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Santiago 2023: Penalty shootout loss comes as a big heartbreak for Chilean women's hockey team
The game saw both the teams trying hard to break each other's defense, but none succeeded, forcing the game to a penalty shootout.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes, the United States managed to stroke out the home crowd favourite Chile 3-1 in the penalty shootout to prevent an all-South American final in the women’s hockey of Pan Am Games. In the regulation period, Chile overcame a 0-1 deficit to draw level (1-1) with the USA forcing the game to the penalty shootout, the second in the last two days.
Chile just failed to make it to the gold medal round by sheer luck as its fourth penalty shootout goal was disallowed by the video referee thus giving the US an unbeatable 3-1 lead after the two teams had attempted four times each in a best of five attempts.
The US offensive paid dividends as Sessa, who was outstanding with her stick work and speed, gave the US an early lead with a brilliant field goal in the 12th minute. The Chilean girls, who took time to settle down, started raiding their opponents' citadel frequently.
While the USA earned three penalty corners in the first half, Chile got its first in the 46th minute. Rojas Losada had the packed stadium on its toes with a brilliant flick that brought the teams at par with the scoreboard reading one goal each. Though the remainder of the game saw both the teams trying hard to break each other's defense, but none succeeded forcing the game to a penalty shootout.
Earlier, defending champions Argentina defeated Canada 3-0 in the first semi-final. Argentina was a superior side as it exhibited great court craft, worked out penetrating moves, enjoyed territorial advantage and tormented Canadian defence repeatedly.
Canadian girls played well only in patches and had their chances too, but the defence put up by the defending champions looked very strong for the shaky Canadian girls to break. In the first 25 minutes, the dominance of Argentina was so complete that it earned seven penalty corners before it got its first goal on the board. Two minutes before the end of the first half, Argentina consolidated its lead with a brilliant field goal.
Argentina had the misfortune of getting its fourth goal, a neat deflection into the net from a centre from the right flank, disallowed by the video referee. Earlier, the South Americans had a direct hit conversion from its ninth penalty corner to make the score 3-0.
Canada will now play the Chile in the bronze medal game on Saturday.
The penalty shootout was a big heartbreak for the Chilean girls. They wanted to emulate their male colleagues in making their first-ever Pan-Am Games gold medal round. But ran out of luck in the penalty shootout.
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