[www.inewsguyana.com] – A stunning 5-3 performance over Argentina opened the Guyana National Men’s Hockey team’s 2014 Pan American Indoor Cup in Uruguay on Monday, April 07.
Viewed as one of the better playing nation in the sport, the outdoor champions and the tournament favorites for many – the Argentineans – were pegged back immediately with Guyana playing a compact half-court defense and unleashing devastating counter attacks.
Captain Devin Munroe delivered the opening blow by finishing one of those attacks in the second minute with defender Shane Samuels just two minutes later, putting Guyana up 2-0 thanks to a penalty corner flick.
Guyanese Aroydy Branford making his international debut extended the lead in the 6th minute before Argentina made open their scoring some 10 minutes later.
Guyana left nothing to chance in the second half playing much along the same line of attack as the first half and Jamarj Assanah restored Guyana’s three goal cushion in the 28th minute when he intercepted a botched Argentinian penalty corner pass and ran half the length of the floor before eliminating the goalkeeper in trademark fashion.
Argentina made no mistake on their next short corner a minute later to close the gap to within two goals.
With Argentina now employing a high press to claw their way back, the experienced Samuels slowed the momentum of the game killing crucial minutes off the clock.
Argentina’s high press however left them vulnerable at the back and the pace of Assanah and Robert France, on another devastating counterattack, saw France convert the pass to the last post, in the 37th minute.
With Guyana up by 5-2 and time against them, Argentina then pulled their goalkeeper, opting instead for an additional attacking field player scoring penalty corner at the stroke of full time.
Guyana is set to play the USA next on the schedule with the match taking place at 6:15pm on Tuesday 8th April.
The winner of each competition (male and female) will represent the Americas in the 2015 World Cup in Germany.
