Cayman Islands – Armenia 6:1 (end) | Portugal – USA 1:3 (end) | Great Britain – Lebanon 2:1 (end)
India – Greece 3:0 (end) | Bermuda – France 4:3 (3:2 after SO) | Finland – Slovakia 1:3 (end)
Italy – Czech Republic 0:12 (end)
final
Portugal
1:3 (1:1, 0:0, 0:2)
USA
Friday 02.06.2017, 11:00 • World Cup (men) • Group A2
     
    The Americans are now even with the Czechs with 3 points atop Group A2. Portugal is in the same spot as Switzerland, having each lost their first games. The fifth team in the group, Italy, will finally play its first game of the tournament later today against the Czechs.

    Don't miss that game and everything else we have to offer from the 2017 Ball Hockey World Championships in Pardubice. (12:54:51)
     
    Players of the Game:

    POR – Justin Cruz, G
    USA – Cody Black, F
     
    Portugal kept pressuring right to the end but they couldn't get another ball past Rethage.

    The Portguese definitely gave it a good effort, and were at their best in the second period when they had chances but were unable to score. That cost them in the third period when the Americans scored twice on the power play and that was the difference in this game.
     
    Game over.
     
    43:49
    Rethage covers a loose ball just as his team gets back to full strength.
     
    43:23
    Ball deflects out of play in the USA zone with :24 left in the penalty, faceoff outside.
     
    42:55
    Bouncing ball is covered by Rethage with :52 left in the penalty.
     
    42:35
    Portugal pressuring on the power play, shot from the point and a scramble, ball stays out and now we get more pushing and shoving. No penalties but the faceoff will be outside.
     
    41:48
    Penalty for USA (Carter – 2 min., High Sticking).
     
    40:40
    Jeff Gallant with a shot in close, Rethage had to be alert.
     
    40:14
    Now play is stopped because there's an American player down in the corner, Matt Kiesel, who just came out of the penalty box, and he's slow to get to his feet.
     
    40:00
    Team USA back at full strength, play in the Portuguese zone.
     
    39:04
    They get a shot through to Rethage but he has no trouble with it and holds on with :47 left in the penalty.
     
    38:28
    Americans break up Portuguese pressure and for the third time in the game a clearing attempt goes high and hits the scoreboard. Faceoff in the USA zone with 1:23 left in the penalty.
     
    37:52
    Penalty for USA (Kiesel – 2 min., Interference).
     
    37:35
    Coincidental penalty:
    Penalty for USA (Zimmick – 4 min., Roughing).
     
    37:35
    Coincidental penalty:
    Penalty for Portugal (Goncalves – 4 min., Roughing).
     
    37:35
    Portugal continues to pressure off the faceoff, a collision and the net and we get some pushing and shoving after the whistle. Penalties will be coming.
     
    37:23
    Portugal suddenly finds itself needing offence. They go to the attack, a shot hits Rethage in the shoulder and goes out of play.
    36:07 Housser (USA) - 1:3
     
    36:07
    Goal for Team USA!
    They've broken the game open with two straight power-play goals. This time it was a long-range shot from BOBBY HOUSSER that found its way past Cruz up high.
    Assist: Bill Sullivan.
     
    35:42
    Offside USA with still :36 remaining in their power play.
    34:45 Warila (USA) - 1:2
     
    34:45
    Goal for Team USA!
    With the 2-man advantage, the Americans are patient, work it around and a shot through traffic by CODY WARILA just makes it through Cruz's pads and across the line.
    Assist: Jonny Ruiz.
     
    34:18
    Timeout Portugal.

    Big moment in the game as they're under pressure, and will now be 2 men short for :55.
     
    34:18
    Penalty for Portugal (Queiroga – 2 min., slashing).
     
    33:54
    Pass out from the corner from Daugherty to Schlegel, save Cruz, a wild scramble but the ball stays out.
     
    33:14
    Penalty for Portugal (Cerqueira – 2 min., Kneeing).
     
    32:20
    Icing Portugal.
     
    32:03
    One-timer from the top of the circle is right on Cruz, who hangs on.
     
    31:41
    The Americans continue to buzz, Cruz dives on a loose ball.
     
    31:23
    The USA gets a couple of shots through but Portugal also clears it a couple of times. They're back at full strength now and get called for icing.
     
    30:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Teams are returning to the floor and the 3rd period will begin shortly.

    Remember, the USA begins the period with still 1:18 remaining in a power play.
     
    Portugal carried most of the play in the middle period, thanks to a few power plays, but the USA finally started getting some pressure on a late power play, which will carry into the third period for another 1:18. There were no goals in the second period and the score remains 1-1.

    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Portugal 7 (14), USA 5 (20).

    3rd period begins at 12:17 CET.
     
    30:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    29:32
    US trying to get a late goal on the power play, called for an attacking player in the goal crease.
     
    29:18
    Penalty for Portugal (Rocha – 2 min., Hooking).
     
    28:05
    Scramble in front, ball goes to the corner, the Americans clear it to relieve pressure.
     
    27:28
    Portuguese shoot-in attempt goes high and out of play, faceoff outside.
    26:54 Schlegel (USA), Cruz (POR)
     
    26:54
    Penalty for USA (Hildreth – 2 min., Interference).
     
    25:40
    Chance for Cabral hits Rethage in the chest.
     
    24:50
    US 3-on-1 rush, they work the give-and-go but Justin Cruz makes a huge pad save off a one-timer from Schlegel.
     
    24:10
    Icing USA.
     
    23:51
    Icing Portugal.
     
    22:49
    The Americans finally getting something going, Wilson's backhander in front is stopped and held by Cruz.
     
    21:47
    USA back at full strength and they're called for icing. Portugal put on the pressure there but unable to score.
     
    20:26
    Slapper from the point deflects out of play.
     
    19:35
    That leads to tempers flaring up and now the Americans will be shortnaded, as Jim Daugherty goes off for tripping.
     
    19:20
    Some battling in front of the net and American Johny Ruiz appears to take a cross-check to the neck area. He falls down and has trouble getting up, but no call on the play.
     
    19:00
    Icing USA.
    18:29 Camara (POR)
     
    18:29
    Americans under pressure again, a clearing attempt hits the scoreboard. That's happened twice now this game, once for each team.
     
    17:36
    Camara gets behind the US defence and has a great chance but is denied by Rethage.
     
    17:05
    Carter with a long shot for the USA, pad save Cruz.
     
    16:20
    The Americans continue to be hemmed in their own zone. We can hear the players on the team bench down below trying to rally their team to get going.
     
    15:43
    Portugal keeps the pressure up, Pires's shot stopped, ball ends up out of play.
     
    15:24
    Portugal goes right to the attack from the start of the period, but play is whistled for an attacking player in the goal crease.
     
    15:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The teams are on the floor and the second period will begin shortly.
     
    Portugal was putting on some pressure at the end of that period and got a couple more shots. They're the underdog this game but they gave the Americans all sorts of fits in that first period.

    Shots on goal: Portugal 7, USA 15.

    2nd period begins at 11:40 CET.
     
    15:00
    1st period finished.
     
    14:21
    US shot deflected on Cruz, he covers.
     
    13:31
    Icing USA.
     
    12:52
    Long shot by Gallant, Rethage had trouble but directed it to the corner.
     
    12:29
    Just as Portugal gets back to full strength, Cruz catches a long slapper and holds on. A lot of long shots on that power play but nothing dangerous.
     
    11:40
    USA working it around the perimeter well but can't penetrate the Portuguese box, as they're getting nothing inside.
     
    10:29
    Penalty for Portugal (Carreira – 2 min., Interference).
    10:04 Carreira (POR) - 1:1
     
    10:04
    Goal for Team Portugal!
    It didn't take them long on the power play, as ADAM CARREIRA unloaded a one-time bullet from the point that beat Rethage through traffic stick side.
    Assist: Ricardo Pires.
     
    09:54
    Penalty for USA (Liebers – 2 min., Hooking).
     
    09:12
    Dangerous rush down the right wing for Portugal's Camara, he very nearly snuck a shot short side but Rethage kept it out.
     
    08:19
    Play in the Portuguese zone and a clearing attempt goes high and hits the scoreboard. Play stopped and faceoff in the Portuguese zone.
     
    07:09
    Icing Portugal.
     
    06:32
    Offside Portugal.
     
    06:07
    Quick shot off the draw, Rethage had to be sharp but he holds on.
     
    06:03
    Ball out of play in the Portuguese zone, faceoff inside.
     
    04:45
    Sullivan's long shot is stopped, Portugal back at full strength.
     
    04:22
    US pressure continues, Cruz is down but he makes the save and covers with :19 left in the penalty.
     
    03:50
    The USA finally getting some pressure on the power play, forcing Cruz to make a couple saves.
     
    03:29
    Icing USA, as they're having trouble getting the power play going.
     
    02:57
    Icing USA.
     
    02:41
    Penalty for Portugal (Carreira – 2 min., Tripping).
    02:18 Black (USA) - 0:1
     
    02:18
    Goal for Team USA!
    They kept up the pressure and CODY BLACK's first shot was blocked but he got it back and fired a low shot inside the post past Cruz.
    Assist: Korey Wilson.
     
    01:33
    Long shot from the Americans, Cruz made the save and it went straight up in the air, bounced dangerously in the crease before being cleared.
     
    01:07
    Icing Portugal.
     
    00:15
    Portugal to the attack early, Pires with the game's first shot on goal.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are on the floor.

    Portugal is designated as the home team and is wearing dark red jerseys and shorts, green socks and white helmets. The USA is designated as the visiting team and is wearing white jerseys, navy blue shorts and socks and white helmets.

    The game will start shortly.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Portugal: Cruz (Medeiros) – Aragao, Carreira, Cerqueira, B. Creador, C. Creador, R. Leal, Queiroga, Rocha – Cabral, Cabral, Camara, David, Gallant, Goncalves, M. Leal, Macbeth, Pires, Pontes, Senra

    USA: Rethage (Sheehan, Erb) – Bayne, Caron, Carter, Defazio, Hildreth, Liebers, Merchant, Zimmick – Black, Daugherty, Gregory, Hackett, Hickey, Housser, Kiesel, Petito, Ruiz, Senecal, Schlegel, Sullivan, Warila, Wilson.
     
    This is the first game of the tournament for both the USA and Portugal. Both teams are competing in Group A2, which also includes the Czech Republic, Italy and Switzerland. In last night's action, the Czechs shut out Switzerland 6-0. Italy plays its first game tonight against the host Czechs.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 11:00 CET.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 11. Carreira (Pires) – 3. Black (Wilson), 35. Warila (Ruiz), 37. Housser (Sullivan)

    Portugal: Cruz (Medeiros) – Aragao, Carreira, Cerqueira, B. Creador, C. Creador, R. Leal, Queiroga, Rocha – Cabral, Cabral, Camara, David, Gallant, Goncalves, M. Leal, Macbeth, Pires, Pontes, Senra
    USA: Rethage (Sheehan) – Bayne, Caron, Carter, Defazio, Hildreth, Liebers, Merchant, Zimmick – Black, Daugherty, Gregory, Hackett, Hickey, Housser, Kiesel, Petito, Ruiz, Senecal, Schlegel, Sullivan, Warila, Wilson