Missed it by that much
By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun
SANTO DOMINGO -- Ten seconds was left. There was a full moon over Ravi Kahlon's shoulder. And it was there ...
"I don't think I'll ever forget this one," said the Victoria native.
"The game, maybe, I'll forget.
"But not the shot. The shot I'll never forget."
It hit Argentine keeper Pablo Moreira on the shoulder. It was the only save he was required to make all night.
Ten seconds later Moreira was under a happy pile of Argentine players who were going to the Olympics, and Canada was going home with a silver medal that doesn't matter much compared with the berth in Athens that they didn't give themselves a chance to achieve, at least until Kahlon was put in position to make it 1-1 in the final seconds.
Score it as another Canadian team gagging on the big game.
PUNT A PRAYING PLAYER
At least this time Mike Mahood didn't punt a praying player when it was over like he booted Malaysia's Mirnawan Nawawi while the Muslim was on his knees praying after beating Canada at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
In fact, in this one, Mahood, the Canadian keeper, was the only reason they had a prayer.
The reformed North Vancouver stopper was the only reason the game was still in doubt when Kahlon took the shot.
But another Canadian Olympic qualifying dream bit the dust here last night. And you can count on one hand the number of Canadians who have qualified for Athens here so far.
The Canadian women's field hockey team didn't come close to qualifying here. In fact, they had to win the fifth- vs sixth-place game Tuesday to qualify for the next Pan-Am Games.
GALS AREN'T GOING TO ATHENS, PERIOD
The Canadian women aren't going to Athens, period. The men after the loss here, as a result of a higher international ranking, lost their best chance and possibly their last chance.
"It depends what happens at the all-Africa tournament," said coach Gene Muller.
"If South Africa wins it, we're OK and we'll go to Madrid in March and compete in the final Olympic qualifying tournament.
"But if Egypt or somebody else beats South Africa, then Canada is done, out of the Olympics. Our fate is no longer in our hands."
Not one single Canadian team has qualified for the Olympics from this Pan-Am Games.
It worked the same way with Canada in women's water polo, arguably our nation's team with the best chance of winning a medal should they make it to Athens 2004.
In fact, this one had the same MO.
"We spent 18 months changing the way we played but all that work didn't change our instincts," said coach Muller.
"We spent 18 months developing a free style of play, a passing style. But we weren't able to play our game because of the pressure.''
Mahood was shouting at his team from the Canadian goal throughout much of the game.
"I was yelling at our guys because I didn't think we were playing relaxed. We were too tense. We didn't play our game. To us this game wasn't about a Pan-Am gold medal, it was about the Olympics. It's a shame we didn't play our game.''
There has been some history here between these two nations in this sport.
Four years ago at the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada beat Argentina for the gold and won the qualifying spot in the Sydney Olympics. Four years before that, in Mar del Plata, Argentina won the gold.
This was Game 3 of a Pan-Am best-of-three at a neutral site.
Mahood made two big saves in the first half on penalty corners and his best save of the night on Jorge Lombi with 19 minutes to go in the 70-minute gold-medal game. Argentina had six penalty corners to Canada's one on which Ronnie Jagday of Vancouver fired it high and wide.
When Matias Paredes made it 1-0 three minutes into the second half, Canada rarely crossed the centre line and the Argentines pressed them relentlessly.
"We've done this before,'' said captain Rob Short of Vancouver. "Got to the big game and then didn't play our game.
"And when they got that goal ... Argentina players become like little fire engines when they get a lead. They get stronger and harder.''
Another loss, another lesson learned.
Gosh, with all the lessons Canada is learning we'll have to be the smartest country at the Games by the time they're over.
