Hockey World Cup: The Lions missed an incredible game and were eliminated

The illusion of a new world podium for

is over .

The Argentine field hockey team failed to reach the quarterfinals of the

after losing to

by Australian penalties 3-2, after equalizing 5-5 in regulation time of the round of 16 duel that was played in Bhubaneswar.

The team led by

missed the victory, after being 5-3 up on the scoreboard.

And in the definition of the

was erratic:

and

converted their penalties;

but

and

missed theirs.

And the Asian team, which scored three (

,

and

) advanced to the next round, where they will face

.

The Argentines, meanwhile, will play the table for the classification from ninth to sixteenth place, which will start against

in Rourkela, on Thursday, at 8 in our country.

The Lions, seventh in the FIH ranking, controlled the match for almost 60 minutes and were in front four times.

They opened the scoring at 9 of the opening quarter through Casella.

Korea, 11th in the world, annulled Argentina's initial advantage through

, who scored 1-1 two minutes into the second period, and gave his first warning by going 2-1 three minutes later, on his third corner. short, which 

converted .

The Asian advantage was short-lived, because on the next play, Kennan tied the game and three minutes later, 

, from short, again left the South Americans 3-2 ahead.

The success of

's penalty corner , at 10 minutes of the third quarter, and that of Della Torre, immediately after, maintained the advantage of those led by Ronconi, who reached the last quarter of the game with a minimal advantage of 4-3 . 

Bugallo and Della Torre celebrate a goal in the match against Korea.

Photo EFE/EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

Barely a minute had passed into that final chapter when Keenan stretched the difference to 5-3.

And later, the Argentines had three penalty corners to enlarge it even more, but they could not take advantage of them.

Korea, on the other hand, was more effective in short at the end of the game.

He had two and changed them for a goal, led by

, six minutes from the end, and

, a minute later.

Thus, he tied the game and forced the definition by penalties, in which he gave the surprise.

"It's complex to analyze the game now, with the anger that we are facing, but the truth is that we didn't play well at important moments. We couldn't take it. We needed to handle the ball a little more. They were very effective in the corner defenses and we defended badly. Hockey is an area sport, if you defend the area badly, you lose. That's what happened to us," Ronconi commented, speaking to

, minutes after the defeat. 

"It's a great disappointment. We didn't get what we wanted. We were very excited about going to the quarterfinals. But we're happy because the boys left everything on the field," added the coach.

"This team has very young players. Apart from the fact that this moment is very difficult, this is a great lesson for the eleven boys who made their debut in a World Cup. kids". 

Argentina had several errors in defense and paid dearly for it.

Photo EFE/EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

"I think we played a good game, but we failed defensively inside the area," Ferreiro explained, before breaking down.

"Seeing the positive, we are a young team and there is a lot of future. We have to keep looking forward. It was not what we came looking for, we came with great enthusiasm and a lot of faith. But we have to continue". 

Argentina had reached the playoffs without defeat.

They made their debut with a 1-0 win over

. Then they drew 3-3 with

, world number one and main candidate for the title, in a great match.

And they closed the first phase with a 5-5 win against

in another exciting

, in which they suffered to reach equality, with a goal at the final buzzer.

Thus, it was second in group A, with five points, behind

(7 points, with two wins and one draw) and got into the round of 16.

But Korea and its efficiency on penalties left the Argentine team empty-handed.

The team wanted to repeat the historic podium in The Hague 2014, an edition in which they won the bronze medal, the first World Cup medal in the history of men's hockey in our country.

That was the prologue to the gold achieved at the

, two years later.

The Korean celebration, after the definition by penalties.

The Asians will go to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Photo EFE/EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

The round of 16 of the World Cup had started this Sunday.

beat

4-3 on penalties , after having tied 2-2 in regulation time.

In the quarterfinals, they will face

.

And

eliminated

, beating them 5-4, also on penalties and after 3-3 of 60 minutes.

The oceanicians will now face

, current Olympic and world champion and winner of group B.

This Monday, in the preview of the Los Leones duel,

thrashed

5-1 and will go to the semifinals against

, who finished first in zone D.

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