Pumas shocked in Cordoba

Marcato conversion earns surprise win

Last updated: 28th June 2008

Andrea Marcato Italy

Marcato: match-winning kick

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A last-minute try by replacement Leonardo Ghiraldini earned Italy a 13-12 victory over Argentina in Cordoba, after the Azzurri had scored 10 unanswered points in the second half.

The hosts led 12-3 at the break after a brace of penalties apiece from Juan Martin Hernandez - who had to go off after 20 minutes with an injured wrist - and Marcelo Bosch.

Andrea Marcato kicked the Italians' only points on the stroke of half-time.

Marcato brought Italy to within six points with his second penalty on 50 minutes, but Bosch had two opportunities to regain the nine-point advantage only to miss with both kicks.

Argentina paid dearly for that when Ghiraldini got the crucial late score after a scrum and several forward drives, before Marcato held his nerve to kick the winning conversion and spark celebrations in the Italy camp.

Italian skipper Sergio Parisse said: "It was a very tough, hard game but there was great work from the Italian forwards and we fought right to the end in a real battle. We can come away from this very happy."