BHUBANESWAR: At the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday, world No. 1 Australia managed to hold on for a 3-3 draw against Olympic gold medalists Argentina despite having to fight back from a goal down. Australia and Argentina both won their opening matches of the competition with impressive victories over South Africa and France, respectively.
However, on Monday, Australia was down 3-2 to Argentina with four minutes remaining before the final buzzer when the seasoned Blake Govers made a field goal in the 57th second to tie the game at 3-3 and give the Kookaburras a point.
Australia's goals came from Jeremy Hayward (9th minute), Daniel Beale (29th minute), and Blake Govers (57th minute), whereas Argentina's came from Tomas Domene (18th minute), Maico Casella (32nd minute), and Martin Ferreiro (48th minute).
Argentina is ranked No. 7 in the FIH Rankings, whereas Australia is ranked No. 1, and based on how the match began, it appeared that the game would proceed according to plan.
However, Argentina scored the first penalty corner in the fifth minute, but it was ineffective. Jeremy Hayward's conversion from Australia's first penalty corner, which gave them the lead in the ninth minute, was a success. At the end of the first quarter, both sides had produced some respectable attacks, but Australia's lead remained at 4.
When play resumed in the second quarter, Domene successfully converted Argentina's second penalty corner to tie the score. In the 27th minute, Ferreiro received a straight red card. Australia took advantage of the extra man as Daniel Beale converted a field goal to make it 2-1.
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