Hockey World Cup 2018: Argentina downs Spain in thriller, New Zealand pips France
Agustin Mazilli and Gonzalo Peillat score two goals apiece as Argentina records a 4-3 win.
Published : Nov 29, 2018 20:09 IST
Olympic champion Argentina relied on braces by Agustin Mazilli and Gonzalo Peillat to rally twice and record an exciting 4-3 win over a formidable Spain in the opening Pool A match of the Hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.
The contest, featuring six players from both sides appearing in their fourth World Cup and one, Matias Paredes, playing his fifth, had a thrilling start as the opening quarter produced five goals.
Free flowing hockey kept the spectators engaged as Spain attacked in unison from the left and stunned Argentina in the third minute through Enrique Gonzalez’s lovely goal off an Alvaro Iglesias pass following an exchange inside the circle. Argentina answered back in no time when Mazilli brilliantly deflected Juan Lopez’s cross. Spain went up again through Josep Romeu’s penalty corner conversion from a smart variation. Romeu found a diagonal angle to launch his rasping shot along the ground.
Comeback
The Latin Americans fought back in style, pumping in two goals — Mazilli’s diving deflection and Peillat’s low short corner conversion — in the final minute of the quarter.
After a quiet second period, when both sides resorted to tight marking, the Europeans outwitted Argentina with a fast-paced plan to draw parity. Alvaro Iglesias’ reverse hit from left rebounded off the post but Vicenc Ruiz hammered it in from the right.
Argentinians focused on their defence by closing the gaps and keeping the ball. It cut down Spain’s pace and wrested the lead again through Peillat’s strike, which got deflected from a defender’s stick. Argentina remained unaffected even though Spain replaced its goalkeeper to press harder and the former was one man down towards the close.
- Argentina 4 (Mazilli 4 and 15, Peillat 15 and 49) bt Spain 3 (Gonzalez 3, Romeu 14, Ruiz 35).