Cuba Men Repeat as CAC Champions
Day 10
We were provided with a really mixed bag today. We had a shootout, a forfeit and a blowout to go with an intriguing final match. Cuba were hoping to follow in the footsteps of their ladies team, going on to win gold after losing their opening match. Mexico were hoping to repeat the feat of the gold medal winning team of 2010.
Match 1 7-8th – Guatemala (GUA) vs. Jamaica (JAM)
Our first match features two teams looking for their first win of the tournament. Between them they have managed one goal, scored by Guatemala in their loss to Dominican Republic.
Jamaica took control of the game early on and in the 3’ minute Giovanni GREEN got into the circle but his reverse stick shot was blocked by a Guatemalan defender. Jamaican continued to full press while Guatemala tried to absorb the early pressure and look for counterattacks. In the 4’ minute LEIVA broke free from a quick counterattack, but his shot from an acute angle was easily saved by GK Green. The action continued as another Guatemalan counterattack ended in a shot that was defended well. Jamaica then earned a PC in the 13’ minute but they missed the option without getting a shot. The Q1 horn sounded with the score still 0-0.
We needed only 2 minutes in Q2 for some action with JOHNSON making a timely tackle to deny a shot. Immediately after Guatemala earned a PC but the Jamaican defence kept it out. In the 24’ Jamaica had a great opportunity, but MITCHELL missed his reverse stick shot into what would have been an open goal off of a rebound. Then in the 27’ Gio GORDON had another shot that missed the target. Jamaica continued to pressure Guatemala, but the halftime horn sounded with the score still 0-0.
Guatemala started Q3 more aggressively and in the 32’ minute VILLATORO got into the circle but GREEN made an excellent save to deny him. Jamaica started to regain control of the match and in the 38’ minute earned a PC but the option pass was well defended by SANCHEZ. A minute later MITCHELL made a skilful run into the circle, but his shot and the following rebound by Gio GORDON were both saved by GK LÓPEZ. Immediately after Jamaica earn a PC but the option pass was deflected wide by first post defender PALMA. In the 44’ minute Onoque SALMON had a great chance with an uncontested shot that he drilled wide. Q3 ended 0-0.
Jamaica kept complete control of the game going into Q4. However, after a sustained period of pressure Guatemala started to attack again and in the 53’ minute LEIVA cut into the circle from the right but his reverse still shot missed the target. In the next minute another right sided Guatemalan attack saw a cross missed in front of goal by PINEDA. Guatemala were now dictating play, breaking up Jamaican attacks in midfield and launching their own. In the 57’ VILLATORO got the ball in an inside right position to shoot well, but substitute GK BURTON made a great save to keep the score 0-0. Jamaica recovered some control to force a PC as the final horn sounded. Gio GORDON had one more glorious chance to win the game, but he shot across the goal from the first post to send the game to a shootout.
MITCHELL, McGLASHEN and JOHNSON stepped out to score for Jamaica while none of the Guatemalan players were able to score. Jamaica won the shootout and 7th place with the 0-0 (0-3) result.
Match 2 5-6th – Barbados (BAR) vs. Dominican Republic (DOM)
Dominican Republic forfeited their classification match. Barbados finish in 5th place.
Match 3 Bronze Medal – Guyana (GUY) vs. Trinidad & Tobago (TTO)
The bronze medal match featured Caribbean rivals both rebounded from disappointing semi-final losses. TTO got off to the faster start and in the 2’ minute a nice build up move ended up on the stick of Shaquille DANIEL whose shot was blocked on the line by the body of the defender. Tariq MARCANO stepped up to score the PS. In the next minute GUY looked dangerous on a circle entry, but O’CONNOR’s tackled broke up the play. A few minutes later De SANTOS got a one-on-one against GK ROCKE who managed to clear the ball out of the circle. In the 8’ minute TTO earned two PCs. REYNOS flicked shot was saved by GK SCOTLAND for BROWNE to slap into the goal. LEGERTON missed a cross a minute later as TTO piled on the pressure. TTO continued to dominate possession, but GUY defended well absorbing the pressure while looking for counterattacks. In the 14’ minute from a lightning quick counterattack ASSANAH rounded ROCKE, but his shot was saved by REYNOS. Q1 ended with the score 0-2.
TTO continued their dominance in Q2 earning a sequence of 3 PCs in the 17’ minute, but the GUY defence held firm to keep them out. GUY started seeing a bit more of the ball, but found very little room to create opportunities. Their defence also started to stifle the TTO attacks as the game eased into a midfield battle. In the 29’ minute Aroydy BRANFORD got into the circle and took a firm shot which was well saved by ROCKE. The halftime horn sounded with the score still 0-2.
Q3 got off to a fast start. Teague MARCANO missed a chance to increase the lead in the 32’ minute. GUY settled after that and the next action came in the 38’ minute when DE SANTOS had a shot deflect off of a defender’s stick and away from goal. In the 41’ minute Daniel BYER’s shot was blocked well by SCOTT as GUY continued to deny TTO. In the 43’ minute DANIEL had a one on one with SCOTLAND but the GK was too good for him. GUY earned two PCs just as the quarter ended, the second was pushed wide by Aroydy BRANFORD. Q3 score remained 0-2.
The final quarter saw GUY push harder to get back into the game, leaving more spaces for the TTO team to attack. In the 51’ minute TTO took advantage of the space to hit past SCOTLAND for his team’s third. In the next minute BROWNE’s PC flick went in to make it 4-0. In the 56’ minute ROCKE saved another shot and from the resultant TTO counterattack LEGERTON and Daniel BYER went on a 2 vs. 1 against SCOTLAND who did well to save the shot but could not prevent the PC. BROWNE’s drag flick was partially blocked and DANIEL slapped home the rebound. The final horn sounded to end the game at 0-5. TTO, like their ladies team, win the bronze medal.
Match 4 Gold Medal – Cuba (CUB) vs. Mexico (MEX)
Our gold medal match saw defending champions Cuba take on 2014 bronze medallists Mexico. The match was also Francisco AGUILAR’s 100th for his country. The game got off to an expected fast start. Cuba were the first to settle, using long passes to try and get their skilful players in one on one situations against the Mexican defenders. Mexico’s defence was patient and strong, keeping the Cubans out. In the 11’ minute a Cuba PC was flicked over bars. One minute later CONSUEGRA also shot over bar from a few yards out. The Q1 horn sounded with the score 0-0.
Q2 started as quickly as the first. CALDERON had a dangerous circle entry in the 17’ but the Mexican defence again held firm. Two minutes later CONSUEGRA earned a PC but again the Mexican defenders did an excellent job. CALDERON got into the circle in the 24’ minute, but kept the ball too long and was tackled by CASTILLO with SARDUY free in front of goal. In the 28’ minute GONZALEZ’s firm left side cross was deflected into the goal beautifully by SARDUY. Mexico continued to fight and earned two PCs in the last seconds of halftime, but GK HERNANDEZ made an outstanding glove save to deny Francisco AGUILAR.
The second half started more quietly than the first, Mexico dominating the early possession in midfield. Cuba fought back, a 33’ minute circle penetration keeping Mexico’s MENDEZ busy. The game then went back and forth between the two 23-metre lines, neither team able to take control of the game. Then in the 42’ minute Cuba earned a PC after Mexico desperately defended shots from TRITZANT and GUTIERREZ. The shot from SARDUY was brilliantly saved by HERNANDEZ. Immediately after Mexico went down field and earned a PC, but the Cuban defence denied the shot. Then in the 44’ SARDUY’s cross was fumbled by Roberto GARCIA and SANCHEZ picked up the loose ball to drill it into the goal. The Q3 horn sounded with the score 2-0.
Mexico started Q4 pushing Cuba back, but the Cubans won the ball and immediately went on the attack. In the 48’ minute Mexico earned a PC but the option pass to PEDRAZA was missed. In the next minute Cuba attacked down the right with SARDUY who passed to AGUILERA whose bullet shot was brilliantly saved by HERNANDEZ. In the 54’ minute a quick Mexico attack saw PEDRAZA’s shot saved by GK HERNANDEZ. Right after Mexico earned a series of PCs the second of which the defence cleared Roberto GARCIA’s desperate shot. With 1:58 on the clock Mexico pulled their GK to play with the extra field player. It did not make a difference and Cuban players started celebrating as the final seconds counted down. The horn sounded with the final score Cuba 2-0 Mexico. Congratulations to Cuba on winning the gold medal.
The final tournament rank is as follows:
1. Cuba
2. Mexico
3. Trinidad and Tobago
4. Guyana
5. Barbados
7. Jamaica
8. Guatemala
| Final determination on Dominican Republic’s placing is being reviewed by the PAHF & FIH due to their inability to play their final match against Barbados |
Thank you for following us these past 2 weeks. We hope that you enjoyed our updates and we look forward to sharing future tournaments with you. Special thank you to the Colombian public who came out to watch the matches and the volunteers for their tremendous support during the Games.
