In the other match for the key, Puerto Rico defeated Panama 12-0.
Guyana’s team practise their pregame chant, join their sticks and entrust themselves to a good match. This ritual gave good results this evening, as they were on the verge of surprising at the Pan Am Challenge, in the match against Brazil, although the 2-2 draw was almost as good as having won.
This parity allows Guyana to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament, together with Brazil, so on Friday they will meet, in a cross-over with the first two of the other key, to determine which team will cruise to the great final on Friday.
Brazil did not play a good match. Perhaps, because they were surprised by a yellow team which ran in all sectors of the pitch, and covered them out. They were stricken in the 12th minute when Aroydy Branford managed to overcome the resistance of goalkeeper Rodrigo Faustino. When the match resumed after halftime, Brazil came to correct their mistakes and turned the scoreboard over in just two minutes with goals from Stephane Vehrle-Smith and Lucas Paixão. Branford again, in minute 51', sealed the final parity.
“The match with Brazil resulted in a tie, a team that qualified for the Olympic Games next year. Of course, we’re happy. Our first purpose has been accomplished, now we’ll go for more”, said Guyana’s scorer Aroydy Brandford.
Lucas Paixão knows their presentation was incomplete. “We failed executing and didn’t play well. The temperature, the pitch, the string of matches, we felt heavier today”, he said.
PUERTO RICO SCORED
Puerto Rico completed the pool phase with a 12-0 win over Panama, result that did not satisfied the Panamanian team, especially after the outcome of the match played by Guyana and Brazil, they did not have any chances to cruise to the semifinals, no matter the number of goals.
Gilberto Montserrate executed 5 of the 12 goals of his team, overcoming Manuel Colón. Ottus Feliciano, Kenneth Rodríguez and Joseph Agosto added in the scoreboard.
The final qualification of pool A left Brazil in the first place with 7 points, Guyana second with 5 points, Puerto Rico third with 4 points, and Panama with 0 points. Brazil and Guyana have a spot in the semifinals. Puerto Rico and Panama will play in the round for the 5th to 8th place.
