Guyana’s national men’s hockey team opened the 2010 Indoor Pan-American Championships with a 0-2 loss to South American powerhouse Argentina in Barquisimeto, Venezuela on Monday.
Argentina, playing in Group A, drew first blood in the fourth minute off Gaston Luna’s second attempt on goal. Luna’s first goal was saved by Guyanese custodian Azad DeAbreu after the Argentine broke down the left band; sending a powerful shot towards the goal.
Argentina were then awarded a penalty stroke in the ninth minute when DeAbreu fouled one of their forwards. The Argentine flick went wide but Guyana responded immediately with a well worked free hit from the right hand side of Argentine D resulting in a Robert Fernandes shot on goal.
The Argentine keeper then made the save and although he gave up penalty corner he also saved a flick from Marvin Dannett and Dwayne Scott while Shane Samuels’s powerful flick was stopped by the face of one of the defenders. Argentina then rubbed salt in Guyana’s wounds when Andres Fava converted a penalty corner in the 18th minute to go two goals up. Argentina also had several opportunities to add to their lead before half-time but the Guyanese defended well.
In the second half of the game, the Guyanese asserted themselves but botched another penalty attempt in the 32nd minute after Leandro Leotta was handed his second green card for breaking the line early on the penalty corner.
Despite numerous opportunities, Guyana failed to capitalise on opportunities and was forced to pull their keeper with three minutes left in the game, in order to stay in the game. The play worked and Guyana was again awarded a penalty corner but this time it was Devin Munroe’s flick that sailed wide of the mark. A press release said that was Guyana’s last real chance at the game.
The team is set to play Venezuela today. It went up against Peru yesterday. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-final knock-out stage.
