Argentina defeat England in first Test

Test Match 1 of 2: Monday 12 May 2008

GREAT BRITAIN	2	(0)	-	3	(0)	ARGENTINA
Mel Clewlow 49 (PC)						Alejandro Gulla 40, 53 (F, PC)
Jo Ellis 65 (PC)						Agustina Soledad Garcia 68 (F)

Argentina eventually overcame Great Britain 3 – 2 at Reading Hockey Club’s Sonning Lane home, despite the home team twice fighting back to level the scores, in the first of their two-match international series.

The game sparked to life after a goalless first half, with Argentina twice taking the lead only to see Great Britain peg them back with goals from Mel Clewlow and Jo Ellis, to level the scores at 2 – 2. The hosts were to be left empty handed however, as Agustina Soledad Garcia scored with just two minutes remaining to ensure Las Leonas took the win and the enthusiastic home crowd went home disappointed with the result.

It was the visitors who had the best of the early chances, as Garcia combined with Luciana Aymar, whose shot flashed across the face of goal in a crowded circle.

Great Britain were quick to reply as Alex Danson charged down Mercedes Margalot’s attempted clearance to release Sarah Thomas, but there was no one to get on the end of the Welsh international’s cross.

Nor was anyone of the end of Danson’s reverse stick cross from the left, as chances went begging at both ends.

A great tackle on Maria De la Paz Hernandez by Rebecca Herbert then allowed Thomas to break free on the right. Her cross was well dealt with by the Argentine defence, and moments later it was Great Britain called to defend, as Kate Walsh pushed away a threatening through ball by Aymar.

With neither side taking control, the game looked likely to peter out as the interval beckoned, but instead the hosts won the first of their nine penalty corners. Only Paola Vukojicic’s outstretched leg in the Argentinean goal denied Walsh, before Katy Roberts was called into action at the opposite end, standing up well to block Rosario Luchetti’s shot.

The second half began with a bang for Great Britain, as Walsh’s penalty corner effort came back of the left hand post and Clewlow saw her effort blocked by Vukojicic.

Argentina soon began to pile the pressure back on however, forcing mistakes in the British defence, so it was no surprise when they broke the deadlock – an unmarked Alejandro Gulla poking home at the far post from a corner to give the South American’s the lead.

Great Britain very nearly levelled the scores moments later, as Walsh pulled the ball left to Ellis from a penalty corner, but the Bowdon Hightown player’s shot could only ruffle the side netting.

The home nation were level not long after, as Clewlow’s powerful strike deflected in off the goalkeeper to make it 1 – 1, but the but the Lionesses were soon back in front.

Substitute goalkeeper Abigail Walker made a great reflex save to stop Noel Barrionuevo’s shot, but the rebound fell only as far as Gulla, who made no mistake with a simple finish to take her second goal of the game.

With the game entering it’s final ten minutes, an Argentine victory looked certain. Great Britain had other ideas however, winning a succession of penalty corners, from the last of which they made it two all.

In a repeat of the move that had so nearly worked earlier, Walsh switched the ball left from the top of the circle to Ellis, who this time made no mistake, firing inside the left hand post for the equaliser.

There was still time for Argentina to take the lead for one last time however. A long pass found Garcia unmarked in the British circle, and the forward showed why she has twice been named World Young Player of the Year, by rounding Walker and sliding the ball home for the winner.

Speaking after the game, Great Britain coach Danny Kerry was pleased with his side’s second half performance, after what he described as a “tough first half”, but “gutted to lose. We’re definitely moving in the right direction, there’s no question about it. Today you’re talking about some very young, very green players up against some of the best players in the world. To keep the game close was good, and there’s no getting away from that, but it is hard to lose.”

Started

Mel Clewlow (Canterbury & England)

Charlotte Craddock (Cannock & England)

Susie Gilbert (Birmingham Uni & England)

Rebecca Herbert (Leicester & England)

Katy Roberts (Chelmsford & England)

Chloe Rogers (Chelmsford & England)

Sarah Thomas (Rotterdam & Wales)

Rachel Walker (Olton & West Warwickshire & England)

Kate Walsh (Slough & England)

Kerry Williams (Leicester & England)

Lisa Wooding (Chelmsford & England)