FULL TIME That’s all for not; good day, good hockey
FULL TIME Zoe Diaz with a grace-note in the final term with a goal which required a baby’s breath of a touch, and found net with it
FULL TIME Credit also the US defense with frustrating Granatto. However, there were some defensive lapses that the Albicelestes duly punished
FULL TIME Credit Cristina Cosentino with a tremendous performance in the cage, including one stop in the 38th she had no business getting to
FULL TIME The horn sounds, Argentina wins the game 4-1. Argentina with a performance borne of its experience as well as good execution on both ends of the pitch
58:12 USA PC Hoffman’s dragflick is sticked away; 23m free-in the result
58:12 VAR CHECK United States looking for a dangerous deflection; penalty corner awarded! Remember; Argentina is playing with eight outfielders
57:19 VAR CHECK Argentina looking for a foot on Sholder, but is denied
57:19 ARG PC Backhand chopped off Sholder’s glove and clears
55:10 VAR CHECK Umpire has referred a foul to see whether a corner is to be awarded as well
55:10 ARG YELLOW A push on Argentina, dumping Zimmer just outside the 23-meter line; the umpires are handing out cards like speeding tickets at the Indy 500
54:45 USA PC Yeager again with a drag flick
54:30 USA PC Yeager with the flick; Cosentino with the save
54:00 ARG YELLOW A five-minute yellow card
53:35 USA PC Yeager with the drag flick; Cosentino with the diving stop!
53:35 VAR CHECK Argentina trips Crouse outside the circle; is this an upgrade
53:27 ARG GREEN Granatto is sent off for two minutes for delay of game
48:38 USA PC Hoffman with the flick; Cosentino says no
46:23 ARG GOAL Zoe Diaz, the teenager, takes the fortunate deflection off of Crouse’s stick and the ball goes in; Argentina is up 4-1
45:00 The fourth quarter begins; can the Eagles pull back in this one?
END THIRD The horn sounds with the Leonas ahead 3-1
44:55 Argentina attacking off the left wing; a wild swing hits a US player and the umpire calls it for danger
43:29 ARG GOAL Gorzielany with a deep diagonal and Jankunas slips it past aging and Argentina takes a 3-1 lead
43:15 Julieta Jankunas with a backhander that is saved by Bing
38:45 ARG PC Wow, Gorzielany hits the pipe with the shot! Ball bounces out of bounds for a 16Y free out
38:40 VAR CHECK Did the US commit an advancing? Looks like it; penalty corner for Argentina
37:30 Phia Gladieux with a backhander with some open space and Cosentino gets a stick on it; that was ticketed for the top corner!
36:43 ARG GOAL Gorzielany with the drag flick; Golini says no
34:30 The Americans are now on the front foot and playing with some confidence
32:24 USA GOAL Sessa gets a pass from Valzonis at the doorstep and her rebound goes in! The chase is joined! Argentina still leads by one
30:45 Argentina with an aerial and pressure up the right wing, but Leah Crouse with the play to earn a free out
30:00 The second half is under way
HALFTIME The United States has had a couple of chances but the hockey gods have not been with them today
HALFTIME Argentina has been merciless in this opening half, punishing defensive lapses and putting away their chances
HALFTIME The first half ends with Argentina holding a 2-0 lead
29:57 USA PC Hoffman’s flick is saved; follow by Kelee LePage is sent over the end line; the half is whistled
28:49 ARG PC and GOAL Gorzielany pumps in a low drag flick and the Argentina lead is two
28:37 ARG PC Amanda Golini deflects off her foot; we’ll re-rack
26:30 Tamer is with the ball at the doorstep but cannot get off a shot to test Cosentino
26:00 Sessa with the ball on the left wing; chops a backhand over the crossbar
24:45 Granatto gets the ball in space heading into the circle but Sholder intervenes
22:00 Granatto with an amazing take from a 60-yard aerial and attacks the baseline but Hoffman ends the threat
21:30 Long diagonal backpass from Argentina just evades Sessa, who was that close to a breakaway chance
17:04 ARG GOAL Sofia Cairo with a slip pass to the middle of the D and an unmarked Rocio Sanchez pounds the back of the net, punishing the US defense; Argentina leads 1-0
END FIRST The horn sounds with the sides level at 0-0
14:55 Argentina attacking the edge of the circle but the Americans are hard and resolute in the tackle!
10:13 Maddie Zimmer with a backhand chance on the Argentine goal but Cristina Cosentino with the waist-high save!
6:52 ARG PC Gorzielany with the attempt but Bing with a huge save!
5:28 That could have been a complete disaster but Bing and the VAR bail them out
5:28 Argentina was awarded a penalty stroke but VAR overturns it and a bully is called at the 23-meter line
5:28 GREEN CARD A turnover from the US defense leads to a suspension for Ashley Hoffman
4:30 Argentina with a free hit in a promising position but commit a mental error with a 5-meter violation
3:30 The States are on the front foot here, sending the ball into the circle but Argentina cuts it out
0:00 The game is on
PREGAME Argentina are in their iconic light blue and white tops and light blue kilts, the United States are in their traditional red kits with red socks
PREGAME The teams are warming up on the blue turf at Stade Yves-du-Manoir, with temperatures hovering around 66 degrees. It has been raining the last couple of days in Paris, which is perfect for the Poligras turf on which these teams are playing
PREGAME Argentina is a side which has been excellent for the last 40 years on the world scene, but has never won an Olympic Games on the women’s side. Can this be the team to do it?
PREGAME Argentina also has this penchant for discovering good young players and putting them in the lineup straightaway. Look for 18-year-old Zoe Diaz to have an impact on the attack line
PREGAME Argentina will be led by corner specialist Agustina Gorzelany, the veteran forward Maria Granatto, and midfielder Rocio Sanchez. Unlike many Argentina sides of the past, there is not one single dominant figure (say, Luciana Aymar) who determines the pace and rhythm of play
PREGAME The United Eagles are led by goalie Kelsey Bing, backs Amanda Golini and Ashley Hoffman, and midfielder Maddie Zimmer. Defensive midfielder Meredith Sholder and forward Ashley Sessa are players to keep your eyes on
PREGAME The US team comes into this Olympics playing, for lack of a better term, “the long game.” This is an effort which is going to result in lessons and experience leading to Los Angeles 2028 rather than wins and losses here in Paris
PREGAME Though the States were able to qualify in January thanks to a last-chance tournament in India, they were also relegated from their place in the FIH Pro League a few weeks later
PREGAME Both of these Pool B sides are playing their first matches a scant 24 hours after the Opening Ceremonies. They are in this enormously difficult pool including four Olympic and world champion sides; only four will advance to the knockout stage
PREGAME Hello, and welcome along to Stade Yves-du-Manoir for this first pool match in the women’s Olympic tournament featuring the United States and Argentina