Canada vs. Netherlands Antilles - Match #2 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 11:00 am

Result 0-1 (0–0 at half-time)

             Yan Huckendubler

 

Goals

70th min – Netherlands Antilles PC

In what looked to be another wet and grey day in Rio, turned hot and sunny as Canada prepared to step on the pitch to face the Netherlands Antilles in their second pool match of this Pan American Games.  Stephanie Hume marked today’s match with her 50th International Cap for Canada.

These Games mark the first appearance for the Netherlands Antilles, with a good majority of their players originating from Holland and with strong ties to the Dutch leagues. 

From the starting whistle, both teams seemed to play a bit tentative while trying to find a rhythm towards possession and Canada took the first step with the backfield transferring strongly through channels with strong leading play in the attacking 25 but with no outcome.  The N. Antilles were quick to mount an attack of their own and both teams seemed to be matched in scoring opportunities.  Each team earned a penalty corner but neither converted.  As the players stepped off the pitch at half-time the score was 0-0. 

Sensing the urgency for a positive result, Canada continued to chip away at the N. Antilles in the midday heat.  Canada carried the majority of offensive play in the Dutch Antilles end with several great crosses but had no one to connect with on the other end.  Canada was able to defend two penalty corners successfully and Azelia Liu had another outstanding game in net for Canada turning away several shots from the N.Antilles. With neither team content to settle on a tie, the flow of the game started to become effected with spoiled play.  Anxiety increased and some key turnovers led to great offensive breaks in particular, some runs from Tiffany Michaluk and some great chances in creating several two-on-one opportunities with Steph Hume.  In a costly error with just seconds left on the scoreboard, the N. Antilles were awarded a corner.  With the clock down to zero and the horn sounded, all Antilles players approached the circle for the corner and proceeded to find the Canadian net after a scramble in the goal mouth.  A terrible way to end a match that saw Canada hold the upper hand in several times yet fail to capitalize on its opportunities. 

Canada now looks to regroup and face the United States in the last of its pool matches. 

 

   Yan Huckendubler

      

  Yan Huckendubler

   

  Yan Huckendubler

      

  Yan Huckendubler

 

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