The match started with both teams having shots on goal in the opening minutes. First, Canada’s Matt Guest had a shot blocked by Brazil’s keeper Rodrigo Faustino. And then Patrick van der Heijden had a shot blocked by Canada’s keeper Dave Carter. After facing tough defense by Brazil in the midfield, Canada’s Scott Tupper sent the ball to Sukhi Panesar who had a shot blocked by Faustino. Canada’s Mark Pearson was there for the rebound, but the shot went high. Ten minutes into the first quarter the match was still scoreless. Brazil kept playing good defense to force Canada to pass the ball throughout the midfield. During a scramble in front of the goal, Faustino made a big save in the 13th minute to prevent Canada from scoring. In the final two minutes of the first quarter, Brazil had most of the possession, but Canada played incredibly strong defense to prevent Brazil from entering their attacking circle.
The second quarter started with the score still Brazil 0, Canada 0. In the 18th minute, Guest had the first shot of the second quarter, but his shot was saved by multiple Brazil defenders. Canada then earned the first penalty corner of the match, but failed to fully inject the ball. Canada continued to pressure on attack, but Brazil continued to play excellent team defense to keep Canada away from its attacking circle for the rest of the second quarter. With one of Canada’s few shots in the second quarter, again by Guest, going wide in the final minute, the score at halftime remained Brazil 0, Canada 0.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter both battled intensely for possession. In the 35th minute, the crowd started to get really loud cheering for Canada, but Patrick van der Heijden and Bruno Sousa continued to play and lead excellent team defense for Brazil. In the 38th minute, Canada earned their second penalty corner of the match, but Brazil’s defense blocked the shot. In the 41st minute Patrick van der Heijden had another big run on attack, but Canada recovered the ball before van der Heijden could get a shot off. Brazil continued to play incredibly strong defense for the rest of the third quarter to largely prevent Canada from entering their attacking circle. Brazil’s Luis Reus earned a yellow card in the 45th minute and then the third quarter ended with the score still Brazil 0, Canada 0.
The fourth quarter started with Canada having a man advantage due to the yellow card to Reus. In the 51st minute, Gordon Johnston nearly had a goal for Canada, but the shot looked to be saved by the majority of Brazil’s team. In the 54th minute, Canada earned a penalty corner, but Faustino saved the shot. Lucas Paixao then had a run on attack for Brazil, but again Brazil could not manage to retain possession. Canada’s Gabriel Ho-Garcia looked to find Guest in the final seconds, but the ball went wide.
With the match still tied Brazil 0, Canada 0 at the end of regulation, the match went into a penalty shoot out.
In the shoot out, in front of a roaring crowd, Mark Pearson went first for Canada and successfully dodged Faustino for the score. Then Brazil’s Yuri van der Heijden beat Canada’s keeper Dave Carter for the score. Canada’s Devohn Noronha Teixeira just got the ball in on the right post past Faustino for the score. Brazil’s Patrick van der Heijden then did a similar move scoring from the right post around Carter. Canada’s Sukhi Panesar had a long battle with Faustino, but just got the ball in the cage. Carter saved the shot by Reus. And then Gordon Johnston hit a ball from the top of the circle past Faustino. Brazil’s Stephane Smith then scored. Canada’s Adam Froese shoot out goal lifted high over Faustino gave Canada the semifinal win to advance to the final against Argentina on 25 July. Brazil will play Chile for the bronze medal.
Semifinal: Argentina vs. Chile: 6-0 (ht: 2-0)
The first mens semifinal was between Southern neighbors Argentina and Chile. The match started with Chile on attack and in the second minute Chile’s Martin Rodriguez had the first shot of the match saved by Argentina’s keeper Juan Vivaldi. Two minutes later Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat had a shot saved by Chile’s keeper Adrian Henriquez. A turnover by Chile’s defender Ignacio Gajardo in Chile’s defensive end helped Argentina keep the ball in their attacking end. In the 6th minute, Matias Rey hit a hard shot at goal that was deflected into goal by Lucas Vila to give Argentina the lead over Chile. In an intense match both teams battled for possession in front of a full stadium full of Argentinean and Chilean flags. In the 11th minute, good defense by Gajardo and Andres Fuenzalida led to Chile’s Thomas Kannegiesser having a breakaway on attack, but Argentina prevented Kannegiesser from getting a shot off. For the remaining four minutes in the first quarter, play was in Argentina’s attacking half, but with Chile defending strong Argentina could not get another shot off before the end of the first quarter. Thus, the score remained Argentina 1, Chile 0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the first minute of the second quarter, Vila had another shot on goal, but it was saved by Chile’s defender Nicolas Renz who promptly cleared the ball out. Vila was then awarded a green card. Argentina continued to attack, however, and after Captain Matias Paredes just missed the goal in the 18th minute, Argentina earned their first penalty corners of the match. Chile’s defense blocked up two penalty corners and on the third, the penalty corner shot by Peillat went wide. Chile earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 22nd minute. The shot was blocked by Vivaldi and Argentina’s Joaquin Menini played strong defense to help Argentina regain possession and go back on attack. In the 25th minute, Chile’s Fernando Binder was given a green card and Argentina continued to attack. In the 30th minute, Argentina was awarded a penalty corner and Peillat put in his signature drag flick to make the score Argentina 2, Chile 0 at the halftime break.
The third quarter started with Argentina on the attack. Argentina’s Juan Lopez earned a yellow card in the 32nd minute. However, Argentina continued to pressure on attack. In the 39th minute, Argentina’s Brunet had a hard shot from the left side of the circle that was saved by Henriquez. In the 41st minute Chile’s Sebastian Kapsch received a yellow card. Argentina ran fast back on attack and earned two penalty corners in the 42nd minute, Peillat put in his second penalty corner of the match to make the score Argentina 3, Chile 0. In the 44th minute, Argentina earned another penalty corner again Peillat put in the goal to increase his team’s lead to four goals. Less than one minute later, Paredes scored to make the score Argentina 5, Chile 0.
For the first ten minutes of the fourth quarter Argentina dominated the possession in their attacking half, but Chile played good defense to prevent Argentina from having many shot opportunities. In the 57th minute, Chile’s Sven Richter and Binder had a run on attack blocked by Argentina’s defense. Argentina continued to pressure on attack and with 10 seconds remaining in the match, Brunet made the score Argentina 6, Chile 0 to end the match.
With the win, Argentina advances to the gold medal match and Chile will play for bronze on 25 July.
Crossover 5-8: United States vs. Trindad and Tobago: 2-1 (ht: 1-0)
In the second mens 5-8 crossover, United States and Trinidad and Tobago played. The first ten minutes of the first quarter was a battle for possession. Alex Cunningham had a few opportunities to score for the United States in the first ten minutes of the match, but each time lost the ball off the endline. In the 12th minute, Cunningham had another shot opportunity, but Trinidad and Tobago’s Aiden de Gannes came up with the ball. Both teams kept trading possession. In the final minute of the first quarter, the United States’ Tyler Sundeen had a shot blocked as Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaquille Daniel made a running tackle to keep the score at the end of the first quarter United States 0, Trinidad and Tobago, 0.
The second quarter started with Trinidad and Tobago on attack. Akim Toussaint, Captain Darren Cowie, Tariq Marcano kept pressuring on attack, but could not get a shot off. In the 19th minute, the United States had a shot by Sundeen miss the back of the goal cage. Two minutes later, Trinidad and Tobago’s Toussaint had a hard shot on goal saved by United States’ keeper Christopher Rea that resulted in a penalty corner. The United States saved the penalty corner shot and Trinidad and Tobago continued to pressure on attack. In the 23rd minute, Trinidad and Tobago’s Christopher Scipio looked to create a goal with Dominic Young, but Young was unable to get a shot off. In the 27th minute, the United States earned their first penalty corner of the match. The shot by United States’ Will Holt trickled past Trinidad and Tobago’s keeper Andrey Rocke to give the United States the lead. Trinidad and Tobago rushed back onto attack from the restart and Rea came far out the goal cage to preserve his team’s recent lead. In the 29th minute, Trinidad and Tobago earned a penalty corner, but Rea made multiple saves to keep Trinidad and Tobago from scoring. Rea blocked another Trinidad and Tobago penalty corner shot and the United States held on to their one goal lead over Trinidad and Tobago to end the second quarter. Thus, the score at halftime remained United States 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0.
In the opening minute of the third quarter, Kristien Emmanuel blasted a shot that went wide of the goal cage. For the next five minutes, both teams fought for possession in the midfield. In the 36th minute, Mickell Pierre found an open Marcano in the circle who blasted the shot past Rea to tie the match United States 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1. The United States went back on attack and a shot by Sundeen quickly regained the lead for the United States in the 38th minute. For the next five minutes, the intensity of the match was felt with both teams playing good defense to prevent each other from making more than two consecutive passes. The United States was awarded a penalty corner a few seconds before time expired in the third quarter. Trinidad and Tobago’s defense blocked up the play to keep the score United States 2, Trinidad and Tobago 1 to close out the third quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the United States earned a penalty corner, but the shot was blocked by Rocke. The United States continued to pressure on attack and Rocke continued to make saves to keep the United States from scoring further. For the next ten minutes, both teams continued to battle for possession in the midfield. In the 58th minute, Trinidad and Tobago’s Stefan Mouttet nearly tied the match, but the shot went wide. Pierre then went fast on attack that led to a penalty corner for Trinidad and Tobago in the 59th minute. Rea made a big save to stop the shot by Solomon Eccles. With thirty seconds remaining, Trinidad and Tobago took Rocke out of the match, but Trinidad and Tobago could not get another shot off. Thus, the final score remained United States 2, Trinidad and Tobago 1. With the win, United States will face Mexico in the match for fifth place on 25 July.
Crossover 5-8: Mexico vs. Cuba: 3-1 (ht: 1-0)
The first mens 5-8 crossover was between Mexico and Cuba. Cuba played the match with ten players including keeper Leordan Hernandez. For the first six minutes of the first quarter Mexico held most of the possession, but Cuba’s defense prevented Mexico from getting a shot off and from penetrating their attacking circle. Cuba then had a run on attack, but Yendry Delgado could not get a shot off. Mexico regained possession, but Miguel Othon and Irvin Chavez still had trouble getting a shot off for Mexico. In the 12th minute, Cuba had another run on attack and Delgado had a shot opportunity go just wide of the goal cage. With Cuba continuing to play could defense to hold off the Mexico attack the match remained scoreless at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with Cuba fast on attack and earning the first penalty corner of the match in the 17th minute. Cuba failed to execute the penalty corner play. Mexico’s Bruno Peraza and Pol Moreno kept trying to attack for Mexico, but Cuba continued to play strong defense led by Captain Roger Aguilera. Mexico’s Daniel Castillo was given a green card in the 21st minute and Cuba tried to take advantage. Cuba’s Mikel Tritzant had the ball in Cuba’s attacking circle, but just missed connecting with Yasmanny Gutierrez and Mexico regained possession. In the 27th minute, Cuba’s Marcos Martinez had a breakaway on attack that resulted in another penalty corner for Cuba. Blanco’s shot for Cuba, however, was too high and thus, the match remained scoreless. In the 29th minute, Mexico earned their first penalty corner of the match. Campillo converted the penalty corner to give Mexico the lead over Cuba. In the final minute, Mexico held off Cuba’s attack to preserve the score at halftime, Mexico 1, Cuba 0.
To start the third quarter Mexico went fast on attack and Campillo found Guillermo Pedraza for the quick score past Hernandez to make the score Mexico 2, Cuba 0 in the 32nd minute. Cuba immediately went back on attack and earned two penalty corners. Cuba could not get the shot off on the first and on the second Blanco’s shot was saved by Mexico’s keeper Moises Vargas. In the 38th minute, Cuba earned another penalty corner, but Blanco’s shot went high of the goal cage. Cuba continued to pressure on attack. In the 43rd minute, Cuba’s Martinez found Gutierrez who shot the ball past Hernandez to make the score Mexico 2, Cuba 1. Cuba earned two more penalty corners in the 45th minute, but the shot on the second corner went wide. Thus, Mexico kept its one goal lead over Cuba to end the third quarter.
After five minutes of play in Cuba’s attacking half, Mexico took advantage of its first scoring opportunity in its attacking circle as Ricardo Garcia pushed the ball hard past Hernandez to give his team a two goal lead in the 50th minute. Cuba rushed back on attack and earned another penalty corner in the 52nd minute. Blanco’s hard penalty corner hit was saved by Mexico’s keeper Vargas. Cuba continued to pressure on attack and earned another penalty corner in the 58th minute, but Mexico broke up the play. Cuba regained possession and Aguilera’s shot just missed the inside of the goal from the far post. With either team unable to get another shot off in the final minute, the final score remained Mexico 3, Cuba 1. With the win, Mexico will play for fifth place on 25 July.
