Autumn Internationals: Argentina hold out to beat Italy 20-18 in Genoa
Last Updated: 14/11/14 6:59pm
Argentina bounced back from a hefty defeat at the hands of Scotland with a 20-15 triumph over Italy in their rescheduled Autumn International clash in Genoa.
A forecast of heavy rain in the flood-hit Italian city caused the match at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to be brought forward to Friday and the Pumas seized their opportunity to get back to winning ways, while the hosts slipped to a ninth defeat in 10 matches.
Lucas Amorosino and Jeronimo de la Fuente both crossed as Argentina held off the spirited Italians, whose only points came courtesy of the boots of Kelly Haimona and Luciano Orquera.
It was a fifth successive victory on Italian soil for the Pumas and the Azzurri's 16-year wait to beat Argentina at home continues.
Replacement fly-half Orquera had a chance to win it for the hosts but sent his last-gasp drop-goal attempt wide in a nail-biting finish.
The much-anticipated tussle between two heavy packs produced plenty of heavy hits but the scrum battle proved a dead heat.
Italy led 12-10 at the interval thanks to four penalties from piviot Haimona and the hosts were well-worth their lead at the break as they took full advantage of some overly ambitious Argentinian play.
Territory
When Argentina did finally find some good territory, on the stroke of half time, they put it to good use, scoring a well-worked try through Amorosino at the end of a sustained period of pressure.
Italy had built a 12-3 lead as Pumas loosehead Marcos Ayerza was twice penalised at scrum time and the visitors' discipline left much to be desired.
But, having been pinned back for long periods, the South Americans made a strong finish to the first half, scoring the only try and Juan Martín Hernández slotted the conversion to leave the game well balanced.
Italy made the better start to the second stanza and Haimona extended their lead with his fifth penalty, but Argentina snatched the advantage just before the hour when De la Fuente ran a great line to collect Hernandez's pop pass and to slice through the Italian midfield and race home from 40 metres.
Hernandez added the extras to put the visitors ahead at 17-15.
Replacement fly-half Nico Sánchez added a penalty when Italy were caught in possession in their own 22 to stretch the lead to five points and force Italy to open up in the closing ten minutes.
The Azzurri pushed hard and Orquera could pull three points back with an easy penalty to set up a grandstand finish and he could not land his rushed drop-goal in the dying seconds of the match.