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Two late penalty goals from Tomás Albornoz saved Tucumán from defeat as they came away 34-31 winners over Brazil at Tucumán Lawn Tennis club on Friday evening. Os Tupis had led 17-10 at the half and 31-28 until the 74th minute of a back-and-forth game.
Brazil’s scrum impressed as it had against the Māori All Blacks, with the first score a penalty try coming from repeat collapses. Josh Reeves added a penalty goal to take a 10-point lead. Tucuman responded through flyer Pablo Avellaneda, the 20-year-old’s try converted by Albornoz. He would land a penalty but not before Lucas Piero had crossed for a converted try to restore Brazil’s lead.
Both Albornoz and Avellaneda are recent graduates of Pumitas u20 side, and they were not the only internationals to run out in the orange jersey. Other age-grade reps were Luciano Proto, Gonzalo García, Ignacio Albornoz, and reserve hooker José Luis González. Nicolás Proto and Juan Martín Guerineau have played for the Argentina XV while Gabriel Ascárate is an 18-cap Pumas veteran. Reserve backs Matías Ferro and Agustín Cortes are Pumas Sevens caps.
That level of talent brought Tucumán back from potential defeat in the second half. Albornoz landed a penalty almost immediately after the restart, and 10 minutes later it was Santiago Pérez who drove over the line. Arthur Bergo scored for Brazi soon after but it was immediately reduced by a try to Tucumán fullback Jorge Domínguez, with Albornoz cooly slotting a drop goal to nudge his side ahead by four.
Tupis captain Felipe Sancery looked to have won the game with a 71st minute try, converted by Reeves, but Tucumán refused to concede to their guests. Albornoz tied the game with his third penalty goal and his fourth with just under two minutes on the clock stole the win.
Next up for Brazil is a trip to Salta for a match on Tuesday evening.
SCORING
TUCUMÁN 34
Tries – P. Avellaneda (26’), S. Pérez (52’), J. Domínguez (59’)
Cons – T. Albornoz 2/3 (27’, 53’)
Pens – T. Albornoz 4/4 (30’, 42’, 74’, 78’)
Drop goals – T. Albornoz 1/1 (62’)
BRAZIL 31
Tries – Penalty try (11’), L. Piero (28’), A. Bergo (57’), F. Sancery (71’)
Cons – J. Reeves 3/3 (29’, 58’, 72’)
Pens – J. Reeves 1/1 (23’)
TEAMS
TUCUMÁN
1 Lucio Urueña, 2 Luciano Proto, 3 Rodrigo Navarro, 4 Jorge Herrera, 5 José María Young, 6 Nicolás Proto, 7 Juan Martín Guerineau, 8 Santiago Aguilar, 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 11 Pablo Avellaneda, 12 Gabriel Ascárate, 13 Ignacio Albornoz, 14 Lucas Cartier, 15 Jorge Domínguez
Replacements: 16 Francisco Trejo, 17 José Luis González, 18 Ramón Sánchez, 19 Santiago Pérez, 20 Mariano Perondi, 21 Nicolás Alvizo, 22 Matías Ferro, 23 Agustín Cortes
BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Cléber Dias, 6 Michael Moraes, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Douglas Rauth, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Robert Tenório, 12 Valentin Garcia, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery
Replacements: 16 Endy Willian, 17 João Talamini, 18 Pedro Bengalo, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Devon Müller, 21 Daniel Lima, 22 Stefano Giantorno, 23 De Wet van Niekerk
