Argentina Deals Spain Dramatic 2-1 Loss
Argentina handed Spain a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the quarterfinal round after scoring in the final two minutes of play.
A controversial incident on an Argentina penalty corner went in favor of Los Leones. They were awarded a penalty stroke, and Juan Gilardi stepped up to deliver his first goal of the Olympic tournament that sent his team to the semifinal round.
As time expired in the first quarter, penalty corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat put Argentina up 1-0. Spain, dealing with an injury on the defensive end, fought back after a dismal start and came out of halftime energized.
Earning corner after corner, they finally executed when drag flick expert Pau Quemada delivered the equalizer with just under four minutes left in the game.
What looked like a sure path to a penalty shootout all changed with a minute and a half left when the ball was intentionally cleared by a Spain corner defender.
Enter Gilardi, whose heroic goal stunned Spain and kept Argentina’s medal hopes alive.
Argentina will move on to play the winner of Germany vs. New Zealand on Tuesday.