Argentina vs. Barbados

The opening match of Day 3 pitted the top ranked team in the tournament against the lowest ranked team in the tournament. The high clouds in the sky promised an unforgiving heat. How would Barbados hold up against the unforgiving pressure of Argentina’s high press?

Barbados started the game cautiously but confidently, attempting to string passes together. Argentina very quickly asserted their dominance as the game settled into the familiar pattern of play with their forwards forcing turnovers in the 25-yard area and their opponents defending desperately. It took 3 minutes for Jankunas to get a reverse stick shot off that was blocked. In the very next minute Ortiz received in the circle and made no mistake with her reverse stick shot to beat 15-year old GK Alleyne high to her left. Three minutes later Granatto doubled the lead with some good skill and a push past Alleyne. In the 9^th minute made a Sanguinetti circle penetration from the left and slipped the ball to an unmarked Granatto on the last post for a tap in goal. Jardel Mateos got on the end of a good Sanguinetti one time pass to push past an advancing Alleyne to make it 4-0 in the 10^th minute. Then Granatto made a solo run from the right of the circle to hit a reverse stick for a 5-0 lead. In the 16^th minute Argentina earned their first PC and Toccalino made no mistake with a low flat flick to the GK’s right to make it 6-0. Jardel Mateos the used some good lifted skill and a powerful reverse stick shot to make it 7-0 two minutes later. In the 21^st minute Granatto dribbled into the circle from the right and her rocket of a drive beat Alleyne to make it 8-0. Jankunas then dribbled into the circle and used her back space to hit a reverse stick shot to Alleyne’s left for a 9-0 in the 23^rd minute. In the 25^th minute Toccalino scored her second PC in a similar manner to her first. Two minutes later Toccalino found herself in an attacking position and hit a stunner off of the underside of the crossbar into the goal for an 11-0 lead. In the 29^th minute Alleyne did well to save a Granatto shot, but had no support on the rebound and Trinchinetti tapped in for a 12-0 lead. Barbados held on for the remaining time to keep the score at 12-0 at halftime.

The second half Argentina come out looking to add to their first half tally. Alleyne made a good save early on. Then Granatto had a PC saved on the post by Edwards. In the 40^th minute Granatto took another PC drag flick to the GK’s right this time to make it 13-0. Two minutes later Granatto again attacked the circle at speed and her attempted pass to an umarked Jardel Mateos rebounded right back to her to strike well past Alleyne for a 14-0 lead. Alleyne then saved well to keep Granatto out, but was powerless in the 47^th minute to stop Ladra from running in freely to put it to her left to make it 15-0. Alleyne then showed poise above her 15 years to block a Toccalino PC and the rebound by Borgia in the 52^nd minute. Then in the 58^th minute Alleyne again came up big to save a Toccalino PC and Granatto rebound. Her saves gave her team heart and her defenders started winning more tackles and breaking up plays. Browne saved a Granatto PC and Alleyne then saved a Toccalino reverse stick follow up in the 60^th minute. In the 65^th minute Argentina found a way through Barbados’s resolute defence with a Granatto PC. A minute later a Gorzelany long pass was deflected high past Alleyne to make it 17-0. Argentina continued to press and play hard, but Barbados was able to withstand the heat until the horn for full time sounded. Final score Argentina 17-0 over Barbados.