Canada edges past Chile by 1-0 in four of five-match series
The Women’s field hockey team of Canada edged past Chile by 1-0 in the fourth competition of a five-match series being contested at the arena of Manquehue Club, Santiago on April 7. With the triumph, it also secured a 2-1 lead in the event with one game
left to play.
Both teams started the game in quite an aggressive way. Interestingly, no short-corner was awarded to either side throughout the first half of play. But Canadians were lucky who got the first goal of the day in the early minutes and put the visiting Chile
under intense pressure. The striking game of the Canadian girls pushed the Chile team at the backfield. Jessalyn Walkey and Kate Gillis played a very fast game and carried out back-to-back strikes.
Walkey managed to take ball at the top of the circle and found her alone in front of the goal-post. She played a powerful flicking hit which moved absolutely at the corner of the goal-posts. The Chilean custodian had no chance to deflect the attack. The
leading goal of Canada increased the pressure for the Chile team which were playing defensive game.
Walkey was pleased to mark the third goal of the series, as she equalled the record with Gillis. The ball in the first half remained mostly between the 25-yard lines with both sides attempting to cross the D-line.
Chilean player found a chance to score a goal in the concluding moments of the first half, but the hit went wide. The pressure on the Chile team further increased when the referee awarded a green-card to Daniela Infante, the midfield player. After the first
half of play, Chile was trailing one goal, 1-0.
The second half opened with same tempo, but the Chilean players started most offensive game in a bid to level the results. Chile wanted to score the goal through increasing pressure on Canada, which seemed unable to sustain the coercing game. The players
from the two teams played faster game and as a result committed many fouls resulting received cards.
Steph Jameson of Canada and Camila Caram of Chile received green-cards respectively, in the 42nd and 64th minutes of the game. In the later time, Chilean Gabriela Retamales and Canadian Abigail Raye were awarded yellow-cards in the
46th and 52nd minutes, respectively.
The women of Chile earned a couple of penalty-corners in the final minutes of the regular time period, but failed to capitalise either of them. As the final horn sounded, Canada won the game and as well took lead in the series. Only one game left to play
and Chile will have final chance to level the series by two-all. Canada is preparing itself for the upcoming Pan American Games and Champions Challenge II.
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