The Roller Hockey Club World Cup in San Juan, Argentina, kicked off with a bang for Portuguese giants Sporting. The European champions wasted no time, securing a convincing 7-3 victory over local side Olímpia in their opening match. It was a dominant display that set the tone for their campaign.
Sporting’s attack was relentless, spreading goals across the game. Alessandro Verona found the net early in the first minute and again in the 32nd. Diogo Barata added another in the 3rd minute, followed by Henrique Magalhães in the 23rd. Danilo Rampulla struck in the 36th, and Nolito Romero rounded off the scoring with two goals in the 41st and 49th minutes. Olímpia, the Argentinian team, managed to chip away at the lead with goals from Gonzalo Acosta in the 13th, Ignacio Meier in the 28th, and Federico Ortiz in the 35th. These efforts kept the home crowd engaged despite the scoreline.
Not to be outdone, fellow Portuguese club OC Barcelos also started strong. They clinched a solid 6-2 win against Centro Valenciano in their first fixture. This dual success highlighted a powerful opening for Portugal’s representatives in the international competition.
Following these results, OC Barcelos now leads Group B. They share the top spot with Australia’s Melbourne, who defeated Chile’s San Jorge 4-1. Sporting, meanwhile, sits at the top of Group A. They are tied with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona, after the Spaniards delivered a crushing 9-1 defeat to Andes Talleres from Argentina. Both Portuguese teams have made an impressive initial statement.
The tournament action continues today with more thrilling matches. OC Barcelos, who are the Portuguese vice-champions, will face San Jorge. That game begins at 6 PM Lisbon time. Later, Sporting will measure forces against Andes Talleres, with their match scheduled for 11 PM Lisbon time. Fans can expect more high-stakes roller hockey as the teams battle for position.