Two ways to achieve victory and two ways to achieve the same goal. Lomas and San Fernando will define the title of the Metropolitan women’s hockey tournament but both entered Saturday’s decisive match through two different routes. The paths, perhaps, went hand in hand with what they both did in the regular season. Lomas, the best of the first phase due to scandal, crushed Santa Bárbara while San Fernando, the champion that had to suffer until the last date to enter the playoffs, was able to surpass Gimnasia y Esgrima, the second in that initial round, just in the penalties.
At the Pinazo de Begrano headquarters, just like seven days before, there was a lot of heat and color from early on, when Lomas and Santa Bárbara took the field to define the first finalist. And the game, at its beginning, somehow blended in with the temperature outside. So both started with a lot of dynamics. But it was Lomas who struck first and he did it very quickly. The first 120 seconds had barely elapsed when Martina Triñanes barely touched the penalty corner taken by Knobl and made it 1-0. So quick was the opening of the scoreboard that the original plans changed for both of them.
In this way, Santa Bárbara imposed its dominance, forced by the circumstance of the disadvantage, but Lucas Vila’s team became strong in its defensive block and every time it recovered the ball, its verticality was dangerous. In this way, at the end of the first quarter Domínguez had a detour that gave goalkeeper Cechi a big scare, although the play was not validated because there had previously been a foul by Fajardo, according to the video ref. The second quarter was more difficult than the first and the fluidity of the first minutes was marred by several infractions and a handful of green cards. The attacks were blocked and there the figures of Forcherio emerged on the side of Lomas and Nogueira, on that of Santa Bárbara. There were entrances to the area, it is true, but there was no obvious danger for both of them.
In the second half the winner was confirmed thanks to the very good performance of Triñanes in the middle of the field. Breaking lines, it generated several dangerous situations that could not be realized. On the other hand, Bueloni, with three Lomas players on the mark, managed to force the first penalty for Matías Cereceda’s team, but the winner defended the action well. Until at 5 minutes Bárbara Redruello (who had no score in the tournament) made it 2-0 after a great deflection after a drag from Forcherio. It was clear that Lomas would try to take advantage of every situation. And so he did. It was completely effective and confirmed it when at 9 minutes María Emilia Forcherio herself, again from short, widened the difference. Already in the last quarter, at 18, captain Martina Triñanes scored the second of her personal tally and “closed” the game. There would only be time for Josefina Esnaola’s injury time at 24 minutes. In this way, with a conclusive and overwhelming 4 to 1, Lomas entered the final.
In the second semi-final, GEBA started better thanks to Raymondo’s skill that allowed him to find the gaps in San Fernando’s defense. Immediately, Raymondo herself entered the area and found a penalty corner for Alimenti, the championship’s top scorer. But Sanguinetti stood out with the cover in an action that, in some way, was a warning of what would happen minutes later. After that uncertain start, Agustín Lavagno’s team changed the pace of their game and managed to make their first risky play. Which was very effective.
Because after 6 minutes Candela Esandi entered the circle, turned around and put her team ahead with a backhand. GEBA had a hard time reacting. Juan Pacheco’s team did not use the lines of play that characterize it and were imprecise when it came to handling the ball. On the other hand, San Fernando was more cautious with the ball and tried to take care of GEBA. Although an escape from Falasco cost him dearly. With a “top-of-the-range” assist, he gave way to Catalina Alimenti, who in the 29th minute was one-on-one with Pallotti and “broke” his goal for the tie.
After halftime GEBA took charge of the situation, advanced its lines and sought to be more sharp, but found no effectiveness in the area. San Fernando had to retreat due to the intensity of its rival and had a hard time passing half the field clearly. And so they reached the last quarter, which was balanced. Both teams used – and abused – the flick to gain meters under pressure and neither could maintain possession of the ball. This is how they arrived at the Australian penalties. In the decisive instance there were nerves and tension. And only Retegui and Esandi were right – the first and the last for San Fernando – to make the difference and put their team in their fourth consecutive final.
**How does the contrasting nature of Lomas’ decisive victory and San Fernando’s shootout win impact the psychological landscape heading into the final?**
## World-Today-News Exclusive Interview: Road to the Final – Lomas vs. San Fernando
Welcome to World-Today-News! Today we have a special treat for you: an in-depth interview about the thrilling semi-final matches leading to the Metropolitan women’s hockey championship. Joining us are two esteemed guests: [**Guest 1 Name**], former national team player and respected hockey commentator, and [**Guest 2 Name**], coach of a leading youth hockey program and impeccable analyst of the sport.
Welcome to both of you!
**Theme 1: Paths to Victory – Domination vs. Grit**
* The article highlights two contrasting paths to the final. Lomas achieved a decisive victory while San Fernando edged out their opponent in a penalty shootout. [**Guest 1 Name**], do you think these differing paths reveal anything about the teams’ playing styles or mental fortitude?
* [**Guest 2 Name**], San Fernando had to overcome adversity in their match. What are the key factors that contribute to a team’s success in high-pressure situations, like penalty shootouts?
**Theme 2: Strategic Brilliance and Tactical Decisions**
* The article mentions Santa Bárbara’s initial dominance after falling behind and GEBA’s struggle to implement their usual play style. [**Guest 1 Name**], based on your experience, how do teams adapt their strategies when faced with unexpected situations or strong opposition tactics?
* Lomas’ Martina Triñanes had a standout performance, scoring twice and orchestrating attacks. [**Guest 2 Name**], how does a player’s individual brilliance influence a team’s overall game plan and momentum.
**Theme 3: Individual Performances and Key Contributors**
* Barcelona’s Dominguez had a potentially game-changing shot disallowed due to a foul, showcasing the role of video reviews in crucial moments. [**Guest 1 Name**], how have technology and video reviews impacted the experience of both players and spectators in modern hockey?
* San Fernando’s Retegui and Esandi emerged as heroes in the penalty shootout.[**Guest2Name**whatqualitiesmakeaplayerthriveundertheimmensepressureofapenaltyshootout?[**Guest2Name**whatqualitiesmakeaplayerthriveundertheimmensepressureofapenaltyshootout?[**Guest2Name**whatqualitiesmakeaplayerthriveundertheimmensepressureofapenaltyshootout?[**Guest2Name**whatqualitiesmakeaplayerthriveundertheimmensepressureofapenaltyshootout?
**Theme 4: Looking Ahead – The Grand Finale**
* With Lomas’ dominant performance and San Fernando’s resilience, both teams demonstrate exceptional abilities. [**Guest 1 Name**], what are your predictions for the final, and what key battles should we expect between these two powerhouses?
* [**Guest 2 Name**], what advice would you give to both teams going into this crucial match, considering their distinct paths to the final?
Thank you both for sharing your insights and expertise. We are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an unforgettable final match!
