[img_assist|nid=3426|title=Still got it|desc=Eight-time world player of the year Luciana Aymar is trailed by Australia’s Casey Eastham|link=node|align=right|width=219|height=146]Argentina women defeated the Hockeyroos in the decisive third hockey test to win their series downunder.
Thursday’s 2-1 win followed 0-0 and 2-2 draws.
Australia women’s coach Adam Commens said the Hockeyroos were tired after a heavy training block during the series and “couldn’t keep up the intensity of the Argentinians after half time”. “When you get tired it gets a lot harder to execute the basics skills as you do at other times and today we made those errors when we were stationary.”
There are numerous encouraging signs four months out from the London Olympics with Commens saying, “one of the really encouraging things through this series has been that we have shown that we have depth throughout the squad and have played numerous players in this series and against Korea recently and there is competition for every position”.
The Hockeyroos began the match with the intensity they’ve shown from the opening two matches, with experienced Hockeyroo Megan Rivers latching onto a loose ball in the circle after an Anna Flanagan Penalty Corner flick in the sixthth minute of the match.
Argentina super striker Carla Rebecchi hit back in the 19th minute with a breakaway run from the 23 metre line and passing Toni Cronk in goals. Coming off a double in game two, Rebecchi was looking dangerous again. It didn’t take long into the second half for Rebecchi to score another double through a penalty corner in the 39th minute. Rebecchi capped off an outstanding series in which she scored all four of Argentina’s goals.
The Hockeyroos head to the Sunshine Coast next for a three match series against the USA on April 5, 7 and 8.
