GUYANA took Venezuela down to the wire in a 4-5 loss at the semi-final stage, of the Pan-American Hockey Challenge yesterday in Chiclayo, Peru.The Guyanese worked their western neighbours to the bone in normal time as they always had an answer for the Venezuelan assault.

Andy Adrian’s field goal in the 2nd minute of play put Guyana on the back foot but Robert France pulled his side right back into the game just 7 minutes later.
Venezuela assumed the lead once more though a Cristian Vargas penalty corner in the 23rd minute before France again crashed the Venezuelan party with a 31st minute field goal.
Guyana rode the momentum and assumed the lead for the first time in the game four minutes later, when Aroydy Bradford slammed in his first, but the Venezuelans were not going to go lightly; they found the equaliser in the 54th minute which left the teams deadlocked.
In the penalties, Aroydy scored Guyana’s first while Venezuela’s Vargas had his first shot blocked; Jamarj Assanah successfully converted his shot as well while Venezuela’s Adrian had his shot blocked.
Kareem McKenzie had his shot saved while Venezuela’s Bracamonte Wilber had his shot blocked
Orlando Semple’s shot was blocked; Jose Oropeza (Ven) scored, Marvin Dannett (Guy) scored and Dixon Abreu (Ven) scored to close off the first round of shots
In round 2 (sudden death), Vargas (Ven) put his team first on the sheet while Bradford (Guy) drew things level before Oropeza scored and Assanah had his shot blocked.
Guyana will now have a shot at the bronze prize when they face Uruguay tomorrow after they were beaten 4-0 in the first semi-final yesterday.
Meanwhile, Brazil had an easy job in their semi-final against the Uruguayans as they won 4-0.
Lucas Paixão opened the scoring with a field goal in the 27th minute before comrade Matheus Borges slotted in the second in the 41st.
The third was also a field goal, compliments of André Patrocínio in the 50th while a penalty corner in the 56th from Borges tightened Brazil’s grip on the game.