Noel Barrionuevo celebrates Las Leonas' second goal against India in the Olympic field hockey semifinal.CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP
The Lionesses have reached the final of the Olympic Games for the third time in their history and will fight for their first gold medal in field hockey.
The Argentine team players managed to recover from India's quick initial goal and come back from the game thanks to two goals scored by Noel Barrionuevo.
The Albiceleste triumph caused a cataract of congratulations and messages of encouragement for the decisive match against the Netherlands, which comes as a favorite.
“We are in the final, we are enjoying that and now we want to win the final against the Netherlands, the eternal rival.
We are happy because we got what we came to Tokyo for, "Barrionuevo told the media.
After the victory, the Albiceleste dressing room became a party.
The players danced cumbia between screams, tears of emotion and hugs, as shown in the images released by the attacker Agustina Albertario.
“I can't take it anymore”, one of the companions is heard saying, while holding her legs.
FINAAAAAAAAAL WITH THIS TEE THAT LOVES THE T-SHIRT 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/GoTO2dZ8Tg
- Sofia Maccari (@sofimaccari) August 4, 2021
The Argentine Olympic history adds 75 medals, of which four are from Las Leonas.
On Friday they will hang the fifth, a record for an Argentine team.
They only need to conquer gold, after having won silver in the final of Sydney 2000, when they fell to Australia 1-3, and when they were defeated by the Netherlands in London 2012. In Athens 2004 and in Beijing 2008 they took the bronze.
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"The third time's the charm!
Come on Leonas!
Olympic Finalists ”, Luciana Aymar, former captain and star of the Argentine hockey team, wished them through Twitter.
Aymar celebrated the victory against India in a match "with a lot of attitude, grit, passion and intelligence to overcome it."
“Not only did they overcome adversity, they got stronger and more powerful.
Never underestimate the power and soul of LAS LEONAS, because they always have more.
It's all yours girls ”, tweeted Mercedes Margalot, another of the former figures of the Albiceleste team.
The third time's the charm !
💪
Come on Leonas!
🇦🇷 Olympic finalists.
A game with a lot of attitude, grit, passion and intelligence to overcome it.
@ArgFieldHockey #leonas #JuegosOlimpicos # Tokio2020 pic.twitter.com/TBD3xH1yQ8
- Luciana Aymar (@aymarlucha) August 4, 2021
The Argentines had to overcome the goal conceded after three minutes of the game, when Gurjit Kaur took advantage of a short corner to put India ahead.
The difference remained until the second quarter, when Barrionuevo achieved the equalizer with 12 minutes remaining.
In the second half, both teams had several opportunities until Barrionuevo scored again and sealed the final 2-1.
The pressure from the Indies intensified in the fourth quarter, but they failed to equalize the score.
The applause for the classification came from all areas of Argentine sport.
“What a joy Las Leonas !!
Huge triumph !!
Let's go to the final !!! ”, wrote on the networks the former tennis player Gabriela Sabatini.
"Good Leonas, Good fuck !!!", the pole vaulter German Chiaraviglio congratulated them.
The players coached by Carlos Retegui will go for glory on Friday against the Netherlands.
The Europeans reach the final undefeated after achieving seven wins and 26 goals in favor.
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