Persistent Argentina edge Spain in sevengoal thriller
Olympic champions start with 43 win; New Zealand beat France 21 in other Pool A game
BHUBANESWAR: A day before their World Cup opener against Olympic champions and world No 2 Argentina, Spain coach Fred Soyez had said the only way to stop their rivals was to play a defensive game and not concede penalty corners. Soyez knew how lethal Argentina’s drag flicker Gonzalo Peillat can be, such has been his conversion rate.
However, Spain were helpless as Peillat struck twice and Agustin Mazzilli also scored two goals to rally Argentina to a thrilling 4-3 victory in Group A. New Zealand defeated France 2-1 in the group’s other game.
In the 2014 World Cup, Peillet was the highest scorer with 10 goals, with a penalty corner conversion rate of over 70 percent. On Thursday, Peillat was again unstoppable despite Spain taking the leading twice and putting up a brilliant effort and enthralling the crowd till the end.
In the previous five matches played between the sides, Argentina had won four. The one that went in favour of Spain was played in Bhubaneswar during the 2017 World League Final. Argentina avenged that Bhubaneswar setback too.
“Being the first match of the tournament, it was a tough game. Spain is always a tough opponent. Since it was the first game there were lapses from both teams. Thankfully we have an awesome weapon, the best drag-flicker in the world (Peillat). Today also he changed the course of the game,” said Mazzilli, whose goals came in the first quarter.
“Since we are Olympic champions, it increases the pressure on us. We have to fill the gaps that we noticed today. We have a very experienced team, so it helps in making accurate calculations against the side we are playing against -- the style of our opponents and where we can catch them on the wrong foot.”
Spain, nicknamed Red Sticks, were not overawed against a team ranked seven slots higher. Both sides gave an equally intense performance and each of the four quarters looked like four different matches.
In the very second minute, Spain’s Enrique Gonzalez opened the account with a beautiful field goal after Argentina lost the ball inside their striking circle. Argentina equalised in no time with Agustin deflecting a cross from the right from beyond the far post, giving no chance to Spain goalkeeper Quico Cortes.
Spain again took the lead in the 13th minute off the first penalty corner of the match. Adopting a variation, Josep Romeu beat the goalkeeper with a shot to the far post. The very next minute, Peillat got an opportunity to showcase his talent and made it 2-2. In no time, Agustin put Argentina in the driver’s seat with a penalty corner conversion after the hooter went for the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Argentina’s Tomas Bettaglio received got a green card, but Spain couldn’t take advantage. They were back in the game again when Vicenc Ruiz scored a field goal in the 35thminute. But Peillat stood tall, finding a 49th minute off another penalty corner.
NZ BEAT FRANCE
Commonwealth Games silver medalists New Zealand, world No 9, defeated France, the lowest ranked team in the tournament (20), 2-1. Kane Russell (16th min) and Stephen Jenness (56th) scored in open play before France skipper Victor Charlet converted a 59th minute penalty corner.