Argentina clobbers Poland in the FIH Champions Challenge I quarter-final by 5-1
Argentina proved that it can easily take three back to back games as it clobbered bottom-line Poland, 5-1, in the quarter-final match of the FIH Champions Challenge I. The one-sided game was contested at the Randburg Hockey Stadium, in Johannesburg, South
Africa, on Thursday, December 01.
The Las Leonas (Argentina) qualified for the semi-final stage of the tournament with an unbeaten record. Conversely, it will have to uphold its winning streak if it wants to win the title of the prestigious tournament.
Both, Argentina and Poland, started the game hurling fire against each other. It was quite a shock for Argentina when Poland drew the first blood in the very fourth minute of play.
Bartosz Zywiczki drove the ball at the top of the circle, slamming a powerful shot that moved smoothly into the goalposts.
However, it was the only Polish goal in the two halves of play. Lucas Argento Innocente managed the first goal for Las Leonas in the 13th minute mark.
In the later period, Pedro Ibarra and Rodrigo Nicolas Vila gained one goal each in the 22nd and 23rd minutes, respectively, expanding the lead for Argentina by two goals, 3-1.
Despite the Argentinean line-up continuing its fast and furious style of play, it failed to add any goals in the remaining part of the first half. Poland was sitting behind with two goals, 3-1, at halftime.
The second set of play completely belonged to Argentina as it acquired another two goals during the thirty-five minutes of play, stretching the lead up to four goals. On the other side, the resilient defense-men kept Polish attackers at bay in the second
frame.
In the 56th minute mark, Lucas Rafael Rossi held the ball under his stick and drove it towards the right flank of the Polish goal. He volleyed a powerful shot that sailed past the goalie into the goalposts, giving Argentina further confidence
for a victory.
With two minutes remaining in the regulation period, Lucas Martin Vila notched another goal, making a heavy margin-victory possible for Argentina by 5-1.
Argentina will face Belgium in the semi-final game of the Champions Challenge I.
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