Guyana women’s hockey team failed to advance to the second round of the World League following their third successive defeat going down to Uruguay 1-5 at the National Hockey Centre in Tarcarigua, Trinidad yesterday.
Despite the defeat the Guyana team managed to score its first goal of the six-nation round robin tournament which has seen tournament favourites Canada scoring 33 goals in their three matches while playing unbeaten. Uruguay are also unbeaten as these two teams prepare to go head to head on Saturday to determine the group winners.
The Guyanese, who were beaten by Uruguay in the final of the PAHF Challenge in Brazil two years ago, looked more composed against the South American opponents who were up 3-0 at half time.
Uruguay opened their scoring in the seventh minute when Ana Karina Binnes converted a penalty corner.
Four minutes later Ana Lucia Lateulade scored a field goal while Anastasia Olave Solari scored the third goal also from the field giving her team a 3-0 lead at the half.
Uruguay would score two more goals in the 46th and 53rd minutes through Lucia Lapiedra and Sofia Mora Forni. Guyana managed to pull one back when Gabriella Xavier struck in the 62rd minute from a field goal.
The Guyanese could end the tournament on a high as they face Barbados and Venezuela in their two remaining matches in a battle of the bottom three teams.
Barbados are rated higher than the two South American teams but Venezuela pulled off a 2-1 win over the Barbadians in their encounter.
Canada hammered Barbados 11-0 yesterday while Trinidad and Tobago disposed of Venezuela 5-1.
The top three teams in the tournament will advance to the second round of the World League in search of a place in the Women’s hockey world cup finals billed for 2014 in the Netherlands.
Guyana faces Barbados today and Venezuela on Saturday. Canada and Uruguay are tied on nine points each with Trinidad and Tobago on six points following their upset defeat to Uruguay on Monday.
