Paris — Watched by Sir Andy Murray, Argentina served up a decisive third quarter to send Team GB women into a quarter-final with defending champions the Netherlands (who have won over 96% of matches since Rio) on Monday — and Las Leonas purring at the prospect of another deep Olympics run.
Two counter goals after GB were sent down to 10 following a crucial yellow card to Tess Howard ultimately put paid to their hopes of finishing above Spain after a 3-0 defeat. This after David Ralph’s side had put in a promising first-half showing.
GB had last beaten Argentina in 2018, winning six of their last eight in normal time (as well as shoot-out wins after draws in two other Pro League games). Here, they kept up their tournament momentum after two successive wins to offer a threat to the Tokyo silver medallists.
For they started brightly, Hannah French again showing her creative form and fluidity, winning their first PC. The injection from Charlotte Watson was slow and Amy Costello couldn’t get a proper shot away.
With three goals from 31 PCS prior to this, they summoned their best chance from Sarah Robertson’s injection. Slipped to Giselle Ansley, the GB flicker angled across goal and thudded the post. Ansley was in semi celebration as it cannoned back across the D.
Argentina still possessed a deadly counter, Maria Granatto at the centre of them. This in turn led to corner chances, but GB’s defence was holding firm.
Las Leonas were growing stronger deep into the second quarter. First, Agustina Albertarrio lashed across goal as Miriam Pritchard stretched her left leg. Then Pritchard made a fine glove save from Julieta Jankunas’s reverse.
A yellow card for Howard led to Argentina providing the numerical blow. Agustina Gorzelany fed to Valentina (Ruiz de los Llanos) Raposo. Totally unmarked on the stroke spot, she had almost as much time as it takes to pronounce her full surname to slot past Pritchard.
With the next attack, more problems were created by the GB defence and Albertarrio sent a fine low backhand into the backboards from a tight angle.
The game was won six minutes from time when another counter left Zoe Dias to clip a looping backhand over four stilted GB defenders and high into the net. For all GB’s endeavour, they couldn’t muster a telling final blow. Sophie Hamilton and Sarah Jones both going close.
The Dutch world No.1’s beat Japan 5-1 in their final Pool game. Top spot had already been assured as they won their fifth game in a row.
What they said…
“To be honest, we were really happy in the first half, I think it was some of the best hockey we have played. We scored some ridiculous goals yesterday, but in terms of the team performance, we were really putting it on show in the first half.
“We went into half-time really happy, I think the only thing is that we need to start building scoring pressure as well. When you play such top teams, you can’t keep hanging on.”
GB’s Flora Peel
