By Gary Anderson

August 18 - Argentina celebrate their Pan American Cup successA four-goal haul by Gonzalo Peillat saw Argentina's men crowned International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pan American Cup champions for the second time as they proved too strong for hosts and defending champions Canada, in Brampton.

Argentina's win sees the Canadians miss out on a place at the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands and means South Korea, who were first reserves following their fourth place finish at last month's Hockey World League semi-final in Johor Bahru, have qualified for the showpiece event which is due to take place at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague from May 31 until June 15.

Argentina had already booked their place for next year's World Cup by finishing second behind Germany in Malaysia and, on the face of it, the Canadians had more to play for as both sides took to the field in a repeat of the 2004 Pan American final which also saw Argentina emerge victorious.

Argentina's Gonzalo Peillat blue and white helped himself to four goals in the final of the Pan American Cup




























The first-half saw the visitors dominate most of the play but the Canadian defenders were putting up stiff resistance with goal-keeper Dave Carter pulling off a few vital saves as Argentina searched for that elusive first goal.

The sides went in at the break all square but within five minutes of the restart the Canadians were well and truly up against it as two quick-fire penalty-corners from Peillat had Argentina 2-0 up and on their way to a second continental title.

Juan Vivaldi in the Argentina goal was a virtual spectator at this stage as Canada struggled to get any attacking momentum going and there was an air of inevitability about Peillat's third strike as yet again he found the net from a penalty corner to complete his hat-trick before he demonstrated his shooting prowess minutes later by putting the final nail in Canada's coffin and their hopes of World Cup qualification by bagging his fourth goal.

Argentina saw out the remainder of the match before celebrations began while a dejected Canadian squad could only stand and watch and were left to contemplate their non-appearance in the Netherland's next year.

Dejected Canadian players following their defeat to Argentina in the Pan American Cup finalDejected Canadian players following their defeat to Argentina in the Pan American Cup final





























Trinidad and Tobago had secured their first Pan American medal earlier in the day following a 3-1 victory over 2009 runners-up, the United States

Despite taking an early lead through Aki Kaeppeler, the US could not capitalise on their good start and the sides went in all-square at half-time thanks to a bullet of a strike from Wayne Legerton of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mickell Pierre managed to sweep the ball home from close range on 43 minutes to give the men from the Caribbean the lead.

Trinidad and Tobago celebrate their bronxe medal win ober the USATrinidad and Tobago celebrate their bronxe medal win ober the USA
























After that, the Americans upped the intensity and had their opponents pegged back into their own half of the field for long periods but through a combination of some fine saves by Dwain Quan Chan in the Trinidad goal and some wayward finishing, the US could not find a breakthrough and as can always happen a sucker-punch was not too far around the corner.

In a rare foray upfield, Trinidad and Tobago forced a penalty-corner and that man Legerton drove home once again to ensure a famous win for the men in white and black.

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