The highlight of the 2nd competition day at the Pan American Games water polo tournament in Lima was an encounter between men’s teams of the USA and Canada. The Americans collected both points after a hard-fought battle (13:11) and secured the first place in Group A.

2019 Pan American Games, Day 2

Men

GROUP A

Canada – USA 11:13 (3:4, 1:1, 4:6, 3:2)

Canada: Cote 3, Constantin-Bicari 2, Halajian 2, Gardijan 2, D’Souza 1, Patterson 1.
USA: Hooper 5, Hallock 2, Irving 2, Cupido 1, Daube 1, Bowen 1, Ramirez 1.

Cuba – Puerto Rico 10:8 (3:3, 1:3, 3:1, 3:1)

Cuba: Carales 4,De Armas 2, Peralta 2, Gonzalez 1, Ponsa 1.
Puerto Rico: Loubriel 2, Quinones 1, Bayo 1, Andino 1, Zayas 1, Millan 1, Robles 1.

Canada had a very nice start. The Canadians built a 3:1 advantage in the middle of the first period, the USA responded with three goals in a row to close the quarter with a 4:3 advantage. Jaime Cote equalized in the fifth minute of the 2nd quarter (4:4). Hooper put the USA in front (5:4) a minute and 51 seconds before the end of the first half.

The third quarter proved vital in the USA team’s win. The Americans scored five of first six goals in this period to build a 4-goal gap (10:5). The Canadians were able to come back. D’Souza converted a penalty for 11:12 with 2:34 remaining on the clock. Just 25 seconds later, the USA players gained a penalty shot. Jonathan Hooper sent the ball home for the final score – 13:11. Hooper was the best scorer, with 5 goals.

The second match of Day 2 in Group A, Cuba – Puerto Rico, also offered a lot of excitements. The Cubans found themselves 3:6 down in the 11th minute, but they produced a magnificent comeback. They equalized by the end of the third period (7:7). Puerto Rico went ahead again early in the fourth quarter (8:7). Cuba scored three unanswered goals in the last three and a half minutes for a 10:8 win.

1 USA 2 – 4
2 Canada 2 – 2
3 Cuba 2 – 2
4 Puerto Rico 2 – 0

August 6th: USA – Puerto Rico, Cuba – Canada

GROUP B

Mexico – Brazil 5:10 (0:2, 0:3, 4:3, 1:4)

Mexico: Alvarez 2, Mercado 2, Gibert 1.
Brazil: Guimaraes 3, P. Real 2, Coutinho 2, R. Real 2, Rocha 1.

Peru – Argentina 6:12 (1:3, 2:2, 1:5, 1:2)

Peru: Rodriguez 2, Villar 2, Grandez 1.
Argentina:Yaney 4, Veich 3, Carabantes 2, Galimberti 1, Lopez 1, Bonomo 1

Playing excellently in defense, Brazil earned a 4:0 lead in the 18th minute of the match with Mexico. However, the Mexicans responded with a 4:1 series, and came to 4:5. But, Brazil entered the last period with a 6:4 lead and controlled the match in the 4th quarter for a 10:5 win.

Argentina didn’t let surprise in the last match of the day and beat host Peru 12:6.

1 Brazil 2 – 4
2 Argentina 2 – 4
3 Mexico 2 – 0
4 Peru 2 – 0

August 6th:Brazil – Argentina, Mexico – Peru.

Women

GROUP A

USA – Brazil 20:4 (3:1, 3:1, 7:2, 7:0)

USA: M.Fischer 4, Seidemann 4, Haralabidis 3, Fattal 3, K. Neushul 3, Williams 2, Musselman 1
Brazil: Bahia 1, Ferreira 1, Duarte 1, Dias 1

Puerto Rico – Venezuela 9:5 (2:1, 2:1, 4:2, 1:1)

Puerto Rico: Roman 3, Am.Ortiz 2, Garcia 2, Guzman 1, Medina 1.
Venezuela:Martinez 3, Carangelo 1, S. Torres 1.

The USA Team needed some time to get on the board. There were no goals until the fourth minute when Musselman scored for 1:0. After that, the world champions dominated and cruised to a 20:4 win.

Puerto Rico easily defeated Venezuela and secured at least the third place in the group.

1 USA 2 – 4
2 Brazil 2 – 2
3 Puerto Rico 2 -2
4 Venezuela 2 – 0

August 6th: USA – Venezuela, Brazil – Puerto Rico.

GROUP B

Peru – Canada 2:28 (0:9, 0:6, 1:7, 1:6)

Peru: A. Lopez 1, Sirio 1.
Canada:Crevier 5, Wright 5, Eggens 3, Fournier 3, McKelvey 3, Christmas 3, Alogbo 2, McKee 2, Bekhazi 2

Cuba – Mexico 13:4 (3:1, 2:0, 3:2, 5:1)

Cuba: Carrasco 4, Bernal 4, Diaz 1, Fria 1, Gonzalez 1, Chavez 1, Zunzunegui 1.
Mexico: Sanchez 1, Ramos 1, Espinoza 1, Ramos 1.

Canada was warming up for tougher challenges and demolished Peru 28:2.

Cuba also didn’t have a hard task today. The Cubans led throughout the game against Mexico and recorded a 9-goal win 13:4.

1 Canada 2 – 4
2 Mexico 2 – 2
3 Cuba 2 – 2
4 Peru 2 – 0

August 6th: Canada – Mexico, Cuba – Peru