Christian Scarpello’s overtime goal earned England a thrilling 7-6 victory against Puerto Rico and advanced the team to the World Championship quarter-finals.
Scarpello’s fourth goal of the game was the decider after England had earlier come from three goals down to lead, only to be pegged back by their talented opposition.
The win sets up a mouth-watering rematch against Australia on Wednesday in the Last 8, with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.
After a gruelling Pool Play campaign in which England finished 0-4 after matches against the world’s top ranked sides, they then came up against the #12 seed Puerto Rico who had a 3-1 winning record and a squad containing plenty of NCAA talent.
And it seemed Puerto Rico’s Pool Play momentum carried into the early stages of the game as despite Scarpello opening the scoring for England, they then bagged the next four goals in a 10-minute period that firmly put England on the back foot.
But after a timeout England regrouped and after being starved of the ball managed to exert some sustained pressure to begin the comeback.
First Scarpello pulled one back, then Tim Collins finished off a smart man-up play courtesy of Sam Dexter’s feed before Sean Goldsmith scored to tie the game.
The impetus was now with England and coming out of the half-time the team continued to dominate, Scarpello getting his third following a feed from behind by Danny Hilditch.
There were then a number of opportunities to extend the advantage but Will Mark in goal for Puerto Rico denied Goldsmith a couple of times and were then punished as Ramirez equalised at the other end.
The England lead was quickly restored though as after a Puerto Rico face-off win, Nicholas Vazquez experienced a moment of madness as heading towards his own goal passed the ball straight to Drew Bickerton, and with the goalie out of position Bickerton duly finished into the open goal.
However, it still wasn’t done as Joshua Balcarcel tied the game again before two big moments to win it went begging.
As we entered the last minute, it was first England as Hugo Peel got free to feed Hilditch in front on the crease only to be denied an almost certain goal by Mark, before William Baxter then forced overtime at the other end, stopping Melendez’s long range effort.
With the tension at maximum levels on and off the field and a Last 8 place at stake, England came up with the crucial play to kickstart the overtime search for the winner.
A combination of Tom Bracegirdle at the face and Tommy Kirkland on the ground ball claimed the all-important possession at the start of overtime and after almost two and a half minutes of holding, Scarpello took it upon himself to make the game winning play.
Driving from behind goal he managed to get a step on the defender and as he came around dunked the ball in the near-side top corner while tip-toeing the crease to spark scenes of celebration across the San Diego State University site.
It is now a quick turnaround for the quarter-final as England take on Australia again on Wednesday at 10am PDT/ 6pm BST.
Box Score: England – Puerto Rico (1-2; 4-4; 5-4; 6-6; 7-6)
England Scorers: Christian Scarpello (4G), Drew Bickerton (1G), Tim Collins (1G), Sean Goldsmith (1G), Sam Dexter (1A), Danny Hilditch (1A)
Puerto Rico Scorers: Russell Melendez (2G), Steven Ramirez (2G), Brandon Aviles (1G), Joshua Balcarcel (1G), Matthew Chlastawa (2A)