07/25/2021 9:34 AM
Clarín.com
sports
sports Center
Updated 07/25/2021 9:34 AM
For some it was relief and hope after the first victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. For others it was disappointment and blow.
For some it was expected.
For others, the unexpected.
Los Leones and Las Leonas had mixed luck during their presentations at dawn in Argentina.
The men's field hockey national team, the reigning Olympic champion, earned his first victory in the competition after beating Japan 2-1, while the girls got off to a poor start and lost 3-0 to New Zealand.
After the 1-1 draw against Spain in its debut, those led by Carlos "Chapa" Retegui won the first match in their area
with goals from two Olympic debutants
.
For the second date of group A, they prevailed thanks to goals from Leandro Tolini, at 5 minutes, and Nicolás Keenan, at 19, in the match played on the South field of the Oi Hockey stadium.
Kenta Tanaka, at the end, discounted for the host, who added his second defeat in the tournament.
The weak start of Las Leonas against New Zealand.
AFP
The Argentine team, defender of the gold medal achieved in the last Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016, could not count on the experienced Lucas Rossi, who was sanctioned with a date for breaching the Code of Conduct in the altercation he had with a Spaniard in the last game.
For Las Leonas, for their part, the dream of reaching a new Olympic podium did not start in the best way after
the 3-0 defeat against New Zealand
, as surprising as it was bulky.
The lack of efficiency in the penalty corner (he missed all six he had) undermined the possibility of achieving an important victory.
Instead, the New Zealanders capitalized on their chances and celebrated through Kelsey Smith, Hope Ralph and Holly Pearson, all in the second half.
The chance of a rematch for the Argentines will come soon.
This Monday at 7 o'clock the adversary will be Spain
.
To believe again.
And to continue dreaming of a fifth Olympic medal for the most successful women's team in the history of Argentine sports.
Spain has just lost 3 to 1 against Australia in group B, whose first match was completed with the victory of China against Japan 4 to 3.
Look also
Tokyo 2020: Lucas Rossi, from Los Leones, suspended for breaching the Code of Conduct
Tokyo 2020: Argentina's suffering with team sports, one of its historical strengths
