SANTIAGO (CHILE): USA's men's team. coached by Harendra Singh of India snatched a hard-fought 2-1 verdict against Canada in their crucial Pool B encounter in the Pan Am Cup Hockey here today. It was USA's second successive victory from two matches they have played in their pool. They are leading with six points.
USA will next face their pool match against Mexico on January 24. In their opening match USA had beaten Trinidad and Tobago by 4-3.
Canada, who outplayed Mexico by 11-1 in their opening fixture, suffered their first defeat. Their next pool match is against Trinidad and Tobago on January 24. They are in second place in their pool with three points.
The first quarter of their match against USA produced no goals as both teams played a defensive game. USA managed to score their first goal in the 27th minute through Jack Heldens who hit the Canadian defence for a field goal.
USA kept their slender1-0 lead intact till the end of the third quarter. The fourth and last quarter was fought on equal terms with both teams scoring a goal each. Kal Kokolakis increased the lead to 2-0 with a field goal. Canada, going all out, were able to reduce the victory margin of the USA when they forced a penalty corner in the 51st minute and their captain Gordon Johnston sounded the board.
Canada's Mattew Sarmento was shown a yellow card in the 19th minute. Another Canadian player Brendan Guraliuk was given a green card in the 27th minute.
USA's Paul Singh was penalised for rough play and was shown a yellow card in the 45th minute and Ajai Dhadwal was shown a green card in the 35th minute.
In another pool B programme, Mexico got the better of Trinidad and Tobago for their first win from two matches. The highlight of the match was a superb display by Jorge Gomez who scored three goals -- 6th, 37th and 56th minutes. The fourth goal for Mexico was scored by Guillermo Gonzalez in the 59tth minute.
Roshane Hamilton converted a penalty corner in the 16th for Trinidad and Tobago to equal the score 1-1. Joel Daniel scored the second goal for Trinidad and Tobago in the 60th minute.
Agular Jorge of Mexico received yellow (36th) and green (12th) cards. Guillermo Gonzalez, also of Mexico, got green card in the 24th minute.
Down by two goals Argentina bounced back into the game with vengeance to overcome Chile by 3-2.. Chile forged ahead in the fourth minute through Franco Becerra who converted a penalty corner. Ignacio Contardo doubled the margin for Chile.
Lucas Martinez got two goals for Argentina. He converted a penalty corner in the 34th minute. He helped Argentina equal the score 2-2 by scoring a field goal in the 53rd minute. Argentina snatched the match-winner through Maico Casella who scored a field goal in the 59h minute.
Argentina's della Torre Nicolas (43rd) and captain Matias Rey (45th) got yellow cards. Chile's Juan Purcell (31st) and Vicente Goni (29th) received green cards. It was Argentina's second win from two matches and they are leading three-team Pool A with six full points.