VANCOUVER — The Canadian men’s field hockey team put themselves in a hole with a 5-3 loss to Ireland Saturday, but they can still dig themselves out and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Canada must win Sunday’s final match in the two-game aggregate series by at least three goals to clinch an Olympic berth.
“The guys know their backs are up against the will,” said head coach Paul Bundy. “Anything can happen. It will be an interesting game tomorrow.
“We’ve been in this position before where we’ve had to claw our way into the Olympics. That will be the plan for tomorrow.”
Canada, ranked 10th in the world, led 2-1 at half time but then gave up four second-half goals to No. 13 Ireland.
Keegan Pereira scored twice for Canada while Gordon Johnston added the other goal.
“Of course it’s disappointing,” said Canadian captain Scott Tupper. “We played OK for the most part, just a couple too many defensive lapses that ended up with balls in our net.
“We have to be a little tighter tomorrow, hopefully eliminate a few more chances and be a little bit sharper. If we can put one or two in, we can really give it a run.”
Shane O’Donoghue and Sean Murray, with a pair each, and Chris Cargo scored for Ireland.
Irish captain Jonathan Bell was happy with the win but knows his team can’t book their tickets to Tokyo yet.
“It’s a good half-time score, but that’s all it is,” said Bell. “In hockey, goals can be scored in seconds.
“A 2-0 lead is a dangerous score line. It’s a good start. Tomorrow is going to e a massive game.”
The Canadians, nicknamed the Red Caribou, struggled with their offence early, spending most of the first quarter defending their own end.
Ireland had some good early chances to build a lead. The Irish were awarded two penalty corners in the game’s first 72 seconds and another before the opening quarter ended but failed the score.
After falling behind 3-2, Canada battled back to tie the score early in the fourth on Pereira’s second goal of the match. Ireland decided the game when Murray scored n the 51th minute, then O’Donoghue notched a penalty corner in the 53rd, bringing cheers from the Irish fans in the crowd.
“We didn’t do ourselves any favours today,” said Bundy. “I think we were pretty isolated. I think the occasion got to a lot of guys.
“That one is done. It’s like our warm-up game. Now we’ll have to chase the game. The pressure is on Ireland. They will have to keep that lead. One game and anything can happen.”
If the aggregate score is tied after regulation Sunday, there will be a shootout with five players from each team. If a tie remains, there will be a sudden-death shootout.
The Canadian men competed at the 2016 Rio Games but haven’t played in back-to-back Olympics since 1984 and '88.
In its first attempt to qualify for Tokyo, Canada lost 5-2 to Argentina in the gold-medal game the Pan American games in Peru this summer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2019.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
