Kookaburras play out six goal thriller with Argentina
Published Tue 17 Jan 2023
The Kookaburras led twice before being forced to find a late equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw with a plucky Argentina in Bhubaneswar tonight.
The world number one ranked Australians were made to dig deep as the 2016 Olympic gold medallists almost snatched all three points.
But a Blake Govers thunderbolt with two minutes remaining ensured the Kookaburras would take a point from the encounter and remain top of Pool A thanks to a superior goal difference.
Goals from Jeremy Hayward and Daniel Beale had the Kookaburras with their noses in front on two occasions, only for Argentina to respond both times and then take the lead before Govers’ late stunner.
Entering the match off the back of an 8-0 dismantling of France, the Kookaburras knew Argentina would prove an entirely different proposition and so it proved.
Five minutes in Argentina won the first penalty corner of the match, goalkeeper Andrew Charter making a sharp save to prevent the South Americans from taking an early lead.
It took until halfway through the first quarter for the Kookaburras to settle into the contest as Argentina enjoyed the balance of play.
However, once the Kookaburras did settle they struck the first blow. Tim Brand produced some sublime skill near the baseline to earn the Kookaburras their first penalty corner in the 10th minute, Hayward stepping up to rifle the ball into the backboard.
The goal was the defender’s fourth of the tournament and his sixth goal in the Kookaburras’ past nine games against Argentina.
Nathan Ephraums came inches away from adding a second when he swatted an overhead pass that hit the post and then had his second attempt saved.
Just as the Kookaburras seemed to arrest the momentum Tomas Domene levelled in the 19th minute when he sent a pinpoint drag flick low to Charter’s right.
Then with seven seconds remaining in the first half, the Kookaburras caused some Argentinean panic in the circle and Beale pounced.
The Queenslander’s effort on the reverse took a deflection high off the goalkeeper and two Argentinean defenders could not prevent the ball from looping across the goal line after Tom Wickham’s initial shot came off the crossbar.
But once again Argentina had an answer, Maico Casella sneaking in between Jake Harvie and Charter at close range to knock the ball into the net.
Lachlan Sharp thought his mazy run into the circle had given the Kookaburras back the lead but a video referral ruled it out as the ball hit an Argentinean knee on the way into the goal.
An outstanding individual effort from Martin Ferreiro then had Argentina in front for the first time four minutes into the last quarter.
Kookaburras co-captain Aran Zalewski went close to equalising with five minutes to go but his shot flashed just wide.
As the clock ticked down, Kookaburras Coach Colin Batch removed Charter with four minutes left to gain an extra outfield player.
The move paid dividends as Govers came to the Kookaburras’ rescue, smashing a tomahawk on the angle past a helpless Tomas Santiago in the Argentina goal.
The Kookaburras’ final pool match is against South Africa on Friday at 6.30pm AEDT. The top team at the end of the pool stage progresses straight to the quarter finals, with the second and third teams to play knockout crossover matches.
Match Details
Argentina 3 (Domene 19’, Casella 33’, Ferreiro 49’)
Kookaburras 3 (Hayward 10’, Beale 30’, Govers 58’)
@ Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused substitute: 8.Johan Durst (gk)
Kookaburras Pool Matches - FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023
Kookaburras 8-0 France
13 January 2023
Argentina 3-3 Kookaburras
16 January 2023
Kookaburras v South Africa
20 January 2023, (1.00pm local time, 6.30pm AEDT)
More information on the tournament can be found on the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 website.
