Gonzalo Peillat proved why he is the world’s best from the top of the circle, scoring four goals on penalty corners as Argentina beat their South American rivals Chile 9-2 in Pool A play. Vicente Goni and Vicente Martin scored the consolation goals for Chile. 

The World No. 1-ranked Leones wasted no time scoring back-to-back goals in the 6^th and 7^th minute. Argentina’s opening goal came when Matias Rey was able to cut a 40-yard into the circle to the stick of Matias Paredes whose shot was drilled into the bottom corner. Less than a minute later Peillat, penalty corner ace, let rip a flick glove side into the mesh past Chilean keeper Adrian Henriquez to double his team’s lead.

Against the run of the play Chile was able to break any hopes of an Argentine shutout. Chile’s Vicente Goni took a quick free hit inside the 23-m area and weaved his way through a planted Argentine defence only to beat keeper Agustin Abratte with a little flick in the 15^th minute. Goni’s timely finish cut Argentina’s lead to 2-1 entering the first break.

After a series of attacks that were spoiled by the Chilean defence led by Axel Richter and keeper Henriquez, Argentina were finally able to find a third goal. Agustin Mazzilli send a booming pass out of the backfield to find Lucas Vila at the top of the circle. Vila’s magical reception turned his defender on a dime to set up a shot on the backhand that blazed into the backboard for a 3-1 Argentina advantage. Peillat displayed why he was the leading scorer at the 2016 Olympics after he scored two more penalty corner flicks in the 23^rd and 29^th minute to make it 5-1 by half time.

Agustin Araya came into net for Chile in the second half and denied a Peillat flick and a hard attempt by Pedro Ibarra but moments later Vila’s diving deflection lifted the Olympic Champions up 6-1. Martin Rodriguez sprung Richardo Achondo for Chile’s first attack of the second half but the resulting shot was blocked by Peillat. In the 43^rd minute Ignacio Ortiz sent an 80-yard aerial to Maico Casella. Casella’s quick pass across the circle found a diving Marc Ganly for a 7-1 Argentina lead. After a wave of Argentine attack Chile were able to generate a penalty corner in the other end. The resulting penalty stroke call was buried by Vicente Martin to give Chile their second goal, down 7-2. Ortiz finished a rebound that hit the post off a Vila shot to make it 8-2, while Peillat finished his own penalty corner rebound to finish with four goals and a final score of 9-2.