WHAT A WAY to rebound!
Barbados, behind a beaver-trick by Che Warner and hattricks from Akeem Rudder and Mario Moore, blanked Guatemala 11-0 in the FIH Hockey World League Round 1 Tournament in Salamanca, Mexico, yesterday.
The big win by the Barbados senior men’s team, with forward Warner leading the way with goals in the 18th, 23rd, 35th and 44th minutes, compensated for Tuesday’s opening 3-1 loss against United States.
The Bajans, who needed a strong win against Guatemala, to boost their chances for a spot in tomorrow’s final after hosts Mexico thrashed the Guatemalans 7-0 on Tuesday, started the goal fest as early as the fifth minute through the brilliance of Rudder.
His attacking midfield teammate, Moore scored a few seconds after the restart to get his name on the score sheet, also in the fifth minute.
Moore completed his hat trick after the 12th and the 44th minutes while Rubber logged his treble with goals in the 28th and the 34th minutes.
Shonkeel Wharton also got on the score sheet, easing once past Guatemalan custodian Pablo Lopez in the 59th minute as the Bajans showed their opponents no mercy, despite no goals in the final 11 minutes.
The winner of the tournament will automatically advance to the Round 2 tournament, which is slated for Trinidad and Tobago, early next year.
The FIH Hockey World League is a 4-Tournament world-event series and a qualifier for the FIH Hockey World Cup, where nations attempt to book one of the eight available places for the Finals Tournament in December 2017. (EZS)
