AP, Rio De Janeiro :
For a few hours Thursday evening, Argentina seemed to have annexed an acre of blue turf on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
Attracted by the prospect of seeing the men’s field hockey team win a first Olympic field hockey gold medal, hundreds of Argentines flocked to Deodoro Park and turned it into a raucous downtown Buenos Aires-like scene.
Vastly outnumbering fans of Belgium, another first-time finalist, in a nearly packed stadium, Argentina’s supporters tirelessly sang and chanted from long before the match’s start – giving Leones (Lions) the home advantage.
Leones rewarded their fans with a 4-2 victory in a gripping final.
“Really, I can’t believe it. I felt more excited when we got to the semifinals,” Argentina captain Pedro Ibarra said. “We are finished and we are happy, but I don’t think we realize we are (Olympic champions).”
The disbelief was understandable. Los Leones have always been the sideshow to the acclaimed women’s side, Las Leonas, who medaled at the previous four Olympics. But the Leonas never won Olympic gold.
Carlos Retegui, a defender for 17 years on so-so men’s teams, coached the women to the London silver, then regained the men’s job in 2013. The Leones found almost immediate success, including a first World Cup medal.
But in Rio, the team had a modest pool round, needing to beat unheralded Ireland 3-2 in the last minutes to confirm a spot in the quarterfinals, where it beat Spain 2-1 on a late penalty stroke.
In the semifinals, however, they routed defending two-time champion Germany 5-2. But two key players broke bones, striker Matias Paredes (right foot) and playmaker Matias Rey (left hand), 400-plus caps of experience sidelined for the final.
Argentina got its goals early then dug in for defense.
Belgium scored just three minutes in; Arthur van Doren’s pass up the middle was expertly deflected in by Tanguy Cosyns. Argentine fans were silent only briefly.
For a few hours Thursday evening, Argentina seemed to have annexed an acre of blue turf on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
Attracted by the prospect of seeing the men’s field hockey team win a first Olympic field hockey gold medal, hundreds of Argentines flocked to Deodoro Park and turned it into a raucous downtown Buenos Aires-like scene.
Vastly outnumbering fans of Belgium, another first-time finalist, in a nearly packed stadium, Argentina’s supporters tirelessly sang and chanted from long before the match’s start – giving Leones (Lions) the home advantage.
Leones rewarded their fans with a 4-2 victory in a gripping final.
“Really, I can’t believe it. I felt more excited when we got to the semifinals,” Argentina captain Pedro Ibarra said. “We are finished and we are happy, but I don’t think we realize we are (Olympic champions).”
The disbelief was understandable. Los Leones have always been the sideshow to the acclaimed women’s side, Las Leonas, who medaled at the previous four Olympics. But the Leonas never won Olympic gold.
Carlos Retegui, a defender for 17 years on so-so men’s teams, coached the women to the London silver, then regained the men’s job in 2013. The Leones found almost immediate success, including a first World Cup medal.
But in Rio, the team had a modest pool round, needing to beat unheralded Ireland 3-2 in the last minutes to confirm a spot in the quarterfinals, where it beat Spain 2-1 on a late penalty stroke.
In the semifinals, however, they routed defending two-time champion Germany 5-2. But two key players broke bones, striker Matias Paredes (right foot) and playmaker Matias Rey (left hand), 400-plus caps of experience sidelined for the final.
Argentina got its goals early then dug in for defense.
Belgium scored just three minutes in; Arthur van Doren’s pass up the middle was expertly deflected in by Tanguy Cosyns. Argentine fans were silent only briefly.
