Dec 14,2024
Argentina 1-0 Ireland
Argentina scored with the last play of the game to defeat Ireland 1-0 in their second game of the 2024/25 FIH Pro League campaign.
After an evenly matched encounter at Santiago del Estero Hockey Club, Ireland looked to be heading for a second draw in as many days after Thursday's draw with England.
However, with just seconds left on the clock, the hosts threw a Hail Mary aerial into the Ireland circle towards a player who appeared to be marked by Peter McKibbin.
The umpire awarded a free-out to Ireland and the hooter blew for full-time, but Argentina asked to use their video referral in an effort to gain a penalty corner, amid claims that McKibbin had encroached.
The video umpire sided with the hosts, a call that the Ireland players vehemently disagreed with, and Argentina’s Thomas Domene drag-flicked the ball into the bottom corner to snatch the victory.
Ireland came out of the gates quickly, opting to press Argentina high up the pitch.
Conor Empey was the first to test the keeper, striking a ball at goal which was saved by debutant Joaquin Ruiz.
Ireland had another chance to take the lead in the final seconds of the first quarter when Louis Rowe was found free in the circle. Ruiz was alive to the danger, stepping out to smother the Banbridge man’s effort.
The sides remained locked for the remainder of the first half, with few other clear-cut chances coming down either end.
Argentina returned from half-time with a newfound intensity, creating several scoring opportunities, two of which flashed inches past the post.
While Ireland’s second-half chances were less frequent, they did manage to put the ball in the back of the net, but a free-out was awarded in the build-up and the goal did not stand.
Then, with the game seemingly destined to end scoreless, Argentina picked Ireland off in controversial circumstances.
Speaking after the game head coach Mark Tumilty said: "Players surrounding an umpire in order to get him or her to use their video referral rather than the team referrals is creeping into our game, and I spoke to the umpires manager after the previous game about this very issue.
"The decision by the video umpire to award the penalty corner, I don't think anybody can understand that decision.
"These things happen in sport, extremely disappointed, frustrated. We need to regroup, a day's rest tomorrow we need to go again against England. These things happen but we don't want to dwell on the decision.
"There are some positives to take out of that game. I thought there were opportunities out there that we didn't take. We didn't create enough in the final third and we didn't create any penalty corners, it is difficult in these conditions and in the heat."
Ireland now have a day to recover after back-to-back games, before they play England and Argentina again on Saturday and Sunday.
Argentina: Joaquin S Ruiz; Facundo Zarate; Tomas Ruiz; Lautaro Domene; Matias Andreotti; Tomas Domene; Lucas Martinez; Tadeo Marcucci; Ignacio Ibarra; Thomas Habif; Lucio Mendez.
Subs used: Nicolas Keenan (4 mins); Santiago Tarazona (4 mins); Matias Rey (C) (5 mins); Bruno Correa (7 mins); Agustin Bonanno (8 mins); Inaki Minadeo (8 Mins).
Ireland: James Milliken; Tim Cross; Daragh Walsh; Kyle Marshall (C); Peter McKibbin; Ben Walker; Jonathan Lynch; Peter Brown; Ben Nelson; Lee Cole; Nicholas Page.
Subs used: Luke Witherow (3 Mins), Ben Pasley (5 Mins); Louis Rowe (5 Mins), Adam Walker (5 mins), Cono Empey (4 Mins), Fergus Gibson (4 Mins).
