Hockey: Green Machine Come Up Short Against World Cup Bronze Medalists

The first test of the series saw Argentina prevail with a 2-1 victory in what was a fast paced, physical encounter. The second test this evening saw the Argentinians, world cup bronze medalists, move up a gear and justify their world ranking of 6th.

Ireland started the livelier and Kyle Good, earning his 50th cap, got on the score sheet in the 4th minute. But 3 minutes later Peillat fired the ball into the bottom right corner from a PC routine to level the score. Peillat's second goal came from another PC but the shot was helped into the goal by a deflection, leaving Harte with no chance. Peter Caruth earned the Green Machine a PC in the 16th minute but O'Donoghue's strike was superbly saved by Sabaz. The Argentinian accuracy was something to behold and Paredes scored a neat deflection from a counter attack seconds before the half time hooter. HT 3-1 to Argentina.

Again the Green Machine started with the higher tempo with Bruton and O'Donoghue driving the ball into the circle, and Sothern's shot and PC drag going just wide. Sothern got his deserved goal in the 42nd minute and 2 minutes later Michael Robson leveled the score with a sweet strike after Caruth had darted down the wing, evading 2 defenders. David Fitzgerald took over in goal for the final quarter and was instantly called into action and made 2 confident saves. A sniping run through the heart of the Irish defense left Fitzgerald with no chance as Vila blasted the ball into the goal on the reverse. Brunet and Peillat's goal's gave Argentina the 6-3 victory, a win they deserved that was perhaps aided by some errors by the boys in green.

The final match of the series is tomorrow (Saturday 17th) at 6pm in Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club.