Argentina win Pan American Cup hockey crown, Korea earn World Cup

Gonzalo Peillat

Argentinean men’s hockey team humbled hosts Canada 4-0 to clinch the men’s Pan American Cup hockey in the final showdown played in the Canadian city of Brampton.

The home side fought hard and kept the 10th-ranked Las Leonas at bay denying them any goal-scoring opportunities in the first half as both teams went into half-time with the scoreline reading 0-0.

Talented drag-flicker Gonzallo Peillat got into the act early in the second stanza when he converted a penalty corner in the 38th minute to break the deadlock.

Peillat was again in the goal-scoring act three minutes later, making the most of a short corner to give the blue-and-white brigade the headstart.

He duly completed his hat-trick in the 48th minute to make the scoreline 3-0 even as time was running out for the Canadians to mount a fightback.

All such hopes evaporated as Peillat rounded off the tally, rattling the Canadian cage in the 57th minute. Canada had to score four goals in the final thirteen minutes to stay in the contest, which was a huge ask as they crashed to a 0-4 defeat.

The winner of this event wins a berth to the 2014 World Cup, but since Argentina have already booked their World Cup spot by finishing runners-up in the Hockey World League Round 3 event in Johor Bahru, Korea earned a berth in the marquee event by virtue of being the first team among the reserves.

Earlier, the Las Leonas marched into the final of the men’s Pan American Cup hockey tournament, whipping Trinidad & Tobago 8-0 in a one-sided match played in the Canadian city of Brampton.

Hosts Canada had sneaked past USA by a solitary goal in the semifinals.

Sukhi Panesar scored the all-important goal in the 10th minute of play.

Earlier, Argentina created a record of sorts clobbering 47th ranked Uruguay 29-0 to go into the semifinals of the Pan American Cup tournament on a real high.

Argentina’s 29-0 win is the biggest in international hockey after India’s famous 24-1 win over USA in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

Earlier, Argentina crushing USA 8-0 in their second game.

They had smashed 34th ranked Mexico 13-2 in their tournament opener.

World number 14 Canada earlier overcame Trinidad & Tobago 3-1 to enter the last-four stage.

They were earlier held to a 2-2 draw by 25th ranked Chile after humbling 32nd ranked Brazil 3-1.