Fiji’s Stunning Comeback: From 12-0 Down to Thrilling 26-19 Victory Over Argentina at Dubai 7s
In a thrilling opening game at the Dubai 7s, the Fiji Airways Men’s Sevens team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Argentina 26-19, erasing a 12-nil deficit in a display of resilience and skill.
The match began with Argentina taking full advantage of a Fijian defensive lapse. The Fijians, who overcommitted in their pursuit of the ball, were caught out of position just a minute into the game. Marcos Monetta capitalized on this early weakness, crossing the line for a try. Soon after, Argentina extended their lead to 12-0, further putting Fiji under pressure. Despite this early setback, the Fijians were not disheartened.
Vuiviawa Naduvalo was the spark Fiji needed. With a determined run, he broke through the Argentine defense to score their first try, which was duly converted. This brought Fiji back into the game, with the scoreline reading 12-7. George Bose, a calming presence in the Fijian lineup, also made crucial carries, setting up captain Jerry Matana for a well-executed try. By halftime, Fiji had overturned the deficit, leading 19-12 after Naduvalo crossed the line for his second try, displaying great footwork to evade the rushing Argentine defenders.
The second half saw the Fijians extend their lead, as Bose combined with the entire team in a brilliant team try that showcased the depth of Fiji’s attacking cohesion. However, things took a turn when Alusio Vakadranu received a yellow card, giving Argentina an opportunity to close the gap. They took advantage of the numerical advantage to score a converted try, making the score 26-19.
Argentina fought back valiantly in the final moments, pushing to score again, but they lost possession close to Fiji’s tryline, allowing debutant Apete Narogo to boot the ball out of bounds, sealing the victory for Fiji. The win was a testament to the Fijian team’s tenacity and ability to fight back from adversity.
Fiji will look to build on this momentum as they face South Africa tomorrow at 12:16 AM, followed by a clash with France at 4:12 AM in their next pool games.
