The Pumas Seven came back from an incredible match against Spain, qualified for the quarterfinals in Toulouse and were one step away from the Olympic Games. Paris 2024

It was a key game for both of them because of everything it implied. For the Argentines, because by obtaining the victory they would be assured of a pass to the quarterfinals and therefore be able to get closer and closer to qualifying for the Olympic Games. For spainbecause he had fallen in the debut against Britain and he had to look for a victory to try to continue with chances to access the quarterfinals, and thus be able to add more than the Uruguayans, in that one-on-one that Leones and Teros have been playing for some time, so as not to have to suffer with the repechage for relegation.

In the record there was a clear superiority in favor of Cougars 7s that in 25 games played they had won 22 wins and only 3 losses. The last game had been held in Hong Kong, for the fifth place semifinals, and had been a 19-0 victory for those led by Santiago Gómez Cora. ​​But, it is clear that this was another chapter, a totally different story ; where both played much more than the simple result of a match.

The Argentine team repeated the same seven players from the debut and went out onto the field with Santiago Álvarez (captain), Luciano González, Agustín Fraga, Gastón Revol, Marcos Moneta, Rodrigo Isgró and Tobías Wade. The substitutes were also the same: Germán Schultz, Mateo Graziano, Santiago Vera Feld, Tomás Elizalde and Joaquín Pellandini.

Wholesale surprises in a first half dyed all red. Kick from Revol and Spain very attentive to receive the ball. The lions handled the ball against a tough Argentine defense that tried to recover it without being able to do so. And so, Spain reached the try through Manu Moreno who, after a cross and a defensive failure in Revol’s tackle, supported the first of the match. Nicolás Nieto’s conversion made it 7-0 for the Spanish team.

The departure of the lions was once again fruitful, Los Pumas were still lost in the search for the ball. A new scrum and again those in red with the ball in absolute control of the match against an unknown Argentine team that could not recover it or defend as a block.

Tackles and more tackles, while the Spanish lions handled the ball as they pleased. In this way, a new Spanish move that progressed to support their second conquest in the ingoal Argentinian before the stunned gaze of the players and the staff who did not understand what was happening. The author of the try was Joseph Serres and the partial 12-0 for Spain was more than fair from what had been seen until then.

Argentina could not get hold of the ball and was upset, it was surprised like never before by a Spain that perfectly complied with the script designed to take the ball away from the Albicelestes and progressed through crosses on the field until they could support. Argentina had to overcome an adverse and unexpected score. And to top it off, another run by Los Leones who got a new try through Miguel Reina despite Marcos Moneta’s tackle, who couldn’t avoid it. The conversion this time was successful and left the score 19 to 0 for Spain.

The albiceleste team was shocked, cries of encouragement came from the staff asking for a cool head and peace of mind. “Play” he heard himself say.

And so, before the end of the first half and trying to rebuild his image, hurt in his self-respect and with some income that came from the substitute bench to try to reorganize himself, “El Rayo” Moneta appeared to violate for the first time the ingoal Spanish. Tobías Wade’s conversion brought some peace of mind at halftime with the score for those in red 19-7.

At halftime, Santiago Gómez Cora stared at the players in the round, he knew that he could turn around like so many other times to look for an epic and necessary victory to advance safely in the tournament. The head washing only showed them that they could solve the game and that they had to get mentalized for it. The players themselves, hurt by the surprise of the initial stage, They expected to go out and eat the lions raw and gamble for all or nothing in the second half, knowing that Spain was playing an excellent game against them.

In the second half, the ball now belonged to the albiceleste team. Pellandini was pulling the strings and at a prepared crossroads Rodrigo Isgró appeared. The man from Mendoza was cut in the middle and supported under the posts to further reduce the difference. Tobías Wade’s conversion made it 12-19, with five minutes to go.

The next start was divided, Spain was no longer the same as the first half, it was nervous and The Pumas 7s knew they could overcome it, but they had to work harder and play to the limit.

The party was at its best. Spain took possession of the ball again based on its defense and kept the danger away. With 2.30 left to play, the line was for those in red and the ball was once again in the hands of the Europeans in the face of desperation for the Albiceleste who knew that this path was not working for them. The hurt Lion had returned to be the owner of the shares. Each replenishment took forever. The clock was his ally. And so Spain continued with the ball, while Los Pumas 7s defended with pure tackle looking for the error. And it appeared after the pressure; and so Argentina got the ball back with less than a minute left. The Pumas advanced in the field but Spain defended tooth and nail until “El Rayo” appeared and in a good collective play he was cut to support the left sector to win the try for equality. Vera Feld, her partner from San Andrés and the responsibility over time to keep everything. So it was, the ball between the aches and the end of the match with Los Pumas Seven winners by 21 to 19.

The end came, before the Spanish sadness to see how a match that seemed liquidated escaped them and the great Argentine reaction that made them finally qualify for the quarterfinals, giving a hand to Los Teros who fight with this Spain that he was left with nothing, despite having done a lot in an outstanding first half.

In summaryIt was a sensational, captivating match, with a time for each team and again with Los Pumas Seven who never give up. What is already a fact is that the Argentine team has qualified for the quarterfinals in Toulouse. Perhaps before playing their match with Great Britain there will be good news and they can celebrate it, because before Australia will face Samoa and Ireland against Japan and if the results are given, the ticket to the Olympic Games in France 2024 will be assured.

Meanwhile, Gómez Cora’s team knows that the goal is getting closer, that once again with his courage he brought out a game that was almost impossible to turn around and that he is about to turn that long-desired dream into a reality. .

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