2008 Junior Pan American Championship
Under-21 World Cup Qualifier
October 17-26, 2008
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
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USA U21 v Canada U21
Junior Pan American Championships
Bronze Medal Match / Final Junior World Cup Qualifying Opportunity
An evenly contested opening period was ultimately won by the Canadian's as they were able to capitalize on their first penalty corner opportunity in the 14th minute. Canada surprised the US defense with a straight strike which smashed home into the backboard. (The pre-match scouting report had suggested that the straight strike would be #4 on the hierarchy of events to worry about!)
The Canadians could rightly feel lucky to have been awarded the corner as video evidence clearly illustrated that the ball had initially come off a Canadian shin prior to making contact with Ajai Dhadwal's foot. However, the execution of the attacking corner was very efficient and opened the scoring for the contest.
Remaining calm, despite the early setback, the USA were able to even the scoring in the 17th minute from their first penalty corner. Ajai Dhadwal sweeping a bouncing pass through the circle that ultimately deflected off a Canadian foot. From the subsequent corner, Will Holt equalized with a high right flick that entered the goal after deflecting off the face mask of a Canadian defender. The Canadian defender was rightly judged to have placed himself in danger as the ball seemed destined for the top corner prior to contact.
The half ended at 1-1 with the only other opportunity of note falling to the Canadian's. Somewhat fortuitously for the USA a clever deflection in the circle, which had beaten the goalkeeper, bounced to safety from the apex of the post and the crossbar. However, importantly in the context of the game, the USA team were able to conserve considerable energy resources as they fell away for the last 15 -17 minutes of the half.
The second half began in a conservative manner with neither team managing to penetrate the solid defensive structures in place. The Canadian's won 4 penalty corners for the half. The last corner, another direct strike, was cleared off the goal line by Jon Ginolfi in the 57th minute. The USA won back-to-back efforts in the 41st minute neither of which were executed effectively.
A game that gave the statistical edge to the USA finally came to life in the 64th minute as a Ginolfi overhead out of the US midfield was missed by the Canadian right half allowing Will Holt to penetrate the circle and fire through the Canadian goalkeeper's legs to take a 2-1 lead from a narrow angle. However, with the clock running down Canada were able to create an equalizer in the 66th minute with a sharp rebound in front of the US goalkeeper following a period of heavy "do-or-die" pressure.
To the credit of the US players the attitude within the group at the end of the game was more about winning in extra-time than thinking what might have been. The critical period of the game followed. At the end of the first period of extra-time, Canada were awarded a penalty corner. The push-put was off the mark and the subsequent broken play ended up in the back of the US goal following a rebounded finish from a deflection off Kevin Barber's stick.
However, amidst the Canadian celebrations the Dutch neutral umpire had rightly judged that the penalty corner trap had not left the circle. Following the match and with the use of video slow-motion replay, it is clear to see that the decision was indeed correct. As such, considerable credit should be given for such a critical decision under pressure at full speed.
The second period of extra-time played out uneventfully and the contest was to be determined by penalty strokes.
The US put forward (in order); Will Holt, Kevin Barber, Jon Ginolfi, Sebastian Scheurer and Nick Szoke. The initial round was drawn 4-4 with Kevin Segeren making a critical save on the fourth Canadian penalty. The order was reversed in the sudden-death round. Will Holt kept the US in the contest with a high pressure stroke and Kevin Barber sealed the deal with the winner on the second sudden death stroke after Segeren had again denied a Canadian effort.
Will Holt was awarded the player of the match mug and the subsequent team player of the series award for 13 goals in the series and more importantly execution under extreme pressure in the final contest versus Canada. Kevin Segeren received the USA MVP award voted on by our opponents and further received the GK of the tournament award.
With the win, the USA secured qualification to the 2009 Junior World Cup.
