USAwins in overtime shootout, 11-9
By Alex Webbe
The United States reversed a long string of internationallosses by scoring an 11-9 overtime win over Hong Kong in the 24-goal Fortune Heights SuperNations Cup at the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in Tianjin, China Mondayafternoon.
In a tightly contest match that had the USA trailing 6-5after the fifth chukker, Hong Kong broke it loose in the sixth on consecutivegoals from John fisher and Jose Donoso for an 8-5 lead with 3:30 left inregulation time. The USA team rallied toscore three unanswered goals and nearly notched the winning score as timeexpired before winning it in an overtime shootout.
John Paul Clarkin got Hong Kong on the scoreboard earlyby converting a 40-yard penalty shot for a goal. Minutes later, USA team captain Mike Azzaroscored on a well-executed neck shot to draw them even at 1-1. Clarkin converted a 60-yard penalty shot atthe four minute mark for the last goal of the chukker and a 2-1 Hong Kongadvantage.
Both defenses stiffened in the second period with scoringat a minimum. Mason Wroe connected onwhat was the goal shot of the day, a nearside backhander just off the end linethat carried through the Hong Kong goalposts to knot it up at 2-2.
Chris MacKenzie opened up the scoring in the thirdchukker, scoring with just ninety seconds gone in the period. Moments later, MacKenzie suffered a fallwhile trying to defend against a USA charge on goal. With just under three minutes left in theperiod, Azzaro took the ensuing throw-in and drove it through the goalposts forthe 3-3 tie.
John Fisher scored the lone goal of the fourth on abeautifully executed nearside backhander, similar to an earlier goal scored byUSA’s Mason Wroe. A near goal by Clarkinwith under three minutes left in the chukker was disallowed, but with :22 leftin the chukker, Clarkin was awarded a 60-yard penalty shot that went wide. Hong Kong held on to a narrow one goal lead,4-3.
The offenses picked up on both sides in the fifth period,but the scoring didn’t come from the field. Mike Azzaro opened up the scoring by converting a penalty shot for atying goal, 4-4. Clarkin answered with apenalty conversion of his own and a 5-4 Hong Kong lead. Azzaro’s second penalty goal of the chukkercame on a 60-yard Penalty 6. It was alleven again at 5-5. With 3:15 left in theframe, Clarkin scored on a Penalty 2 to close out the scoring with Hong Kongahead by a goal, 6-5.
John Fisher’s long shot at goal went through the goalposts at the 4:21 mark as Hong Kong took its first two goal lead of the game,7-5. Jose Donoso broke away to scoreagain at the 3:32 mark and the USA found themselves trailing by three goalswith the clock winding down.
Wroe made a run to the Hong Kong goal, scoring with 2:19left in regulation time, but Hong Kong maintained a two goal lead, 8-6. A Hong Kong foul put Azzaro at the penaltyline with 1:20 on the clock. He convertedthe 30-yard penalty shot for a goal, cutting the Hong Kong lead to a singlegoal, 8-7.
Azzaro took the ensuing throw-in, passed it ahead to JeffHall who scored with :45 left in the chukker. Wroe took control of the following throw-in and raced toward the HongKong goal. A last second hook by Donoso leftthe ball just yards to the side of the goal. A trailing Kampsen took the shot, hitting the post as time expired. The game ended in an unlikely 8-8 tie, forcinga penalty shootout for the win.
Following a brief intermission, both teams returned tothe field where they would alternately attempt 60-yard penalty shots until oneteam or the other won. The USA won thecoin toss and elected to go first. Wroeconverted to put the USA up 9-8 followed by Donoso who tied it again at 9-9 withhis conversion of the shot. Kampsendrove his shot through the goal posts as the USA took the lead for just thesecond time all day, 10-9. Nineteen-year-oldMacKenzie was the second Hong Kong player to approach the ball, missing wideright with Jeff Hall sealing the victory when he converted the next shot forthe 11-9 USA victory.
The win boosts the USA into Friday’s finals against thewinner of Tuesday’s contest between Argentina and England.