HOCKEY: Australia’s Hockeyroos went down narrowly 1-0 to World Champions Argentina in the first of three test matches in Perth on Saturday evening. In a competitive clash that featured seven-times World Player of the Year Luciana Aymar, it was a 43rd minute penalty corner from set piece specialist Noel Barrionuevo that made the difference. 

Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens was pleased with how his side stepped up against the Olympic silver medallists, saying afterwards: “It was a good start with a new group for us. We’ve made seven changes to the side we took to the World League [in June] and Argentina looked sharp coming off the Pan American Cup. For this team to be competitive and mix it with the world number two side is pleasing.”

The three game series comes ahead of the innovative International Super Series Hockey 9s tournament, which begins on Thursday and will see the Hockeyroos come up against Argentina, Canada and Malaysia in the nine-a-side format.

The opening 11-a-side clash saw welcome returns to competitive international action for Western Australians Kobie McGurk and Jayde Taylor following injuries that have seen them out of action since the 2012 Olympic Games. And the match marked the debut of Queenslander Rebecca Reuter, who came off the bench to play her first senior international match.

It was perhaps not surprising that Las Leonas would enjoy the best of the early stages having recently competed at, and won, the Pan American Cup. But as the half developed the Hockeyroos worked their way into the game nicely and created a number of opportunities. Despite the chances, the first half finished goalless.

Eight minutes into the second period, however, Barrionuevo broke the deadlock with a low flick into the bottom corner of the goal to give Argentina a winning margin.

Speaking after the match, Commens added, “We had a number of players coming back from injury or being given an opportunity and I thought they did well, although there is still scope to improve.

“These matches are important for us to see where our players are against the world’s best teams. They’ll help us to form opinions and inform selection decisions for the Oceania Cup and World League Finals.”

Hockey Australia