Argentina’s Women Once Again Too Good For England

Argentina 5 (3)

M Granatto (5’, FG); Trinanes (26’, PC); Trinchinetti (28’, FG); V Granatto (35’, FG); Albertarrio (49’, FG)

England 2 (0)

Rayer (48’, FG); Hunt (52’, FG)

Argentina’s women put in another superb display to beat England for the second time in as many days in Bueno Aires.

Sisters Maria and Victoria Granatto were both on target for the hosts alongside Martina Trinanes, Eugenia Trinchinetti and Agustina Albertarrio.

Ellie Rayer and Holly Hunt both scored for England as they found some momentum in the final quarter to finish the game on a high.

It was also a special occasion for Martha Taylor as she made her senior international debut.

The hosts set out an early marker as they looked to repeat yesterday’s victory over England, Maria Granatto opening the scoring in the fifth minute as she picked her spot in the top corner after finding herself in acres of space in the middle of the circle.

A sliding Izzy Petter came close to diverting home a teasing pass by Hunt in the 17th minute but two goals in the final five minutes of the half saw Argentina take a commanding lead into the interval.

Trinanes scored the first, deflecting a slap from a penalty corner into the roof of the net before Trinchinetti added another two minutes later as she reacted quickest to an Amy Tennant save from a second set piece.

Victoria Granatto made it four early in the third quarter, starting the move inside her own half and finishing it off with a fine strike following a pacy Argentine attack.

Hannah Martin took the game into her own hands in the 44th minute, going on a mazy run from the halfway line into the circle but she couldn’t pick out a shot and was tackled.

She produced another fine piece of solo skill four minutes later, stealing the ball on the left side of the pitch and crossing for Rayer to deflect in her second goal in as many days.

Albertarrio restored Argentina’s four-goal lead less than 60 seconds afterwards as she jinked past several defenders before smashing the ball beyond Tennant.

England would have the last say however, with Hunt getting her name on the scoresheet for the first time in international hockey as she was perfectly placed to nudge home after Rayer’s shot hit the post.

The next time England’s women will be in action is when they face India in the FIH Hockey Pro League on 2-3 April

Starting XI: Tennant (GK), Toman, Martin, Hunt, Petter, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, Crackles, S Hamilton, Peel, Balsdon

Subs (Used): Unsworth, Rayer, Neal, Hunter, Taylor, Malzer

Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)