AUSTRALIA 18 CANADA 19 IN PENALTY SHOOTOUT (FT: 14-14. PENS: 4-5)

Match heroes
Reuel D’Souza and Matthew Halajian claimed four goals each with the former gaining his fourth in the shootout. Aria Soleimanipak and Aleksa Gardijan pumped in three each (thanks to an extra in the shootout) in an all-round scoring spree. Australia’s best were left-hander Luke Pavillard and Olympian Blake Edwards with five goals apiece, each scoring their shootout attempts. Charlie Negus rammed in three and Tom McJannett and Tim Putt scored twice.

Turning point
The major point at which Canada said “We want this victory” was at 2:44 in the third period after Australia had pulled away to a 10-7 advantage when Blake Edwards scored from the deep left. Canada scored the next five goals unanswered with Reuel DSouza netting twice, the first with a snap shot from the right post and the next with a lob from the top. The score was now 12-10 in Canada’s favour. The match swung back to Australia with three Luke Pavillard goals — the last two from the penalty line. The next turning point was Canada’s two goals — Matthew Halajian from deep right and Aria Soleimanipak blasting in from the top for the 14-13 lead at 1:09. Edwards struck back at 0:45 from deep left for the equaliser, forcing the shootout.

Stats don’t lie
This would have to be one of the closest set of stats possible, which shows why the score was even. Both teams took 40 shots with a 45/47 per cent difference. The Aussies scored six from 12 on extra-man attack and Canada 5/10 — 50 per cent each. Australia led the blocks — 18/15; trailed in steals — 3/5; made more offensive fouls — 3/1 and evened the turnovers at three.

Bottom line
This was a match of two equals, despite the topsy-turvy scoring. Australia shot to 3-0, held a 5-2 score at quarter time, went 6-4 and 7-5 ahead before the 7-6 halftime break. It became 8-6 and 10-7 before Canada went on its surge to the finish line. In the penalty shootout, both teams kept clean sheets until Chaz Poot had the Sharks’ fifth attempt blocked and Aleksa Gardijan nailed the winner to take the two points as a winner of a shootout. Australia had to settle for one point as the shootout loser.

USA crushes Brazilian hearts with 14-minute drought

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 14 BRAZIL 9
United States of America took time to settle before hitting a crescendo of goals while Brazil was kept scoreless for more than 14 minutes. The match went from 1-1 to 4-2 in USA’s favour by quarter time, raced out to 9-2 at halftime and then 10-2 at the top of the third before Gustavo Guimaraes — accustomed to always being in the scoring frame — gained his second for 12-4 at 2:38. This set off a mini revival as Rafael Real and Roberto de Freitas urged the scoreboard to 12-6 a minute into the final quarter. Thomas Gruwell and Chase Dodd scored for USA while Bruno Chappini, Real and Guimaraes brought the match to a closer 14-9.

In the statistical sense, USA was better, scoring 14 from 28 shots to Brazil’s nine from 31 and winning the extra-man plays 7/12 to 4/10. USA made 19 blocks to Brazil’s eight, stole two less than Brazil, but forced eight turnovers to three. Chase Dodd, Sawyer Rhodes and Benjamin Stevenson led USA’s scoring with three apiece. Real and Guimaraes were Brazil’s best shooters with three as well. A second win for USA puts it top of the table.

Argentina lays siege to Colombian goal and keeps a clean sheet in the middle

ARGENTINA 19 COLOMBIA 4
With player-of-the-match Carlos Camnasio (six goals) and Esteban Corsi (four) on fire, Argentina was assured of victory. Colombia was always on the back foot, trailing 4-1, 10-2 and 15-2 at the breaks and only enjoyed one quarter with multiple goals — two in the final period. Argentina used its extra-man plays to good effect with five from nine compared to Colombia’s three from 11. Nelson Bejarano scored his second and his team’s only field goal — from the top into the top left of the cage.

It was Argentina’s first win after the 14-5 first-day loss to Australia. Colombia has two losses. Argentina will be well warmed up and should look forward to the clash with Canada.

Points table:

USA 6, Canada 5, Australia 4, Argentina 3, Brazil 0, Colombia 0.

Wednesday line-ups

Colombia faces United States of America, Canada takes on Argentina and Brazil plays