Eleonora Rebollo (left) of Uruguay tries to get the better of an Argentina player during their Americas Cup game at Mona hockey field yesterday. Argentina won 5-0. - Michael SloleyBy Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
FAVOURITES Argentina continued their unbeaten run in the VMBS Americas Cup Hockey tournament taking place at the Mona hockey field.
They beat Uruguay, who will meet Jamaica today, 5-0. Cecilia Rognini had a double strike in the sixth and eight minutes while Maria Hernandez, Vanina Oneto and Alejandra Gulla had a goal each.
The margin of victory could have been much wider had the South Americans not switched on cruise control especially in the second half. At the break they were up 4-0 with Rognoni's strikes, Hernadez's in the 16th minute and the goal from Oneto in the 27th minute.
Uruguay while displaying good stickwork were no match for their more gifted opponents who were probably trying to conserve energy for their top of the table clash with the United States today. Another factor could have been their unwillingness to humiliate their fellow South Americans by staying below the domino score of six.
After Gulla's finish in the 52nd minute they basically shut off their engines and played around.
Jamaica's coach Dr Michelle Holt who was observing the game in preparation for Jamaica's game against Uruguay, said they will be tough to beat.
"I think Uruguay are a pretty good team. They have improved tremendously over the last time that we have seen them and even then it was difficult to beat them.
"They have shown they have played a lot of tournaments together and it is an advantage that Jamaica does not have this being our third international in two years. Their stick work looks pretty good," said Holt.
Jamaica, she said, will have the advantage of speed and that they are playing at home. "I think we do have some physical speed over them and we have been scoring goals from short corners. They seem to concede a lot of penalty corners and if we get the variations right I think we have a good chance. "Like Reggae Boyz have the Office, this is our turf and I think the crowd support has been tremendous. They have really encouraged and spurred the players on and I think the crowd support for 3:00 o'clock could be a little difficult but really and truly I am appealing for them to come out and support us."
Today's games
Jamaica vs Uruguay 3:00 pm
USA vs Argentina 5:00 pm
Canada vs Mexico 7:00 pm
