Canada 5 v Trinidad & Tobago 7
Defending champions Canada went into their final pool match with Trinidad & Tobago needing a 4 goal margin to earn their sport in the final. This would not be an easy task against the undefeated TTO team.
Their campaign started well with Micah Teixeira scoring on an early corner layoff. TTO failed to execute a penalty corner and then found themselves short a player as Aidan de Gannes was called for drilling. Canada pressed but couldn’t take advantage. Another card, this time a yellow to Jordan Viera put TTO in a bind, Gurtej Dhaliwal got a jump in the circle and earned a penalty stroke that was swiftly converted by Jonathan Roberts.
TTO briefly enjoyed a man advantage and a nice defensive play by Teixeira prevented any damage. Soon enough De Gannes earned a penalty corner that TTO again failed to stop at the top of the circle. Canada continued to press and then after a few passes in the circle Jonathan Roberts was able to pop Canada’s third goal home.
Opening the second half Canada earned their first 4 goal advantage of the match. Lyle Fernandes with a top mesh goal that stymied Ron Alexander in the TTO goal. Canada conceded two penalty corners for physical play and on the second one TTO connected and earned a penalty stroke, dutifully converted by Jordan Reynolds. This ignited the TTO team as they followed up with 2 goals from James Marcus in the same minute. TTO changed the script of this match in 45 seconds. They also got their penalty corner working as Soloman Eccles converted from the top to bring them equal.
Trinidad & Tobago were not finished, Jordan Viera found himself at the end of a series of passes and blasted the ball into the backboard for their first lead of the match. With the finals all but out of reach Canada played for pride and tied the match up with a corner goal by Devohn Teixeira. This didn’t break the TTO momentum as they scored two more in the final minutes to close out the match 7-5. Trinidad will take their undefeated record into the finals tomorrow against Argentina.
Barbados 4 v Mexico 2
Both Barbados and Mexico were without points at the beginning of the match and independent of the result would be repeating this match for 5th place tomorrow. Mexico got out to the start they wanted with sharp goals by Christhopher Vigueras and Alan Baas. Barbados claimed one back by Che Warner to close out the first half.
Warner tallied again early in the second to erase the Mexico lead. Dave Cox added one from the field to pull Barbados ahead for the first time. Mexico had many chances to equalize in the final minutes but weren’t able to get the ball past Keenan Knight in the Bajan goal. An insurance goal by Neil Franklin gave Barbados the victory 4-2
Argentina 3 v Guyana 1
The final pool match of the competition had Guyana facing Argentina. Guyana needed a large goal difference to make it into the finals. They pressed for extended periods but couldn’t get good positioning to score. Led by Joaquin Gonzalez at the back Argentina methodically moved the ball around the field and despite several incursions into the Guyanese circle they couldn’t score. It took till the final minute after a Guyana giveaway for Argentina to earn a penalty corner that Juan Eleicegui finished emphatically putting his team up by one at the half.
Guyana pressured in the second half with a strong penalty corner shot by Jason de Santos saved by Francisco Demonte. Demonte smothered another opportunity moments later to rebuke Guyana again. It wouldn’t be long before Argentina regained their footing. After a scramble in the Guyanese circle Alfredo Sosa popped the ball into the goal to give Argentina a 2-0 margin.
The home crowd was finally rewarded for their patience as their captain Robert France struck a loose ball into the top of the goal to half the deficit. Argentina responded quickly with Gonzalez sounding the backboard to put Argentina into the drivers seat. Guyana pulled their goalkeeper with five minutes remaining in hopes of pulling even, but Demonte was up for the challenge. Argentina finish with a 3-1 margin and a place in the finals.
