The women’s field hockey team, Las Leonas, won 4-1 against their pair from Spain, for the second date of group C, in what was so far the best match of the World Cup in Spain and the Netherlands, which It was played at the Olympic Stadium in Tarrasa (Barcelona). The first success was the presence of 6,660 spectators who practically filled the stadium in a great demonstration of women’s sport and specifically of the fans of Spain and Argentina.
The meeting clearly had two phases with the first two quarters where the scoreboard did not move despite the intentions of both teams. Argentina, who had been very accurate in the debut against Korea scoring their first four penalty corner shots, missed the four they tried in this first half. Of course, it was necessary to resort to video arbitration to annul Valentina Costa’s goal for a foul prior to the kick. Spain also had theirs in a frenetic first quarter.
The second was more even, with the RedSticks with a great defense and launching quick counterattacks that also did not find their destiny and so with 0-0 and another penalty corner missed by each team. Without goals but with a lot of hockey, the intermission was reached and with the feeling that anything could happen.
The third quarter began with a new error –the sixth– by Argentina in a penalty corner. The response of the Spanish team with a quick combination was about to be 1-0 but Marta Segú did not come close.
Everything changed in the 38th minute. An individual play resulted in the penalty in an action that seemed clear. Agustina Gorzelany’s shot made it 1-0. Las Leonas came up and in the same minute they enjoyed their seventh penalty corner. This time, Valentina Raposo was in charge of scoring the 2-0.
Spain had in the following action the opportunity to close the gap but it was not the day in attack and the third penalty corner did not reach its desired destination. Quite the opposite of the Albiceleste team, which corrected everything that had been wrong in the other two quarters to make it 3-0, again the work of Agustina Gorzelany. His fourth goal in two games.
Adrian Lock’s players did not sink after this triple blow that did not respond to the equality that was being seen throughout the match. Nine minutes from the end came the discount for Spain for the 3 to 1, in a penalty-corner that Xantal Giné touched so that Begoña García in a great definition from the ground gave hope. The second goal of the Aragonese in the World Cup. Fernando Ferrara’s team completed their final festival with Maria José Granatto scoring 4-1 at the last minute.
The last match of the qualifying phase will be next Thursday the 7th, against Canada, which in its debut on Friday fell to the Spanish 4-1 and this Sunday lost to Korea 3-2. The Lionesses lead group C with 6 points, followed by Spain and Korea with 3, while Canada closes without units.