Hockey World League Final: Argentina score late equaliser to avoid second defeat

Olympic champions Argentina survived a scare and scored a late equaliser to eke out a hard-fought 3-3 draw against European winners Netherlands in a thrilling Pool A match of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

World No.1 Argentina, who lost 2-3 to Belgium in their tournament opener, twice came from behind to earn a draw and register their first point in the eight-nation event.

The draw also enabled Netherlands to garner their first point in the tournament after they were stunned 2-3 by lowly Spain in their opening game. After Netherlands took a 2-0 lead through Thiery Brinkman (9th minute) and Valentin Verga (37th), the Los Leones made a valiant fightback to draw level through penalty corner strikes from Matias Rey (45th) and Lucas Vila.

Nertherlands, however, managed to restore their lead in the 55th minute when Mirco Pruijser scored from a penalty corner before Gonzalo Peillat converted a set piece a minute from the hooter to help Argentina share the spoils.

Earlier in the day, Loick Luypaert scored the first hat- trick of the tournament as Olympic silver medallists Belgium spanked lower-ranked Spain 5-0 to register their second consecutive win.

Spain are the lowest ranked team in the tournament at …read more