PAHF Junior Challenge: Guyana pushes top-ranked Brazil to the limit in thrilling encounter
Guyana’s National Boys’ Under-21 Hockey Team have delivered their strongest performance yet in the 2025 Junior Pan American Challenge, when they went toe-to-toe with top-ranked Brazil in an intense and hard-fought battle which, despite their resilience, they lost by a 2-1 defeat, falling just short of a draw in an astounding performance.
A look at Guyana’s male U21 team (red) in action against Brazil
The match began as a defensive stalemate, with both teams locked in a tense first quarter. Brazil eventually broke the deadlock in the second quarter by capitalizing on their first awarded penalty corner to take the lead. However, Guyana wasted no time in responding, as #9 Yonnick Norton produced a brilliant display of skill in bringing down an aerial ball and beating the goalkeeper to equalize.
The third quarter saw both teams continuing to match intensity and playmaking, and it wasn’t until the final five minutes of the match that Brazil found the breakthrough when they slipped the ball past the Guyana goalkeeper to regain the lead.
Guyana had one last golden opportunity to level the score in the dying seconds when they earned a penalty corner. However, a poor effort on the insert saw the chance go to waste, and Guyana was left just short of what would have been a well-deserved draw.
A look at Guyana’s male U21 team (red) in action against Brazil
Guyana’s goalkeeper Darious Alleyne had an outstanding performance, making numerous crucial saves to keep his team in contention.
With one match left in the group stage, Guyana will take on Barbados today, Saturday, March 15, at 14:00hrs. The team remains focused and determined to secure a strong finish in the tournament.
All matches in the competition can be streamed live on the PAHF YouTube channel.
