Day 2 featured very competitive matches, with very little separating the teams. The heat came from the hockey as much as the sun with the lower ranked teams showing that they will not be underestimated.
Match 1 Pool A – Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) vs. Cuba (CUB)
Our first men’s match saw a clash of Caribbean power houses. The TTO team playing with the memory of teammate Kwasi EMMANUEL in their hearts.
The game got off to a fast start with CUB getting the first few shots at goal, but Andrey ROCKE stayed strong for his team. Both teams used lots of long direct passing, TTO mixing theirs up with more aerial passes. Their strategy paid off when Teague MARCANO gave them the lead with a tap in before the end of Q1.
Q2 also got off to a fast start with CUB pushing for an equaliser, but the TTO defence held firm.CUB got a few PCs and deflected shots but still could not score, while MARCANO nearly caught them on a counterattack. Neither team was able to score before the Q2 horn sounded.
Q3 started with a more patient TTO team, who kept possession for longer periods. They created more chances and Akim TOUSSAINT narrowly missed his shot. CUB though kept coming forward and were rewarded when Wilfredo SANCHEZ scored to make it 1-1, which was how the quarter ended. TTO were dominating the flow of play now and they regained the lead when Mickell PIERRE slapped home a PC rebound. CUB tried to get back into the game, but Jordan VIEIRA helped the TTO defence keep them out for a final score of 2-1.
Match 2 Pool A – Barbados (BAR) vs. Jamaica (JAM)
The second match was another all Caribbean clash. The early possession was dominated by JAM who got a few circle entries without forcing a shot. BAR played for the counterattack and it worked when Shonkeel WHARTON beat keeper from an acute angle for a 1-0 lead at the end of Q1.
Q2 was similar in that JAM continued to dominate possession but failed to create any goal scoring chances. BAR also made a few circle entries without creating any clear chances. Q2 ended with the score still 1-0 to BAR. JAM continued to push for an equaliser, but the BAR defence was immovable. BAR still looked the more likely to score on a counterattack, but were denied by Giovanni GREEN in the JAM goal.
Q4 started with JAM getting desperate and the game getting more physical. With 3 minutes to go and playing with a player on a 5-minute suspension JAM pulled their goalkeeper for the extra field player but the BAR defence remained as immovable as ever for the game to finish 1-0.
Our third match featured our third consecutive all Caribbean clash and our first in Pool B. DOM needed a little under 2 minutes to take the lead against GUY. After that the game featured a lot of physical play and tough tackles, but very little in terms of circle action. GUY did earn a 2 PCs but were unable to convert either. Q1 ended GUY 0-1 DOM. Q2 saw GUY earn a few more PCs and DOM create a few circle entries, but neither team was able to score before halftime. The physical nature of the game did lead to a small fracas with in the 25th minute, leading to a player from either team receiving 10-minute suspensions. GUY continued to earn PCs and one of them led to a PS which was converted by Aroydy BRANFORD. DOM continued to defend well and Q3 ended tied at 1-1. With the momentum in their favour GUY started Q4 well and scored two quick PC goals. DOM eventually started to get the ball forward but the GUY defence held firm and the final horn sounded with the score 3-1."
Match 3 Pool B – Guyana (GUY) vs. Dominican Republic (DOM)
Our third match featured our third consecutive all Caribbean clash and our first in Pool B. DOM needed a little under 2 minutes to take the lead against GUY. After that the game featured a lot of physical play and tough tackles, but very little in terms of circle action. GUY did earn a 2 PCs but were unable to convert either. Q1 ended GUY 0-1 DOM.
Q2 saw GUY earn a few more PCs and DOM create a few circle entries, but neither team was able to score before halftime. The physical nature of the game did lead to a small fracas with in the 25th minute, leading to a player from either team receiving 10-minute suspensions. GUY continued to earn PCs and one of them led to a PS which was converted by Aroydy BRANFORD.
DOM continued to defend well and Q3 ended tied at 1-1. With the momentum in their favour GUY started Q4 well and scored two quick PC goals. DOM eventually started to get the ball forward but the GUY defence held firm and the final horn sounded with the score 3-1.
Match 4 Pool B – Mexico (MEX) vs. Guatemala (GUA)
Our final match of the day was a battle of Central American rivals. Higher ranked MEX defeated GUA 14-0 the last time they played and they dominated Q1, pushing GUA into their defensive 23 metre area for most of it. They were unable to get any good shots off for all of their dominance and the first quarter ended 0-0. Q2 was more of the same, with MEX even earning a number of PCs that the GUA defence kept out. When the halftime horn sounded the 0-0 score would have been a surprise result.
Q3 started again with MEX domination possession and this time they were able to take advantage of an opportunity to open the scoring with Luis VILLEGAS. After that they continued to struggle to score and Q3 ended at 1-0. Q4 again saw MEX dominate the game and earn multiple PCs without scoring. GUA then got a rare attack, that ended with a shot going over the crossbar. MEX responded with a PC goal from Francisco AGUILAR before GUA again came close with a cross that was narrowly missed on the back post by Jason PINEDA. MEX again responded with a PC goal, this time from Yamil MENDEZ.
That was the last major play for the game and the final horn sounded with MEX winning 3-0.
Tomorrow the women play round 2 of their match schedule with JAM vs. GUA, TTO vs. BAR, CUB vs. GUY and DOM vs. MEX. JAM, GUA, CUB and GUY will be trying to recover from opening round losses, while the other teams will try to get closer to semi-final qualification.
