Following Argentina’s quarter-final victory over England, Leones attacker Lucas Vila expressed his frustration that his side were not being given enough chances to utilise their penalty corners, with teams doing everything they could to avoid giving Gonzalo Peillat any opportunity. Vila stated that he felt Peillat could be the difference in the semi-final, and his point was proven correct when the brilliant flicker defied the conditions to send a rocket inside the right post of goalkeeper Akash Chickte two minutes into the second quarter. 

Argentina soaked up huge amounts of Indian pressure in the third and fourth quarter, with the hosts enjoying an incredible 79 percent possession in the latter. However, an equaliser never came and Argentina are now one win away from adding the Hockey World League title to the Olympic gold medal that they claimed at Rio 2016.

Regarding the reliability of Gonzalo Peillat from penalty corner situations, who scored from his only opportunity, Vivaldi said: “The last two games he hasn’t had any chances, and we know it is really important for our system that he gets those opportunities. Today we get one corner and he scores, so we are really happy as a team and also for him.”

The action continues on Saturday 9th December with Belgium and Spain taking to the field in the 5-6 classification match at 17:15 Indian Standard Time (UST+5.30). That contest will be followed by the second of the semi-finals with Hockey World League title holders Australia taking on Germany at 1930 for a place in the championship match against Argentina.