ARGENTINA, CHILE QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP

Argentina and Chile obtained a berth for the men's Junior World Championship, which will take place from June 26 to July 10 in Rotterdam, Holland, by defeating México 5-0 and the United States 3-2 (with golden goal), in the first and second semifinals of the penultimate day of the eighth men's Pan-American Junior Championship on Saturday at the Antonio Maceo stadium, 25 kilometres South of La Havana.

Both winners will play the final, on Sunday at 2pm local time.

First semifinal: Argentina 5 Mexico 0

Mexico could stop Argentina during the first minutes of the first half, but when the South Americans opened the score, in the 9th minute, from a powerful corner dragged shot by Pedro Ibarra, the title holders kept the pace, cutting México the ways to reach the circle.

Argentina's striker Facundo Callioni was a real nightmare for Mexico's left wing as the other two goals, that Argentina scored in the first half, came from that side.

In the 21st minute, Callioni rushed through the left wing to hit a cross that Tomás Alonso connected easily for the 2-0 lead. Two minutes later, Callioni again reached Mexico's circle through this side to give an accurate pass to Ibarra, who netted the third from a wonderful lob while spectators celebrated the skill of the Argentine midfielder.

In the second half, Mexico tightened their marks, but Argentina continued dominating, pressing their rivals back row and cutting them the chances to move from defence.

In spite of, the South Americans missed good scoring chances they netted two more goals through Tomás Argento, in the 40th minute, and captain Lucas Rossi, in the 61st.

Then, Argentina sealed a deserved victory, validating their status as favourites.

Argentina: Dell Agnolla; Brunet, Rey, López, Tisera; Vila, Ibarra, Rossi; Corradini, T. Argento and Callioni. Also played: Bergner, L. Argento, Alonso, González and Ortega. Coach: Pablo Lombi.

Mexico: Vargas; Galván, Zuleta, Barrera, Reyes; Martínez, R. García, Ríos Benítez; Gómez, E. García and Aguayo. Also played: C. García, Gallegos, Correa, Chavira and Borquez. Coach: Jaime Chávez.

Umpires: Marc Knule (France) and Sukh Bajwa (Canada).

Booking - Green cards: 16m, Ibarra (A); 26m, González (A); 51m, Zuleta (M); 64m, R. García (M).

Second semifinal: United States 2 Chile 3 (golden goal)

In a close match, Chile also clinched a berth for the World Junior Championship by defeating the US 3-2 with golden goal in the first extra time.

The match had finished tied 2-2, but striker Alexis Berczely gave his team the World Cup berth scoring from a penalty corner, in the seventh minute of the first extra time period.

It was a back and forth first half as both sides produced good scoring chances in front of goals, but the United States seemed to control play better than their rivals, defending well the Chilean attacks.

The North Americans surprised Chile with an early goal, in the sixth minute, from Richie Jordan, who alongside his brother Daniel were the most dangerous forwards of the US team.

Meanwhile, Chile appeared nervous and had problems to play as usually, but they were evening play step by step, though they were inaccurate in front of US' goal failing to take advantage of the four penalty corners they produced in the first 35 minutes.

The emotions continued after half-time with both sides showing close marking and good play. But Chile reacted to equalize, five minutes from the re-start, from a wonderful solo play by Alexis Berczely.

Two minutes later, Chile took the lead when Raimundo Valenzuela capitalized on a penalty corner rebound.

After the goal, Chile were slightly superior than the US, increasing their attacks looking to widen the lead. But the North Americans continued pressing, reaching also the South American circle with danger.

Thus, for Chile's deception, US captain Patrick Harris equalized, two minutes before the final, from a penalty corner.

United States: Saez; S. Harris, Sherburne, Mahan, Freundlich; Farooqui, P. Harris, Ginolfi; Cunningham, D. Jordan and R. Jordan. Also played: Schlosser, Niles, Pile and Scally. Coach: Nicholas Conway.

Chile: Hanríquez; Labra, Thiermann, Almarza, Yuraszeck; Villaseca, Valenzuela, Gajardo; Berczely, Kannegiesser and Kapsch. Also played: C. Zarhi, Fernández and J. Zarhi. Coach: Diego Amoroso.

Umpires: Michiel Bruning (Holland) and Albert Marcano (Trinidad & Tobago).

Booking - Green cards: 22m, Kapsch (Ch); 26m, Niles (US).

JAMAICA FINISH NINTH

In a lacklustre match, Jamaica defeated Puerto Rico 5-0 to finish ninth in the eighth men's Pan-American Junior Championship on Saturday.

With a hat-trick by André Gardiner - in the 10th, 30th and 46th minutes; and the others scored by Garcia Kelly, in the 25th, and Andrew Jones, in the 51st, Jamaica was a fair winner.

Puerto Rico: Pizarro; Ortiz, Figueras, Rivera, C. Feliciano; Colón, Basora, González; Márquez, León and Cruz. Also played: Rodríguez and O. Feliciano. Coach: Carlos Ríos.

Jamaica: Shakespeare; Fisher, McGlashen, Marshall, R. Smith; K. Smith, Levy, Burke, Kelly; Beach and Davis. Also played: Beckford, Gardiner, Jones, East and Duncan. Coach: Michael Broadber.

Umpires: Luis Villa (Cuba) and Daniel Gonzáles (Peru).

Booking - Yellow cards: 63m, Jones (J). Green cards: 7m, Ortiz (PR); 53m, Figueras (PR); 58m, Beckford (PR).

SEVENTH POSITION FOR BARBADOS

Barbados defeated Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 to clinch the seventh place of the tournament in the last match of the penultimate day of the eighth men's Pan-American Junior Championship on Saturday..

In an even first half, Trinidad & Tobago took a 1-0 lead, in the ninth minute, by Kiel Murray.

Progressively, Barbados was evening play to net, in the 23rd minute, through a well executed penalty stroke by Neil Franklin.

Barbados fully dominated in the last minutes of the first half, to take a 2-1 advantage by Paul Harding, in the 32nd minute.

Both teams struggled after half-time, producing good scoring options in front of goals, but Barbados widened the gap to 3-1 through another penalty stroke, netted again by Franklin, in the 61st minute.

Franklin, again, but this time from a corner cross sealed the 4-1 victory, a minute before the final whistle.

Trinidad & Tobago: Thompson; Cupid, Rambaran, Graham, Hume; Henderson, Cowie, Luces; Toussaint, Legerton and Murray. Also played: McKellar, Craig and Bodkin. Coach: Richard Quan Chan.

Barbados: D'Aguiar; Henry, Puckerin, Payne, Phillips; Small, Forde, Davis, Harding; Clarke and Rice. Also played: Jules, Franklin, Hutson and Warner. Coach: Peter Chase.

Umpires: Thomas Gantz (Chile) and Gus Soteriades (US).

Booking - Yellow cards: 23m, Cupid (T&T); 60m, Rambaran (T&T) and Clarke (B); 66m, Payne (B). Green cards: 17m, Rice (B).