Argentina won its sixth roller hockey world title this Monday morning, seven years later, by beating Portugal 4-2 in the final, avenging its 2019 defeat, in the ‘sanctuary’ of San Juan.
The Portuguese team, trying to retain the title, led 2-0 and fought with all their weapons after the Argentine turnaround, but fell at the feet of the host team with more than eight men, in front of a packed pavilion. thousand fans, red hot.
Henrique Magalhães scored the two Portuguese goals, after two minutes and after 16 minutes, but Benfica’s Pablo Álvarez narrowed it down in the first half, after 24 minutes, and in the second half a direct free kick from also ‘red’ Carlos Nicolía recovered. equality, at 32.
The turnaround was sealed with Pablo Alvarez’s ‘double’ in the 39th minute, and with Portugal without a goalkeeper in the final part, betting on five outfield players, Ezequiel Mena sealed the final 4-two in the closing seconds.
The match started at a very fast pace, worthy of a final between two of the best teams in the world, the very finalists of the last edition, won by Portugal in Barcelona (2-1 on penalties, after 0-0 at the end of extra time).
Portugal managed to take the lead early on with a goal from Henrique Magalhães. The team led by Renato Garrido was stronger, more organized and it didn’t take long to expand the result.
In the 16th minute, Henrique Magalhães scored again, giving the group even more confidence.
The Argentines intensified their attack and a minute before the break, Pablo Álvarez reduced the score, leaving everything open for the second half.
In the second half, Argentina’s effectiveness was decisive, with Carlos Nicolía taking advantage of a blue card shown to Telmo Pinto to tie the game in the 32nd minute in a direct free kick conversion, with no chance for Ângelo Girão.
The hosts would seal the turnaround in the 39th minute, thanks to Pablo Álvarez’s second goal, with a shot that Girão was unable to stop.
At a disadvantage for the first time, with just over 10 minutes to play, in a ‘boiling’ pavilion, Portugal tried everything in the last minute and a half, including betting on five outfield players, but failed to reach the third goal.
The Argentina team withstood Portugal’s attacks and with just 12 seconds left to play, Ezequiel Mena took advantage of a goalless goal to convict the final.
En route to the final, the team led by Renato Garrido defeated Germany 10-1 in the quarter-finals and France 4-0 in the semi-finals.
Source: DN
