Men’s Hockey World League Round 2: World no. 10 Argentina crush Brazil 10-0

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 28: Eduardo Raimundo (L) and Afonso Motta of Brazil fights for the ball with Pedro Ibarra of Argentina during the match between Brazil and Argentina as part of Hockey World League – Round 2 at Complexo Esportivo de Deodoro

Argentina and Brazil have built a fierce rivalry in international football over the years. But when it comes to field hockey, there isn’t much of rivalry between the two.

Argentina showed why they are head and shoulders above hosts Brazil as they thumped their South American neighbours 10-0 to chalk up their second big win in the second men’s Hockey World League Round 2 tournament at the Deodoro Field Hockey Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Argentina did not take much time to hit the straps as Gonzalo Peillat converted a penalty corner in the 8th minute. Five minutes later, the world number ten side enhanced the lead through Nahuel Salis off another short corner.

The white-and-blue brigade went up 3-0 in the 17th minute when Lucas Martin Villa pulled off a superb field goal.

Guillermo Schickendantz made it 4-0 off their fourth penalty corner in the 28th minute. The striker, who made his international debut at the age of 33 last year, added another to his tally to help Argentina hold a 5-0 lead three minutes from the final hooter.

Schickendantz capped a dream spell of seven minutes firing a magnificent hat-trick in the final minute of the first half as his side went into the break with an invincible 6-0 lead.

33rd ranked Brazil needed to pull up their socks in the second stanza but their woes were compounded when Miguel Ferreira conceded an own goal to allow Argentina race away to a 7-0 lead in the 43rd minute of the second half.

Agustin Mazzilli racked up the 8th goal for Argentina in the 51st minute. Lucas Martin Villa got his name on the scoresheet for the second time in the match, notching up the team’s ninth goal in the 57th minute.

The star of the day – Guillermo Schickendantz – struck his fourth and his team’s tenth goal in the 64th minute to round off a ridiculously one-sided contest.

In another match, 12th ranked South Africa registered another clinical win, crushing 29th ranked United States 6-1. In-form Clinton Panther, who scored a hat-trick in their opening tie against Brazil, struck as early as in the 3rd minute.

South Africa maintained possession for most part but their goal-scoring designs were nullified by United States, who did well not to concede any more goals in the first stanza.

Timothy Drummond gave South Africa a 2-0 cushion early in the second half before Lloyd Norris-Jones scored the third in the 42nd minute.

Austin Smith made the most of a penalty corner in the 54th minute to help South Africa go up 4-0.

Julian Hykes struck two minutes later as South Africa pressed on the accelerator.

Lloyd Norris-Jones rattled the cage for the second time as South Africa ran up a cozy 6-0 lead in the 60th minute.

United States scored a solace goal through Craig Martinez in the 63rd minute as South Africa went on to post a 6-1 win.

In the third match of the day, Chile trounced Trinidad and Tobago 4-0.

Chile drew first blood in the 3rd minute when Jaime Zarhi whipped home a short corner. Fernando Binder capitalized on a penalty corner close to half-time to enable Chile have a 2-0 cushion.

Alexis Berczely made it 3-0 for Chile in the 44th minute slamming home from a penalty corner.

Sven Richter literally put the contest beyond Trinidad and Tobago scoring the fourth goal in the 60th minute.

The tournament will have a rest day on Friday before action resumes on Saturday.