With goals from Rosario Luchetti and Sofia Maccari, Argentina's Las Leonas ended their year with a solid victory in the The Four Nations at the Parana Rowing Club , Entre Rios beating South Africa 2-0.
From the start South Africa (RSA) , currently world ranked twelth were fired up and tried to take the game to the world champions but Argentina's Las Leonas enjoyed more possession of the ball for the majority of the game. The first opportunity in the game came to RSA from an attack started by captain Marsha Marescia and ended with a shot on goal by Kathleen Taylor, but it was cleared by newcomer Laura del Colle. The visitors had to work hard against a backgound of sometimes deafening noise at times with Argentine fans pacling the stadium chanting flags waving, confetti flying, firecrackers going off & drums beating incessantly, but it didn't dent their enthusiasm for the fight .They were up against it as the game unfolded in looking for their second win over Leonas in nine attempts during the past two years.
Argentina kept a constant pace and pressure up and penetrate the rival circle several times, but lacked accuracy close in . Finally, in the first direct shot on goal , Las Leonas broke through with Rosario Luchetti (24 ') in open play after a fine forward run by Delfie Merino from the left side of opponent's defence. Argentina never took their foot of the gas but the visitors managed to steal balls and created several dangerous situations. Argentina quickly stretched the gap in the early part of the second half. Merino stole a ball on the edge of the circle South Africa and passed to Sofia Maccari (40 '), who scored her first goal of the tournament. Martina Cavallero, twice came close to scoring a third. With the passing of the minutes, the Argentina dominated with Carla Dupuy, Silvina D'Elia, Merino and Maria Jose Fernandez shots on goal missing the mark. RSA had a number of short corner opportunities including three consequetive ones in the latter part of the game but could not brreak down the tight Argentine defending .
After the game RSA coach Giles Bonnet drew many positives for his team's gutsy perfomance "If one of our second-half penalty corners had gone in, it might well have changed the game," said SA head coach afterwards. "The team stood up well against one of the best teams in the world and I am proud of the commitment and courage they showed."
Las Leoans lineup featured a number of younger players who acquitted themselves magnificently, where coach Carlos Retegui is trying to give new players full international experience as he has an eye on 2012 and the elusive Olympic gold medal and naturally thinking about the long term make up of the squad.
Notably this current new squad continues its winning ways without world's best ever player Luciana Aymar ( who is expected to play in the Olympics but who is training separately at the moment , or Sole Garcia ( currently inexplicably left out by Retegui over perceived country v club divided loyalties) and Carla Rebecchi.
Argentina took the torunament gold , South Africa silver and given the Fair Play Award. India took bronze. Rosario Luchetti, not only finished as the tournament's leading scorer (4 goals) but was also awarded best player in the tournament. Newcomer Nahir The Barri, meanwhile, received the award for best goalkeeper.
Argentina : Laura Del Colle; Macarena Rodríguez, Silvina D´Elía, Noel Barrionuevo; Josefina Sruoga, Rosario Luchetti, Mariela Scarone, Josefina Sruoga; Delfina Merino, Sofía Maccari y Rocío Sánchez Moccia. Ingresaron: Carla Dupuy, Martina Cavallero, Roberta Werthein, María José Fernández, Marcela Casale. coach : Carlos Retegui.
South Africa : Mariette Rix; Marsha Marescia, Kate Woods, Nicolene Terblanche, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs; Kathleen Taylor, Tarryn Bright, Jade Mayne; Bernadette Coston, Dirkie Chamberlain y Sulette Damons. Ingresaron: Illse Davids, Liesel Dorothy, Shelley Russell y Celia Evans. Coach : Giles Bonnet.
Umpires : Nirmala Dagar (IND) and Catherine Montesino (CHI)
CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2012 ROSARIO :-
Argentina will return return to major international action in Rosario for the 2012 Champions Trophy on Saturday, January 28 against New Zealand. in Group B with Germany and South Korea. GB are drawn in group A with Netherlands, China and Japan. Just days before the start of the Champions Trophy in Rosario, Argentina stage a last Four Nations with South Korea, New Zealand and Great Britain between 18 to 22 January in Córdoba.
Full details of the champions Trophy can be found here http://cahockey.org.ar/Imagenes/Adjuntos/762131367.doc
