Day 4
Day 4 of CAC Games action saw all the Day 2 teams that lost play to stay in the competition. JAM vs GUA and CUB vs GUY all playing for a chance to still play in the semi-finals. TTO vs BAR and DOM vs MEX played to consolidate their place in the semi-finals.
Match 1 Pool B – Guatemala (GUA) vs. Dominican Republic (DOM)
Our opening match saw two teams trying to recover from opening round losses. GUA wanted to show that their opening round performance was no fluke and their last result against DOM in the 2014 CAC Games was a 0-8 defeat. GUA settled first, controlling the flow of the game with possession hockey. DOM eventually settled into their own plan of trying to force turnovers in midfield and counterattack quickly. Their plan earned a few PCs, the third of which was turned into the goal by Jorge NIVAR. GUA remained calm and earned their own PC which was scored on a rebound shot by Oscar LEIVA. Q1 ended with the scores at 1-1.
Q2 started with the same pattern of GUA controlling possession and DOM trying to win the ball in midfield. As the quarter progressed it was the DOM strategy that seemed to work better and they forced a number of saves from Jorge LOPEZ to keep the score at 1-1, which was how it stayed when the halftime horn sounded. Q3 started where the previous one ended with DOM in control of the game. GUA fought back earning a PC, but the DOM defence cleared the danger. Shortly after DOM took a deserved lead when Joel MONCION struck the ball firmly past LOPEZ from the top of the circle. GUA tried to create opportunities, but the best they could manage was a PC that was again well defended. Q3 ended with DOM leading 2-1.
Q4 started as a midfield battle, with both teams cancelling out attacks early. DOM looked more dangerous and started to find more space as GUA had two players serve yellow card suspensions. Shortly after one of these suspensions started DOM made a circle penetration that ended with a well taken Francisco GARCIA goal. The final horn sounded a few minutes later for a final score of GUA 1-3 DOM.
Match 2 Pool B – Guyana (GUY) vs. Mexico(MEX)
Match 2 saw the Pool B leaders clash to see who would take that step closer to the semi-final. The game was very tactical with neither team giving any opportunities to attack. MEX began to push the GUY team back into their defensive half and most of the quarter played there, although their were no goals by the time the horn sounded.
Q2 continued as Q1, with just a few PCs for MEX that were well defended by GUY. The MEX pressure paid off when they earned a PS that was scored by Francisco AGUILAR. GUY pushed to get back into the game, but the MEX remained in control until the halftime horn sounded.
Q3 started with MEX immediately putting the pressure on GUY earning their second PS within a minute. AGUILAR stepped up and scored again for a 2-0 lead. MEX maintained their grip on the game, but GUY were able to prevent them from scoring again as the horn brought an end to the quarter.
Q4 came and with it, for the first time in the tournament, clouds. The effect on the temperature was immediate and it seemed to give GUY a boost as they began to push MEX back. However, AGUILAR was able to get more space to work and he used it to complete his hattrick. GUY never gave up, earning a PC as they tried to get back into the game. They did come close when Aroydy BRANFORD hit the upright, but the final horn sounded a few minutes later with MEX winning 3-0.
Match 3 Pool A – Cuba (CUB) vs. Jamaica (JAM)
Our third match started under a cloud cover that brought easily the coolest temperatures of the tournament. The action was still quite hot as CUB put JAM on the defensive immediately. The JAM goal was under constant siege requiring strong defending from GK GREEN and his team to keep the score 0-0. CUB earned a PC which Darian VALERO scored for a 1-0 lead, which is how things stayed by the end of Q1.
Q2 started with CUB in full control, but JAM started finding ways to play long passes looking for counterattacks. One of these long passes led to GK Leordan HERNANDEZ fouling Andre GARDENER for a PS. Duvaughn HENLON step up and pulled his shot wide to the keeper’s right to miss a glorious chance for JAM to equalise. JAM continued to defend well and push for counterattacks, but CUB managed to keep them out of their circle. Q2 ended still 1-0.
Q3 was a productive one for CUB as Heriberto SARDUY scored an early PS followed by a FG to put his team in control. Wilfredo SANCHEZ added a 4th after and when Marcos MARTINEZ added a 5th it looked like a blow out was on the cards. The quarter ended at 5-0 CUB.
Q4 though saw a strong fight back from JAM who managed to keep out the CUB attacks while forcing play more into the middle of the field. They managed a few attacks of their own, but neither side was able to score again and the final horn sounded with the score CUB 5 – 0 JAM.
Match 4 Pool A – Barbados (BAR) vs. Trinidad and Tobago (TTO)
Our final match was the Caribbean Classico between BAR and TTO, both looking to consolidate top spot in Pool A. TTO started the game the stronger of the teams using the long pass to force BAR deep. They earned a series of PCs, the last of which was scored by Tariq MARCANO. TTO continued to dominate the game, but did not add any goals. The 1st quarter ended 0-1.
Q2 again saw TTO dictate the play, using the long pass effectively. They hit many hard crosses into the circle, which made it difficult for their forwards to get on to the bouncing ball lifting unpredictably off of the field. BAR kept their intensity up and forced a circle penetration that ended with a PS. Che WARNER sent the GK the wrong way to equalise. The 2nd quarter ended 1-1.
Q3 BAR started getting room to counterattack down the right wing. From one of these attacks came a cross that Akeem RUDDER slapped home to give BAR the lead. Minutes later another right side attack almost led to a third goal, but the TTO defence was able to clear. Both teams continued to attack each other at a high tempo, but neither could score. The 3rd quarter ended with BAR leading 2-1.
Q4 started quickly, both teams going hard for the win. It led to more midfield play, but the TTO team gradually started to get more play in the BAR half. They managed to earn many PCs, but struggled to get shots off against strong defending. BAR nearly caught their opponents on the counterattack, but Andrey ROCKE kept them out. The final horn brought an end to an exciting match and 2-1 win for BAR who have now seized control of a wide open Pool A.
Tomorrow is the final round of Pool play for the women with only Guyana and Guatemala unable to play for the semi-final. They will both be hungry to get a win on the board and with semi-final spots on the line for the rest it promises to be an intriguing day of hockey. See you tomorrow for BAR vs. GUA, MEX vs. GUY, JAM vs. TTO and CUB vs. DOM.
