Pumas pounce

Quesada scores 27 of Argentina's 32 points

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Posted: Sunday October 10, 1999 12:44 PM

Gonzalo Quesada proved to be Argentina's trump card against Samoa. AP

LLANELLI, Wales (CNN/SI) -- Argentina truly arrived at the World Cup when it upset Western Samoa's apple cart in its campaign for the Webb Ellis Trophy on Sunday.

The Argentineans gave the Samoans a 32-16 mauling after pouncing in the second half. The result is that this has thrown Group D wide open with three of the four teams possibly advancing.

Gonzalo Quesada kicked 27 points Sunday as Argentina scored 29 unanswered second-half points to upset Samoa in their Group D clash at Llanelli.

The Pumas turned around a 16-3 halftime deficit to notch their first ever win against the Samoans in the World Cup and, in the process, throw qualification out of the Welsh-based pool wide open.

Quesada, who scored all Argentina's points in the opening round 23-18 loss to Wales at Millennium Stadium, slotted eight penalties and a drop goal to prove the difference between the teams in wet conditions at Llanelli as both sides scored a try apiece.

The flyhalf kicked one goal in the first half but added four penalties and a field goal in the first 24 minutes of the second half as the Pumas fought back to take an 18-16 lead with a quarter to play.

Lock Alejandro Allub scored a try in the 67th minute as the Puma pack drove a rolling maul over the Samoan tryline to extend the lead to 23-16.

As persistent drizzle made handling difficult for both sides, Quesada continued to use a tailwind to kick the Pumas further ahead. After missing the conversion, he slotted penalties from 40 meters in the 72nd and 76th minutes and landed a long-range shot from near halfway to make the final margin 16 points.

Quesada started the reverse when he slotted a 30-meter penalty goal two minutes after the break, landed a drop goal from about the same range in the 44th minute and added a long-range penalty goal in the 46th minute.

Argentina elected to run from a penalty in front of the posts shortly after but the play broke down and, after a string of mistakes, he kicked another penalty from in front to make the scoreline 16-15 and landed another penalty in the 51st minute to edge the Pumas ahead.

Manu Samoa, quarterfinalists at the last two World Cups, face a must-win clash against Group leader Wales in Cardiff on Thursday to have any chance of advancing to the next round, while the Pumas tackle the winless Japan in Cardiff on Saturday.

If the Samoans beat Wales and the Pumas win as expected, three teams could finish with two wins and a loss apiece and the teams to advance to the quarterfinal could be decided on tries scored throughout the tournament.

Junior Paramore provided the highlight of a sloppy first half when he scored in the 25th minute after veteran center Va'aiga Tuigamala created space with a barging run in midfield.

The former All Black broke three tackles before unloading to outside center George Leaupepe, who found Paramore in support and the flanker only had to swipe away scrumhalf Agustin Pichot before touching down near the posts.

It was the only try in the first 40 minutes, while Silao Leaega added the conversion and three penalties while Quesada kicked a sole penalty goal as Samoa took a 16-3 halftime lead.

Running into the wind, the Argentine's had the best chance of scoring in the opening 10 minutes when Eduardo Simone put Diego Albanese into the clear inside the Samoa corner but the winger spilt the ball with the tryline wide open.

Leaega opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a penalty goal and converted Paramore's try to give Manu Samoa a 10-0 lead.

Quesada reduced the margin to seven points with his penalty goal in the 28th minute before the Samoan fullback landed penalty goals in the 35th and 38th minutes to extend the halftime lead to 13 points.

Argentina

Western Samoa

Referee: Wayne Erickson, Australia.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.