Junior Hockey: Spain pip Canada in position match

New Delhi: Spain beat Canada 3-2 in the 13-16 classification match in the Hockey Junior World Cup here Thursday.

The first half score line reflected the momentum of the game with the opening minutes favouring the Pan American silver medallists, while Spain dominated the latter. Canada missed two far-post deflections in the early get-going first by Brenden Bissett and again in the 11th minute by Balraj Panesar. Spain had one golden opportunity early on teed up perfectly by Alvaro Iglesias but Albert Beltran could not make the trap, leaving the game scoreless. After knocking several times on the doorstep Canada finally gained the go-ahead after a hard hit from the left side that found Gabriel Ho-Garcia’s stick. The speedy striker made a fake inside then came back to his back-hand to lift Canada 1-0. The goal fueled Spain to push back and they began to threaten the Canadian back line on numerous occasions.