Ireland 3-4 Argentina
Ireland slipped to a narrow loss against Argentina in the second FIH Pro League match between the two countries in Antwerp on Saturday.
Beaten 3-1 by the same oppostion on Thursday, Ireland went into this one having only previously beaten Argentina once in their last 16 meetings dating back to 1978.
Ireland started well on this occasion.
Bautista Capurro burst through in the opening stages, but Shane O'Donoghue blocked his effort at the expense of a long corner.
Daragh Walsh, playing his 99th international match for Ireland, won the first penalty corner of the match for his country, Luke Madeley’s effort rattling the backboard to give Ireland the lead in the 13th minute.
It was end to end with both sides enjoying periods of possession and circle entries. Argentina won a penalty corner through Maico Casela in the 16th minute. Nicolas Dela Torre’s shot towards goal was deflected by Lucas Martinez and went wide.
Capurro then surged down the left wing and cut inside the semi-circle before rifling the ball into the roof of the net to make the score 1-1 in the 19th minute.
It didn’t take long for Ireland to regain the lead. A long high ball into the semi-circle hit off an Argentinian foot and Ireland were awarded a penalty corner. The penalty corner was converted by drag flicker Madeley for his second of the match and giving Ireland a 2-1 lead.
In the 25th minute a cross by Jonathan Lynch was saved by the foot of Thomas Santiago. Then a long pass into the Irish semi-circle found Tomas Demene and he fired a shot which goalkeeper Mark Ingram stopped sharply.
Ingram saved another penalty corner but Argentina were awarded a second penalty corner in the 27th minute. Demene converted to make the score 2-2 in the 28th minute.
The third quarter was every bit as hectic as the first half.
Nicolas Keenan gave Argentina the lead. Inaki Minadeo crossed and Keenan deflected it past replacement goalkeeper Jamie Carr to put Argentina 3-2 ahead, but it was a lead that only lasted a minute.
Ben Walker got a pass from outside the semi-circle and passed it inside to the better positioned Alistair Empey and he finished to the net in the 40th minute to make it 3-3.
Argentina regained the lead in the 53rd minute. They were awarded a penalty corner and the ball was sent to Nicolas Keenan at the far post, his short pass was deflected past Carr and into the net by Thomas Habif to put Argentina 4-3 up.
Ireland were reduced to 10 men when Louis Rowe was green carded in the 54th minute, but Argentina did not capitalise on the extra player.
Cross won a penalty corner for Ireland in the final seconds, Madeley’s drag flick was saved by Santiago’s foot.
In the closing seconds Ireland launched a counter-attack but Argentina dispossessed Ireland in the final seconds to leave the final score 4-3.
"We are pretty disappointed with that fourth goal," said Ireland head coach Mark Tumilty afterwards.
"Our corner defence wasn't what it should be. Against these teams we can’t continue to make those errors."
The team will face Belgium again tomorrow, a rematch of their historic win three days ago.
IRELAND:- Mark Ingram (GK), Luke Madeley, Matthew Nelson, Daragh Walsh, Kyle Marshall, Sean Murray (Capt), Peter Mc Kibbin, Michael Robson, Ben Walker, Louis Rowe, Nicholas Page
Subs: Jamie Carr (GK) (31), Tim Cross, Shane O'Donoghue, A Empey, Jonathan Lynch
ARGENTINA:- Thomas Santiago (GK), Juan Catan, Santiago Tarazona, Maico Casela (Capt), Nicoals Dela Torre, Matteo Fernandez, Federico Monja, Matias Rey, Lucas Martinez, Thomas Habif, Bautista Capurro
Subs: Nicolas Keenan, Tomas Demene, Joaquin Toscani, Agustin Bugallo, Tobias Martins, Inaki Minadeo
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