CARSON, California – The close of Group A of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup started with Argentina getting their first three points after a 3-0 win against the Dominican Republic on Monday evening at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Both teams took the field with intensity, as they were looking to secure the win to try to be one of the two best third-place teams of the Group Stage that will advance to the quarterfinals.
Argentina created early chances, one of the clearest ones being FW Yamila Rodriguez trying a long shot in the 6’, with the ball going over the crossbar.
On their 12th shot of the evening, Argentina scored their first goal in the W Gold Cup from the boots of MF Dalila Ippolito in the 30’, who was in perfect position to get the ball after the Dominican defensive line was unable to clear the ball. Ippolito went one-on-one with GK Paloma Pena, the midfielder finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
¡Ippolito no falla en el mano a mano y abre el marcador para Argentina! pic.twitter.com/d1BCPKZm0j
— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) February 27, 2024
Argentina’s efforts paid off again in the 76’, with MF Celeste Dos Santos finding the back of the net after playing a one-two combination with FW Mariana Larroquette ending with the midfielder getting past the Dominican defenders and Pena, giving La Albiceleste a 2-0 advantage.
In the last minutes of the second half stoppage time in the 90’+4, MF Maricel Pereyra finished the scoring on a goal from outside the area, sealing Argentina’s first win in the tournament.
With this win, Argentina not only got their first win and points, they also place themselves in third place of Group A, fighting for a chance to reach the quarterfinals.
