Pan Am Games Lima 2019: Canada first hockey battle, Argentina wins women's gold
Canada lost its first hockey battle, women's gold, to its traditional South American rival Argentina in Pan Am Games Lima 2019 at Villa Maria on Friday. Argentina won 5-1, gold and direct entry to women's hockey competition of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Canada will have to qualify for the Tokyo event. Earlier, the USA defeated Chile 5-1 to take the bronze. The USA, too, will have to go through the qualifiers. The second hockey battle is tomorrow when the men's teams of the two countries play for the gold medal. In what was perceived to be the battle for women's hockey supremacy in the Americas, experience won over youth and enthusiasm. Canadian girls playing there first ever final of a tournament of this magnitude were perhaps overrated by the occasion. Though they gave out their best it was not enough to make the gold medal match a close or exciting experience. The South Americans, in spite of some new faces, were definitely a match better side that had been through many such battles, including the inaugural FIH Pro League. Canada did not play the League. Interestingly it was Julieta Jankunas who opened the scoring for Argentina in the 9th minute and also scored the fifth and last goal for her team in the 47th minute. At one stage, it looked as if Canada would make a comeback when it got its first goal from its first penalty corner and skipper K. Wright made no mistake from the rebound after the shot by Karli Johansen had been padded. But Argentina did not allow Canada to go any further. Instead, it added two goals in the 45th minute through Maria Shivina Delia (Penalty corner) and Jankunas. Also Read: Pan Am Games Lima 2019: Canada suffers a reverse, loses 0-3 to Argentina in women's hockey After taking lead in the first quarter, Argentina consolidated its position in the 22nd through Maria Silivinia Delia who scored both her goals with direct hits from penalty corners. The third goal came in the 37th minute, five minutes after Canada had reduced through K. Wright. It came in exactly the same way Carla Rebecchhi, one of the most experienced Argentine, followed up the rebound to finish. In other classification games, Peru recorded its win defeating Cuba 3-2 while Uruguay beat Mexico 4-0. -PTC News
