S2H Team

Lautaro Domene’s hat-trick of drag-flick goals and Nehuen Hernando’s goalkeeping combined to bring Argentina a 4-2 victory over six-time champions Germany in the 2021 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup final at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Domeno’s triple strike also brought him the player of the match award in must surely have been a split decision, given Hernando’s breathtaking display that did much to bring Argentina their second title since Rotterdam 2005.

The set-piece specialist’s 100 per cent record in a global final – three out of three – was simply the stuff of dreams and Domeno said he couldn’t put his feelings into words at the post-match interview.

Franco Agostini slotted the fourth for the South Americans into an unguarded goal in the last minute as the Germans chased the match.

Germany trailed 0-2 at half-time after Domene had his say in the 10th and 25th minutes but responded with breathtaking intensity in the third quarter, coming at Argentina relentlessly.

They scored through Julius Hayner who made amends for a 10-minute yellow card that penalised a raised stick and drew level in the 47th minute through Masi Pfandt’s penalty corner essay.

The Argentines would have been relieved to hear the three-quarter time hooter and it gave coach and 2016 Olympic gold medallist Lucas Rey a chance to calm the nerves of his charges.

Germany continued to press incessantly as Argentina resorted to the long aerial route to ease the pressure.

The counter-attacking factor, however, was Argentina’s trump card and a penalty corner – Argentina’s third gave Domene a chance to notch a hat-trick and regain the lead.

He did with aplomb and Argentina celebrated again.

Germany however kept the pressure on and if Domene won it with his drag flicks, Hernando, the hero of the semifinal shootout win over France, was to prove a match-winner in his own right.

The 1.87m tall goalkeeper brought off amazing saves to deny Pfandt and made a timely deflection to keep his goal intact from an attempt by Michel Struthoff following a fluffed penalty corner stop.

FINAL STANDINGS AND AWARDS
Final standings:

1. Argentina

2. Germany

3. France

4. India

5. The Netherlands

6. Belgium

7. Spain

8. Malaysia

9. South Africa

10. South Korea

11. Pakistan

12. Poland

13. Canada

14. Chile

15. USA

16. Egypt

Competition Awards

Best Player of the Tournament: Timothée Clément (FRA)
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Anton Brinckman (GER)
Hero Top Scorer of the Tournament: Miles Bukkens (NED) (18 goals)
Odisha Fair Play Award: Team Chile

Odisha Fans Choice Award for Best Goal of the Tournament: Ignacio Nardolillo (ARG)
Hockey India Maximum Team Goals: Netherlands (45 goals)
Hockey India Best Goal Saved of the Tournament: Mahmoud Seleem (EGY)
AM/NS India Best Coach of the Tournament: Johannes Schmitz (GER)