Field Hockey Canada > Canada drops final round robin match to Argentina

Canada drops final round robin match to Argentina

April 12, 2014 | Field Hockey Canada | fieldhockey.ca

The Canadian men’s indoor national team dropped their last game of the round robin 3-1 to Argentina (2-0-2) Friday at the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay. Despite the loss, Canada (3-0-1) finishes first after the round robin and advances directly to the final against second place United States (3-0-1).

The first half of the game was evenly matched. Canada had two penalty corner opportunities but both fell to errors.

Argentina’s best chance came as Canada fumbled on a 3-on-2 and had the ball stolen by Alfredo Sosa, who rushed onto the Canadian goal but put the ball just wide.

As the second half started Canada began to control most of the game with some great scoring chances from Jonathan Roberts (Stoney Creek, Ont.), Lyle Fernandes (Mississauga, Ont.) and Gaganpal Dhanju (Mississauga, Ont.), who had the best opportunity putting one off the post at the side of the net.

After all the chances, Canada finally converted as Ken Peirera (Unionville, Ont.) received a pass from Fernandes and put in the game’s first goal in the twenty-ninth minute.

Just moments later Argentina’s Agustin Ceballos replied after being awarded a penalty stroke, bringing the game to 1-1.

In the thirty-eighth minute the Argentinians broke out in a counter attack and Joaquin Gonzalez snuck one past Canadian goalkeeper Pardeep Koonar (Ottawa, Ont.).

With under three minutes to go, Canada dropped their goalie bringing on a kicking back extra-attacker in a fight to level the score, however Argentina took the chance to slot one last goal in the forteith minute.

Although falling to the Argentinians, Canada still had something to celebrate as veteran player Jeewanjot Bath earned his 50th international cap. 

“It’s been a long journey to get to 50 caps,” said Bath. “It takes a lot of sacrifices to be a part of the indoor program. But it’s worth every second. All fourteen years.”

“We have one more big finals to win, so we can do it one more time at the World Cup. Special thanks to all my family, friends, coaches and teammates. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

View the full match sheet here.

Canada will take on the United States in the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup gold medal match Saturday at 2:30pm PST/5:30pm EST. Watch the live stream here.

To support the Men’s National Indoor Team with a tax-receipted donation, click here.

Written with files from Carla Johl

Photo by Blair Shier