In-form Peillat’s penalty corner goals take Argentina into HWL Round 3 semis

Hockey is a team game and a collective effort often ensures a team’s victory. But there are at times, superb individual performances in crucial times that often prove the difference between a win and a loss.

Argentinean full-back Gonzalo Peillat is doing the same for his country in the ongoing second men’s FIH Hockey World League Round 3 tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The 20-year-old drag-flick expert has brought to the fore his utility to the side in Johor Bahru. Peillat came to the party on Thursday against spunky South Africa, slamming home two penalty corner goals to seal his team’s place in the semi-finals.

The Las Leonas held sway in the first half, with the South Africans crowding their defence to thwart the attacking designs of their opponents.

South Africa deserves credit for keeping the South Americans at bay for nearly the first half before their defence finally succumbed to their persistent onslaught.

Peillat ripped a short corner goal in the 27^th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead and that’s how the score line remained at the half-time.

South Africa needed to attack from the get-go in the second half, but Peillat poured cold water on any such plans, firing another short corner goal early in the second half to throw the onus on their opponents to mount a fight back.

Argentina held out whatever South Africa threw at their defence and emerged 2-0 winners to book their berth in the last-four stage.

Peillat’s second goal was his fourth of the tournament – he has scored in every match for Argentina now.

His 61^st minute equalizer saw his side force a 1-1 draw with Olympic gold medallists Germany in their first game.

Peillat, who has played 35 internationals so far, scored once in their 7-1 win over Japan and before rounding off the tally in their 3-0 win over Korea.