Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Muchachos, we’re dreaming once again: Argentina’s third Olympic medal is here.
The Argentine women’s field hockey team beat Belgium 3-1 on penalties to win bronze and claim the nation’s third medal in Paris 2024. The team coached by Fernando Ferrara wrapped the tournament by climbing to the third step of the podium, as the Leonas won their sixth medal in the last seven Olympics.
In a tightly contested game, it was Belgium that took the lead first when, seven minutes into the first quarter, Emma Puvrez made it 1-0 off a deflection from a penalty corner. The Leonas tied in the second quarter in similar fashion, as leading goal scorer Agustina Gorzelany scored from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute.
Four minutes later, Argentina took the lead, as Agustina Albertario took advantage of a lucky deflection to make it 2-1. It wouldn’t last, however, as in the very next play, Belgium’s Justine Rasir tied it from a penalty corner.
Argentina had a chance to win the game through a penalty corner in the last minute, but Belgium goalkeeper Aisling D’Hooghe made a last-ditch save to take the game to penalties. Since 2011, field hockey has used the “Australian penalties” shoot-out style: an attacker starting with the ball on the 23-meter line has eight seconds to score a goal one-on-one against the goalkeeper, who starts on the goal line.
In the shoot-out, Argentina took an early advantage courtesy of a Belgium miss and two conversions by Lara Casas and Zoe Díaz. Despite a miss by Julieta Jankunas, two saves by quarterfinals hero goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino extended the lead, allowing Sofía Cairó to wrap up the game with Argentina’s fourth penalty.
“I was calm; I wasn’t thinking about anything else,” Cairó told sports outlet TyC. “I hadn’t planned anything; I just took a turn, saw there was a gap, and took the shot.”
“It was a hard game because medal games are played with your head and your heart. I’ve dreamt of this since I was little; I never thought I would ever be here, so dreams do come true.”
Leading goalscorer Gorzelany, who couldn’t contain her tears after Argentina’s loss to the Netherlands, thanked the fans for their support: “This is for all the Argentine fans who always support us.”
It’s the third Olympic medal for team captain Rocío Sánchez Moccia, after she won silver in London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. The 36-year-old thanked her younger teammates for inspiring her to push through her last Olympics.
“This medal represents everything we sacrificed in Argentina — everything it took us to get here,” she said.
“Today this bronze medal is gold for us.”
