Olímpia Lions down Cafeteros Pro in high-scoring thriller

The Olímpia Lions downed Los Cafeteros Pro in a high-scoring thriller. The match was the first of three Sunday matches in Santiago, Chile. The Paraguayan side were 39-32 winners over their Colombian opposition. The win was secured in the final minutes. It was the second win of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season for the Olímpia Lions.

The match featured nine tries; the Olímpia Lions scored five of them. It means that both teams secured bonus points. For Los Cafeteros Pro it marks their second time wherein they have scored a bonus point in a losing performance.

The scoring opened in the 3rd minute of play. Nicolás Roger landed a penalty to give Los Cafeteros Pro an early 3-0 lead. The Olímpia Lions had an opportunity to respond, but decided against kicking for goal. The Lions were deep in Cafeteros Pro penalty and won five penalties in the opening 10 minutes.

The first try of the game came in the 10th minute. The Olímpia Lions attacked from a scrum. Space opened out wide for winger Renato Cardona to score. Máximo Ledesma converted from near the sideline.

It was free-flowing rugby from both teams. Yet, when teams got within scoring range it was time for the forwards to barge over. Olímpia Lions captain Axel Zapata and Cafeteros Pro prop Brayhan Pérez traded tries for the teams.

Los Cafeteros Pro went ahead in the 21st minute. A loose ball was picked up by Cristian Rodallegas. The Colombian center ran 40 meters to score untouched. Roger’s conversion gave the Colombian side a 17-14 lead.

Rodrigo Martínez responded for the Olímpia Lions. The loose head prop followed the example of his captain and Argentina XV teammate. Ledesma converted and added a penalty to complete the first half scoring for the Olímpia Lions. Los Cafeteros Pro also went over for one further first half try. With the Olímpia Lions’ late points and Jhon Arley Urrutia’s score the Paraguayans held a 24-22 half-time lead.

The back-and-frth contest continued in the second half. Flanker Jerónimo Gómez Vara scored for the Olímpia Lions and center Tomás García did so for Los Cafeteros Pro. Fellow flanker Lucas Santa Cruz then crossed to put the Paraguayans ten points ahead.

With the clock ticking down, Gonzalo García opted to take a shot at goal. The decision proved to be screwed as Roger got Los Cafeteros Pro back to within one score. It was sufficient to give the Colombians their second bonus point in the SLAR season.

The next round of matches will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay next Sunday. The Olímpia Lions will face Peñarol while Los Cafeteros Pro will be up against Selknam.

SCORING

OLÍMPIA LIONS 39
Tries: Cardona, Zapata, Martínez, J. Gómez Vara, Santa Cruz
Conversions: Ledesma (4)
Penalties: Ledesma (2)
Yellow Cards: Rebussone, Martínez

CAFETEROS PRO 32
Tries: B Pérez, Rodallegas, Arley Urrutia, T García
Conversions: Roger (3)
Penalties: Roger (2)
Yellow Cards: Ferrario, Ortíz

TEAMS

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Rodrigo Martínez, 2 Axel Zapata (capt.), 3 Lucas Favre, 4 Carlos Repetto, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6  Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 7 Lucas Santa Cruz, 8 Marcos Riquelme, 9 Joaquín Pellandini, 10 Máximo Ledesma, 11 Renato Cardona, 12 Sebastián Urbieta, 13 Francisco Diez, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Martín Bogado

Replacements: 16 Mariano Mutaner, 17 Daniel Cabral, 18 Martín Sitjar, 19 Mariano Garcete, 20 Matías Gómez Vara, 21 Rodrigo Gómez Vara, 22 Franco Bulletini, 23  Diego Argaña

CAFETEROS PRO
1 Juan David Herrera, 2 Jorge Álvarez, 3 Brayhan Pérez, 4 Lautaro Simes, 5 Danny Giraldo, 6 Diver Ceballos, 7 Felipe Puertas, 8 Gerson Ortíz, 9 Gonzalo García (capt.), 10 Nicolás Roger, 11 Julián Velandia, 12 Cristian Rodallegas, 13 Tomás García, 14 Jhon Arley Urrutia, 15 Facundo Ferrario

Replacements: 16 Agustin Acosta, 17 Javier Corvalán, 18 Diego Posada, 19 Jhon Carlos Álvarez, 20 Sebastián Zapata, 21 Oscár Forero, 22 Andrés Álvarez, 23 Johan Ortíz

Referee: Cauã Ricardo (Brazil)