Italy stun Argentina with a last minute win in Cordoba
Italian replacement Leonardo Ghiraldini scored a last minute try that set up a dramatic 13-12 victory over Argentina in Cordoba, stunning the hosts who had led for the entire match.
The game was dominated by the forwards and produced very little of the free flowing rugby that we were hoping to see from a young Italian side with nothing to lose, and the Pumas who are ranked third in the world, with star flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez starting the match.
Referee Matt Goddard captured most of the attention though, giving 30 penalties during the match that was anything but the spectacle we had all anticipated. Perfect weather conditions didn’t deter both teams from keeping it up front and turning it into, quite frankly, a boring game for the neutral.
The half time score of 12-3 had Argentina in control after two penalty kicks each from Hernandez and Bosch, to the one from Marcato.
Hernandez leaving the field with a wrist injury more than likely threw the home side off their game, with replacement Bosch later missing two penalties after Marcato reduced the deficit to six points in the 50th minute.
Argentina paid for those missed kicks after Italy surged forward and managed to drive over on the third attempt with Ghiraldini scoring the try that set up Marcato’s vital match winning kick.
With the score at 12-11 to Argentina, the pressure on the Treviso flyhalf had no affect as he duly slotted the conversion, sparking celebrations amongst the jubilant Italians, and misery for the home team and crowd who must have been wondering just what went wrong.
Final Score: 13-12 to Italy
Time: 04:45
The game was dominated by the forwards and produced very little of the free flowing rugby that we were hoping to see from a young Italian side with nothing to lose, and the Pumas who are ranked third in the world, with star flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez starting the match.
Referee Matt Goddard captured most of the attention though, giving 30 penalties during the match that was anything but the spectacle we had all anticipated. Perfect weather conditions didn’t deter both teams from keeping it up front and turning it into, quite frankly, a boring game for the neutral.
The half time score of 12-3 had Argentina in control after two penalty kicks each from Hernandez and Bosch, to the one from Marcato.
Hernandez leaving the field with a wrist injury more than likely threw the home side off their game, with replacement Bosch later missing two penalties after Marcato reduced the deficit to six points in the 50th minute.
Argentina paid for those missed kicks after Italy surged forward and managed to drive over on the third attempt with Ghiraldini scoring the try that set up Marcato’s vital match winning kick.
With the score at 12-11 to Argentina, the pressure on the Treviso flyhalf had no affect as he duly slotted the conversion, sparking celebrations amongst the jubilant Italians, and misery for the home team and crowd who must have been wondering just what went wrong.
Final Score: 13-12 to Italy
Time: 04:45
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41 Comments:
I was there, I just cant believe it!! After such a boring match we lost!! At least the stadium was full..
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 4:35 pm
Marcato wins another game for Italy with a last minute kick. I noticed they were playing him at 15 again, though. It's good to see Argentina and Italy getting games on the off-season at least.
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 4:51 pm
And world rugby has taken ANOTHER step backwards as a former second tier nation, Argentina, may well become a second tier nation once again. With no professional set up at home what did they think, 3rd in world cup and no changes to their domestic or international season means a step in the right direction. Brilliant! Thanks be to SANZAR and the IRB, but mainly SANZAR!
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 5:43 pm
crazy result
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 5:51 pm
FORZA ITALIAA!! WOO.
nick mallet + marcato = good results :D
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 6:21 pm
Bad match, very bad referee. Finally we win, thats important...good Marcato but would like to see it as n°10 in future...
Italian Fan
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 6:32 pm
I've never watched such a boring match before!!!
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 6:38 pm
I've never watched such a boring match before...I agree.
And I've probably never seen such a partial referee. The try in the last minute for Italy, which was no try, he did not even ask for TMO. Unbelievable. I wonder if Argentina losing the third position in the world ranking to Australia had something to do with it...I mean, the ref was australian...Australia should had never been below the argies...the ranking will be used for defining the groups for the next world cup...Argentina got 2 doubtful yellow cards...made 20 penalties vs 10 of Italy...a last minute try without TMO...mmmmmm
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 6:50 pm
that prop deserved his yellow card!
started handbagging right in front of the referee.. stupid mistake
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 7:33 pm
^ aah yeah once again the whole world is against Argentina. Heard it all before. Stop sobbing you guys above. Argentina lost fair and square after playing POORLY despite having the talent. Nobody to blame but the team itself.
Sure, that little queer Goddard should probably have asked for the TMO, but who knows, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even have one there.
What's with this trend lately of blaming everybody else when losing?
Well done to Italy for having the guys to stick it out. Very boring game overall though.
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 7:37 pm
*guts
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 7:37 pm
Is it me or is that pitch very very very narrow??? Looks like it to me which would explain why either team didnt throw the ball around like crazy.
Well done Italy iv always liked them (i also like Argentina but they'v won more games then Italy so you gotta support the underdog)
Marcato is a great player and Mallet should stick with him now for years to come much better player then Bourtoloussi
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 8:02 pm
Should 'sharky' really be allowed to post homophobic bigotted comments on here?
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 9:45 pm
Yeah I think so. Nothing wrong with us sharing our opinions as neutrals eh?
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 11:23 pm
What a shame that Juan Martin Hernandez has to left the game because he broke his hand at 12 minutes i think...
By Anonymous, at June 29, 2008 11:43 pm
RD ur loseing ur touch, no new posts in days n this is what u giv us
..............dissapointing
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 12:16 am
Stephanie's making herself more and more popular every time she comments.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 12:38 am
Sharky ou are not very intelligent are you?
I meant, do you think the IRB would have allowed a test match to be played without TMO? Just Shut up ...
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 1:56 am
Eric, if you're going to tell people they're not very intelligent, then at least make sure you get your spelling and grammar correct yourself first mate.
And 'just shut up'? lol wtf. Nice guy.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 2:04 am
Looks like a very very boring game right there.
By Don, at June 30, 2008 2:06 am
Argentina 9-0 up with Hernandez on the field after 20mins, he goes off injured and they end up losing by a point at home.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 3:50 am
hahaha the picture is the funniest shit ever
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 3:58 am
i'm glad i never saw this one , i would probably be more exited by seeing the danm video load then watch this game!!!!
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 10:50 am
this game was full of mistakes by each team (we talk about 30 penalties ..), but I think the referee done right..
By orfeoemerso, at June 30, 2008 11:10 am
stephanie and sharky................................my god! you two really have some issues! sharky.....if u wana go argue about every video with someone go on youtube or some other site! just comment about the game and leave it at that, and stephanie.....RD brings you the highlights of the two big games on at the weekend the day after they happen and u moan???
but well done italy! lol
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 1:24 pm
eh, really boring game, but good job by the fowards tho, must've been a tiring match for them. n1 for Italy, gratz on the win.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 1:58 pm
Well done nick mallet.That being said, i'm sad to see that the puma's have fallen so far since last october. Horrible game, and i feel sorry for the fans that paid money for that.
Bring on the ELVS, and fire that idiot ref.
Owen
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 2:28 pm
Stephanie, I have changed my mind. You are not Calum Clark, or his mum. You must be Dale Carnegie, world famous author of the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" ;-)
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 2:47 pm
wow Tanqueray ur wel funny............not u stupid biggot
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 4:29 pm
wow Tanqueray ur wel funny............not u stupid biggot
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 4:29 pm
I've been told to bite my tongue by AA, so I won't say anything to the above comments... ;)
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 4:53 pm
it seems like a rubbish stadium.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 5:13 pm
Stephanie, do feel free to explain how any of my comments on this site could be construed as being from a bigot (note the spelling). Alternatively, you could look up the meaning of the word.
While you're at it, why don't you look up the word sarcasm.
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 6:42 pm
Yep stephanie ur an idiot x
By Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 10:25 pm
On Topic:
I am afraid that you rugbydump team are a bit too optimistic. I don't see Italy playing anything but 10-men rugby for a while (Mallet or not). Plus, McLean as the scrum-half sounds quite desperate. Can someone clone Dominguez...?
By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 9:00 am
awww now i feel bad! i would have felt better if sharky would have called me a twat or somthing!!!! ha!
lots of people saying it was a boring game! i didnt see it but from highlights it did look boring but im sure the italians couldnt care less!! argentina on the slide????
By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 3:44 pm
Great to see we are all having a bit of argy bargy again, i say BRING BACK THE BIFF
lol
pretty boring game though good result from Italy i was hoping that Argentina would have been a bit stronger thou
By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 7:41 pm
AA, it's all good man. No issues. :)
Tanqueray, loved your comment. Obviously somebody had a sense of humour failure though so it was lost on her...
I guess this game was just one of those that is best to be forgotten about as soon as possible. A win is a win though, so it's still a nice achievement for Italy I feel.
By Anonymous, at July 02, 2008 12:31 pm
jeez...i hate when comments are flooded with arguments! im sure you hate it too, so stop complaining everyone. and im leaving this as anonymous so you cant have a go at me :)
By Anonymous, at July 07, 2008 7:18 pm
I know that the referee was an idiot and the match was very boring, but did you noticed that Italy has more people from other countries. Most argentineans accept to play for Italy only because the offer a much better salary for every test match. Argentinean rugby should become proffesional to stop this of being so common (did I say that right?). I would even say (after a couple of drinks) that Italy shouldn't be on the World Ranking top 10
By Anonymous, at August 02, 2008 1:52 am
that was so boring the crowd wasen't even exicted!!
By Anonymous, at August 13, 2008 5:42 am
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