Guyana go down after strong fight against USA, Argentina
…Coach Shane Samuels says small errors caused losses
GUYANA’s national hockey men’s team had a tough opening day when they came up against top sides USA and Argentina in the 2024 edition of the Pan American Indoor Cup being played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

They lost both encounters against the highly ranked teams.
National coach Shane Samuels, who is leading this campaign, believes his charges showed their worth against the teams despite the losses.

‘I think the team performance was great; the first game we came against the highest-ranked team in the tournament in Argentina, who were part of the 2023 world cup…….they basically capitalised on a couple of errors and that is what made the game run away, I thought we caught them by surprise in terms of our performance.’

He said they produced a more improved showing in their second game ‘from the first to second game, the guys realised what their mistakes were, we had more opportunities than the USA, but we didn’t score them; we had around 20 circle entries and several short corners, but we only scored a few.’

On the opening day of the tournament on Tuesday, playing the USA, Guyana was on the back foot early as USA’s Ajai Dhadwal converted a penalty corner in the third minute of play.
USA’s Jeroen Dijkema made it 2-nil with his field goal in the 15th minute as they went into the break leading 2-nil.
After the resumption, American Jack Weitzman added to their lead with another field goal as they made it 3—nil.

The Guyanese started to get into their own as Shaquon Favourite found the back of the net; 3-1 the score read as Guyana mounted a comeback.
USA’s Dhadwal was not done as he came back to record two more penalty corners in the 30th and 34th minutes after a couple of lapses in defence from the locals as Dhadwal grabbed a hat-trick to leave it 5-1.

USA-based Guyanese Aroydy Bradford then came good for his country with a double after two successful penalty corners to make it 5-3.
The 5-3 score line remained at the final buzzer with the USA picking up the win.

In Guyana’s opener against power houses Argentina, they suffered a heavier loss, as this one ended 9-5.
Juan Eleicegui delivered a goal off a penalty strike after a foul in the opening minute for the lead before Facundo Navarro made it 2-nil in the fourth, in what was shaping up to be a high-scoring contest.

Shakeem Fausette gave Guyana their first goal in the fifth minute, also off a penalty corner, as the score read 2-1.
Argentina was not done, making it 3-1 after a Nehuen Ayala goal in the sixth.

Robert France would give Guyana their second, a field goal in the 14th minute, followed up soon afterwards by Jamarj Assanah in the 15th as they evened the scores 3-3.
Argentina’s Maximiliano Valdes came to the party in the 19th minute for his first to make it 4-3.

His teammate Nehuen then added to the advantage with his second in the 20th minute.
France registered a goal upon resumption in the 23rd minute for a double to make it 5-4 with Argentina leading.

Argentina’s Navarro in the 24th and Agustin Ceballos with a brace in the 24th and 27th minutes gave their team an unassailable lead, 8-4.
Assanah then recorded his second for the game as they pushed the needle with their fifth goal, the Guyanese still reeling 8-5.
Ayala would score Argentina’s final goal in the 28th minute for the 9-5 win.