LONDON, Ontario, Canada - The first day of classification of the Men's Pan American Cup was played today at University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, in overcast weather. Places five to eleven are now allocated before the final day on Sunday.

9th-10th place - (5A) Brazil vs. Uruguay : 1-1 (ps: 2-4)

The two teams played an animated game of open hockey, creating good chances at both ends. The goalkeepers were busy early and Mallo in the Uruguayan goal made a couple of spectacular saves.

Uruguay opened the scoring by Jorge Perez after a decisive run by Gaston Turnes through the whole Brazilian defense. Uruguay had most of the play in the first period but Brazil could have equalized on some of their chances.

The game became physical in the second period and the umpires needed to use their cards to cool the tempers. Brazil pushed to come back in the game, building up some quick counter-attacks. They earned a couple of penalty-corners but couldn't complete their option on the first one and shot just wide the second one.

Both teams played with a lot of emotion but relied too much on individual runs to be really dangerous. Uruguay had the majority of the ball possession while Brazil created the most dangerous chances, including a series of three penalty corners. On the third one, Hugo Burton scored despite Mallo catching a piece of the ball.

With the score tied at 1-1, both teams tried to force the decision before the end of regular time. Uruguay earned a last second penalty-corner but couldn't manufacture a shot so the game moved on to extra-time with the Golden Goal rule in effect.

Uruguay was immediately dangerous on a penetrating run by Patricio Draper but it was well defended by Hugo Burton. After a collision and a scuffle in midfield, both teams were reduced to ten players and the game became rougher. Players were getting tired and the game was riddled with fouls on both sides and no more chances were generated… until Brazil earned a last second penalty-corner, with the Uruguayan irate by the call. They couldn't capitalize on this last chance and the game moved on to penalty-strokes.

Uruguayan goalkeeper Mallo saved the first two Brazilian strokes and set-up Nicolas Tixe for the winning stroke, triggering a joyful celebration complete with shirt waving and lap around the pitch with flag.

7th-8th place - USA vs. Puerto Rico : 11-0

The USA started this game on a high tempo, willing to redeem themselves after their disappointing game against Mexico in the cross-over game. They scored on their first penalty corner on a straight shot by Patrick Harris and on the second one a couple minutes later by Jarred Martin receiving the ball alone in front the goalkeeper.

Puerto Rico had trouble organizing their defense and USA scored four more goals before half-time (6-0). The pace and interest of the game dropped in the second half, with Puerto Rico seldom crossing the midfield line and USA adding 5 more goals, mostly on individual efforts and penalty corners.

Final score: 11 - 0, with a hat-trick for Jarred Martin.

5th-6th place - Mexico vs. Netherlands Antilles : 0-2

The game for the fifth and sixth place was much anticipated, between two teams that had a very good tournament so far and two very different styles: more youth and dynamism for Mexico vs. more individual skills and experience for the Netherlands Antilles. Their pool game was hotly contested, with the Netherlands Antilles winning with two penalty corners in second period.

The game started with a long observation round in midfield, with both teams losing balls under pressure. The Mexican had the first real chances with some good circle penetrations and a couple of penalty corners, but to no avail. At the other end, the Netherlands Antilles also earned two penalty corners but the Mexican had the time to study Jaap Overgaauw's drag flick during the week and saved them cleanly. It is only on their fifth penalty corner that the Dutch fooled the Mexican defense with a swift give and go that left Overgaauw alone a few meters in front of the goalkeeper for the first goal of the game and his tenth of the competition. Score at half-time: 1-0

Mexico started the second period with a bang, earning immediately three penalty corners. They could only control the third one but Tomas Kholen in the Netherlands Antilles goal moved well to prevent a deflection on his right post. Mexico maintained the pressure and earned some dangerous free hits and a few penalty corners, while the Dutch Antilles players seemed to fail to understand some of the calls. But their defense, backed by an inspired Kolen in goal, held tight and cleared calmly the hottest balls.

On one of their rare counter-attacks, they forced a penalty-corner. Jaap Overgaauw couldn't unleash his drag flick but managed to penetrate deep in the D and earned a stroke, which he converted himself. Mexico pushed desperately in the last fifteen minutes of the game, maintaining the play in the Dutch 25, but couldn't score even when the Dutch Antilles were reduced to ten players. The Dutch players needed to use all their experience (Jaap Overgaauw unleashed some giant scoops to release temporarily the pressure) to keep the score at 2-0.

The Netherlands Antilles finished fifth, an excellent result for this nation that only decided last year to compete on the continental scene. With their Dutch hockey heritage, they bring a style different from the South American and Caribbean teams and the Pan American competitions can only benefit from that.

Mexico cannot be disappointed with their 6th place in this competition. They have a young team in progression, playing a structured and disciplined game. They have a good future when they manage to improve their penalty corner.