BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -The women’s Argentine team gave a field hockey exhibition, delighting the crowd in the second day of the second Pan-American Cup at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex here.

The defending titlists trounced South American rivals Chile 11-0, on Thursday night, to lead their Pool A with full points after two matches and are already qualified for the semifinals.

Canada and Chile are second with three points, while the Netherlands Antilles close the standings without points. Then, the second place will be decided on Saturday when the Canadians play Chile.

In the pool B, the leaders are the United States with six points as Uruguay and both are also in the last four, while Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago have no points.

The Argentinians sparkled, specially Luciana Aymar and Ayelén Stepnik in midfield and Vanina Oneto and Alejandra Gulla in attack. But in fact, they played as a well-oiled machine.

Argentina and Chile played an accurate and dynamic first half with the world champions setting the pace.

Argentina opened the score early, through Soledad García, in the fourth minute.

Vanina Oneto celebrated her return to the turf – she did not play the first match due to a strain in both calves – with a wonderful goal, in the 23rd minute, after dribbling past some rivals inside the circle.

Two minutes later, Alejandra Gulla deflected a corner dragged shot by Mercedes Margalot to put Argentina 3-0 ahead.

Meanwhile, Chile tried to take advantage of the counter-attacks producing only one through Camila Infante, whose strong shot was saved by Argentine goalie Angela Cattáneo.

But Argentina increased their rhythm and Chile could not prevent two more goals through Natalí Doreski, in the 31st minute, and Oneto again, who deflected a wonderful reverse shot by Inés Arrondo, a minute from half-time.

Aymar was unstoppable after the break, while Gulla becoming a real nightmare for the Chilean back row.

Argentina fully dominated the second half with captain Magdalena Aicega moving from defence feeding the midfield and attack.

Oneto scored the half-dozen for Argentina, in the 43rd minute, while Gulla netted a hat-trick in eight minutes (44th, 46th and 52nd).

Marina Di Giacomo put Argentina 10-0 ahead from a corner dragged shot, in the 64th minute, while Aymar sealed her brilliant performance with a wonderful goal from a reverse stick shot, four minutes before the final whistle.

Friday is a rest day. On Saturday, The Lionesses will clash against the Netherlands Antilles at 5pm Argentine time.

Argentina: Cattáneo; Ferrari, Burkart, Aicega, Margalot; Stepnik, González Oliva, Aymar; Gulla, García and Arrondo. Also played: Russo, Hernández, Oneto, Di Giacomo and Doreski. Coach: Sergio Vigil.

Chile: Abud; Debesa, Martín, Wenz, Albertz; Villagra, Walbaum, Wilson; García, P. Infante and Daniela Infante. Also played: Fernández, Matus, Wagner, Denise Infante and C. Infante. Coach: Luis Ciancia.

Umpires: Renate Peters (Germany) and Keely Dunn (Canada).

Booking – Green card: 49m, P. Infante (Ch).

Canada Overwhelms Netherlands Antilles

Canada demolished the Netherlands Antilles 8-0 to win their first three points of the tournament.

The North Americans set the pace from start to finish to obtain an easy and deserved victory.

The Canadian goals were netted by Stephanie Jameson, in the second and 49th minute; Robin Leslie (30th and 42nd minutes); Lauren McLean (ninth minute); Andrea Rushton (12th); Kristen Taunton (23rd) and Stephanie Hume, in the 56th minute.

Canada: Liu; MacLean, D’Abreo, Rushton, Fraser; Jameson, Rezansoff, Taunton; Leslie, Cuthbert and Magnus. Also played: Hume, Hunt, Buker, Simpson and Timmer. Coach: Kimo Linders.

Netherlands Antilles: Hartmans van de Rijdt; Gonesh, Dumas, Muys, van Asma; Hanstede, van den Barselaar, Mellena, Visser; Thies and Wellens. Also played: Vloeimans, Anne-Marieka Holten, Sanne Holten, van Bisbergen and Dennert-Kleijn. Coach: Patrick van Bergen.

Umpires: Alicia Takeda (Mexico) and Ruth Limberg (Barbados).

Booking – Yellow card: 64m, van Asma (AHO)