Despite some challenges en route to the Men’s Pan American Cup, the Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s hockey team booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition following convincing victories against Brazil and Chile on Sunday and Monday.
T&T defeated Brazil 5-2, and followed up with a 5-1 win over the Chile.
The Pan American Cup is being held in Brampton, Ontario in Canada from August 10-17, and the winners of the tournament will qualify for next year’s Men’s Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.
The top six teams will qualify for the 2017 Men’s Pan American Cup, and the teams placed seventh and eighth will be demoted to the 2015 Men’s Pan American Challenge.
In Monday’s match against Chile, T&T started cautiously, trying not to expose themselves to an early goal, having lost 4-0 to the same opponents in the FIH World League Round 2 earlier this year.
It was not long before T&T took control, opening the scoring in the 12th minute on a penalty-corner with Akim Toussaint pushing into an empty net.
They doubled the lead on the next action by Mickell Pierre after a decisive penetration in the circle.
It was 3-0 after another penalty corner was converted by Toussaint.
Chile wasted two penalty corners before T&T surged forward, scoring two quick field goals by their vice-captain Dwain Quan Chan and Wayne Legerton, leaving the Chilean defence shaking their head and five goals down.
Chile pulled one back through Jan Berczely efforts with 11 minutes to go, but it was too little too late as T&T cruised victory.
T&T play their next game tonight at 7 p.m. versus Canada, who are currently second in the group.