The Canadian Men’s National Development Squad split two close matches against Mexico A and Cuba this week at the Tri-Nations Tournament in Mexico City.
In the first of the two matches, the Mexicans got on the board early in the twenty-third minute as Fracisco Aguilar beat Canadian goalkeeper Tristan Burgoyne (Vancouver, B.C.).
Canada responded well in the thirty-third minute with a goal from James Kirkpatrick (Victoria, B.C.) from a penalty corner and the two teams headed into the half tied at one.
In the second half it was all Mexico, as Aguilar notched his second of the game in the sixteith minute on a penalty corner. That was followed up by a goal from Saul Rangel Oritz, who also beat Burgoyne on a penalty corner.
The final score was 3-1 for Mexico A.
Canada’s next match was against Cuba, and the Canadians got off to a great start.
In the sixteenth minute, Matthew Sarmento (Vancouver, B.C.) beat Cuban keeper Leordan Hernandz Alcolea to give Canada its first lead of the trip. Canada held onto the 1-0 lead into the half.
In the second half, Cuba mounted a comeback, starting in the forty-eigth minute on a goal from Yoel Veitia Alfonso on a penalty corner.
Only three minutes later, though, Canada struck again to take the 2-1 lead thanks to a goal from Jannu Mahal (Surrey, B.C.) They would hold on for the victory and the split of the first two games of the series.
Canada takes on Mexico B on Thursday. For full match statistics, click here.
