ARGENTINA DEFEND CROWN WITH SUCCESS

Argentina defeated Chile 7-0 defending their crown with success in the eighth men's Pan-American Junior Championship at the Antonio Maceo stadium, 25 kilometres South from La Havana.

This tournament qualified the top three - Argentina, Chile and Mexico - for the Junior World Championship to take place from June 29 to July 10 in Rotterdam, Holland.

In a back and forth first half, with high-standard hockey exhibition from both teams, Argentina took a 4-0 lead in the last 10 minutes.

It was an excellent half as both team produced dangerous attacks well saved by their respective back rows and keepers.

Argentina got four penalty corners (against one from Chile), but failed to capitalize the first two. In the third, Pedro Ibarra opened the score from his powerful dragged shot for the 1-0 lead, in the 25th minute.

From then on, Argentina were superior in precision and speed to net three more times, in the 27th and 28th minutes, by Tomás Argento and Lucas Vila, both from solo plays, and through Ibarra, again, from a penalty corner, a minute before half-time.

Argentina kept control of play after half-time, while Chile continuously attack but they could not break their neighbours' resistance.

The title holders answered with fast counter-attacks, reaching Chile's area with danger and then they increased the advantage to 5-0 from anoter Ibarra's powerful corner shot, in the 53rd minute.

With one man less in each side - Tomás Alonso and Diego Villaseca were temporarily sent off, in the 66th minute - Argentina sealed their solid victory with two more goals from Lucas Vila, in the 68th minute, and Tomás Argento, again, in the 70th.

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

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

Umpires: Kim Hong Lae (Korea) and Gus Soteriades (United States).

Booking - Yellow cards: Alonso (A); Villaseca (Ch). Green cards: 47m, González (A); 49m, Rossi (A).

BRONZE AND WORLD CUP BERTH FOR MEXICO

Mexico trounced the United States 4-0 and also qualified for the next men's World Junior Championship.

It was expected more from the US performance against Mexico, but the Mexican fully dominated the first half to go to half-time leading 4-0.

Mexico put up an excellent performance during the first 35 minutes. They showed accurate and clever play with few mistakes, while their forwards did not failed at the time to score.

On the other hand, Chávez's team took advantage of the penalty corners, while the US team defended them very bad.

Thus, Mexico capitalized on almost all the option they created. In the seventh minute, captain Roberto García opened the score from a penalty corner, and four minutes later, striker Jorge Gómez put his team 2-0 ahead from a rush through the right wing.

In the 15th minute, Reyson Aguayo deflected a cross to net the third, while Gómez again increased the gap to 4-0, in the 25th, deflecting a penalty corner.

Meanwhile, United States attacked looking for a goal, but they failed to produce clear penetrations and when they did it, Mexico's back row and keeper Alejandro Vargas stopped them in style.

United States attacked from the very beginning of the second half, but their advances were well intercepted by Mexico, who overcrowded the midfield and defence sectors, alongside a sparkling performance by goalie Vargas.

Mexico kept control of play until the final, defending throughout the field and counter-attacking with two forwards, and sometimes only one, to take the deserve bronze and the last Junior World Cup berth.

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

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

Umpires: Michiel Bruning (Holland) and Thomas Gantz (Chile).

Booking - Green card: 23m, D. Jordan (US).

FIFTH PLACE FOR CANADA

In a close match, Canada defeated the hosts 2-1 to take the fifth place.

Cuba fully dominated the first half, but Canada opened the score - in the 27th minute - by Mark Pearson.

Cuba kept the pace of the first 35 minutes, reaching the circle several times with danger, but the good performance by Canadian goalie Patrick Mackey, prevented the local side to open the score.

The first deep attack was enough to allow Canada to take a 1-0 lead.

Canada reacted after half-time, pushing Cuba hard towards their back line. Meanwhile, the hosts answered with fast counter-attacks looking for the equalizer.

However, it was Canada again who increased the gap - in the 52nd minute - through Jesse Virdi, who capitalized on a penalty corner cross.

Cuba's efforts were rewarded, in the 64th minute, when Ramón Risquet netted, but the last six minutes were not enough to allow the home side to equalize.

Cuba: Hernández; Y. González, Caballero, Aguilera, Barzaga; Risquet, Olivares, Dieguez; Díaz, Quirola and Makenci. Also played: Castillo, Herrera, Gutiérrez and J. González. Coach: Yumai Oliva.

Canada: Mackey; Hobkirk, Roberts, A. Wright, Joseph; Hildreth, Tupper, Ford; Pearson, Jameson and P. Wright. Also played: H. Virdi, J. Virdi, Hancock and Smythe. Coach: Giles Wheatley.

Umpires: Javier Palomo (Mexico) and Daniel López (Uruguay).

Booking - Yellow cards: 45m, Castillo (Cu); 56m, Roberts (Ca); 68m, Tupper (Ca). Green cards: 18m, J. Virdi (Ca); 26m, Dieguez (Cu); 28m, H. Virdi (Ca); 68m, Aguilera (Cu).