Hockey World Cup 2018: France beat Argentina 5-3, Spain eliminated

A resurgent France defeated Argentina with a dominating 5-3 margin in the ongoing Men's Hockey World Cup here at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.

Argentina won an early penalty corner in the first quarter, but Gonzalo Peillat missed out the chance as his dragflick faced a stick deflection from the French runner. In the 12th minute of the match, Argentina won another penalty corner. As Peillat passed it to Maico Casella on the right side, the angle of the strike made it difficult for Casella to score and ultimately the ball was blocked by France.

In the second quarter, French captain Hugo Genestet dribbled his way through a crowded Argentinean area and opened the score-line for his side in the 18th minute of the match. To double the lead, Victor Charlet in the 23rd minute, scored from the second penalty corner with a brilliant dragflick into the right bottom corner.

Aristide Coisne, in the 26th minute of the match, added another goal for the French side. As Timothee Clement of France passed the ball at the near post, Coisne scored the goal with the coolest of finishes. In the 28th minute, Argentina pulled one back with the help of Lucas Martinez. After receiving a pass from the right side, Martinez finished from a close range.

The French side stayed just two minutes with a three-goal lead as Gaspard Baumgarten added the fourth beautifully constructed goal for his side before going into half-time.

Peillat, in the 43rd minute, doubled the score-line for Argentina on his third attempt after placing his dragflick into the bottom right corner before ending the third quarter.

In the 47th minute of the match, Argentina won another penalty corner. With no mistake, Peillat converted the chance into the third goal for his side. Francois Goyet of France scored the fifth goal for his side and ended the match with a 5-3 victory over Argentina.

With the current standings of Pool A, Argentina, France and New Zealand progressed to the quarterfinals, while Spain, with two points, got eliminated.

-ANI