Hosts Argentina too good for Kookaburras, Hockeyroos
Argentina have condemned Australia to FIH Pro League misery after defeating the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos in Santiago del Estero.
The Australian men's hockey team could not replicate their earlier blistering form against the Argentinians, losing 1-0 on Monday (AEDT).
The Hockeyroos then coughed up an early lead to fall 2-1 to Argentina's women.
Mark Hager's men had surged to a dominant 2-0 win over Argentina to start the Santiago del Estero leg last week, before suffering an agonising 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Belgium after drawing 2-2.
Australia enjoyed a rest day before their Argentina rematch, but coach Hager admitted at halftime the break had only made his team slow to the ball.
Unable to break the deadlock against a tactically sound opposition in the opening half, Jack Welch sent Australia's best shot at goal wide in the third quarter.
The visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness just seconds later, with Bautista Capurro finding the matchwinner.
Maico Casella had sent the ball over an unwitting Australian defence into the circle, with Capurro clinical to cap off the passage.
The Kookaburras earned a penalty corner with 10 seconds remaining, but they fluffed their opportunity to equalise.
The hunt for an equaliser falls just short as we narrowly go down to the hosts.Next game: v 🇧🇪 Tue 25 FEB 9am AEDT - watch live and free on 7plus pic.twitter.com/oij98uFRLt
— Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) February 23, 2025
Argentina leapfrog Australia in the standings to sixth with their third win of the season.
"It was a tough game," Kookaburras captain Anand Gupte said.
"They were a tough unit to crack defensively and they countered really fast. They found our gaps in defence.
"Credit where it's due, they played really well but we'll be looking to improve our basics."
Later on Monday, the Hockeyroos got onto the front foot early with Jade Smith finding the back of the net five minutes into the first quarter.
But Agustina Gorzelany levelled less than a minute later before a Brisa Bruggesser goal launched Argentina ahead in the second term.
Australia withstood a flurry of attacks to stem the scoreboard bleeding in the second half, but they could not mount their own challenge.
Jade Smith finishes off a superb piece of team play our first of the day 👌📺 Live and free on 7plus pic.twitter.com/mN3JfzLzbJ
— Hockeyroos (@Hockeyroos) February 24, 2025
Katrina Powell's charges only took five shots at goal to ten, from 16 circle entries to 27.
The sixth-placed Hockeyroos are now on a four-game losing streak, dating back to their 3-1 loss to China in Sydney.
Australia will return to the pitch on Tuesday morning (AEDT) for their final matches in Argentina, with the Kookaburras up first against Belgium.
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