Chennai, Dec 7 (NationPress) Spain has triumphantly secured the first spot in the finals of the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2025 by defeating Argentina with a score of 2-1 on Sunday at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

The initial dominance exhibited by Spain compelled Argentina to adopt a defensive posture, creating an opportunity for Spain's skilled players to showcase their talent. The Argentine defense found itself frequently bewildered by the dynamic positional changes among Spain's front three players and their midfield.

In the seventh minute, the Spanish side took the lead. The first Penalty Corner (PC) of the match was awarded following a clever turn by Pere Amat near the 23-meter line, allowing him to assist Nicolas Mutaros inside the circle. After Argentine goalkeeper Bruno Aliva saved the initial drag-flick, Mario Mena capitalized on the rebound to net the opening goal.

The enthusiastic crowd responded with applause for every tackle, pass, save, and play following the breakthrough goal, which lifted the cautious atmosphere enveloping both teams. Following the restart, the South Americans quickly pushed forward, securing their first PC and striking the post with their next short corner execution.

In the 20th minute, Juan Fernandez skillfully redirected captain Tomas Ruiz's goal-bound drag-flick over the diving Spanish goalkeeper, leveling the score for Argentina. After a slow start, the South American squad finally displayed their attacking prowess in the second quarter.

The third quarter was largely uneventful as both teams approached the second half with caution. However, the final fifteen minutes were filled with excitement.

With just over four minutes remaining, Spanish defender Avila regained possession near midline and took a speculative shot. Luckily, the ball grazed Albert Serrahima's stick before finding its way into the Argentine net. After a lengthy video referral, the goal was upheld despite the heated protests from Argentina.

In a desperate bid to equalize, Argentina's coach Juan Gilardi opted to replace the goalkeeper with an additional outfield player. In the dying seconds, Argentina was awarded a PC, indicating that their numerical advantage was paying off. However, once again, a video referral ruled against the Latin American side, confirming Spain's place in the grand finale and sealing the final score.