Australia rallies to beat Argentina 20-19; claims 1st Rugby Championship win

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Replacement Ben Donaldson kicked a penalty as the fulltime siren sounded to give Australia a 20-19 win over Argentina on Saturday and its first success in three tests in this year's Rugby Championship.

Argentina led by nine points in the second half but the Wallabies rallied with a try to Rob Valetini, a conversion and penalty to Noah Lolesio to lead for the first time in the 58th minute.

The Pumas regained the lead at 19-17 in the 69th minute with a penalty to Tomas Albornoz and a win looked to have slipped through Australia's fingers. But the Wallabies dug deep, held the ball for nine phases inside the Argentina 22 in the last minute and finally earned the penalty that clinched the game.

Donaldson kicked the winning goal from 15 meters in front of the posts as the last seconds of the match ticked away.

“We're a new team and we've been building,” captain Harry Wilson said. "We had two tough games against South Africa and they're the best in the world but I thought we showed a lot of improvement.

“Now to show some improvement against Argentina was awesome.”

Through persistent heavy rain, Argentina seemed to play a style better suited to the conditions than Australia for most of the game. The Pumas defended well, though the Wallabies scored two tries to one. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon scored in the first half and Valetini at a vital moment in the second.

The Wallabies struggled at times to exit their own half and to make progress across the gain line. Their execution at restarts also was an Achilles heel. But at the end they took their chance well.

Argentina led 13-7 at halftime with a try to backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez, a conversion and two penalties to Santiago Carreras. Another Carreras penalty five minutes into the second half stretched the lead to nine points.

Australia found its way back into the match as it opened up and as it executed with more precision.

The loss was a sombre moment for Pumas veteran Agustin Creevy who took the field in the 73rd minute for his 110th test and his last in his home town. The 19-year veteran hooker was deployed at flanker as the Pumas had to reorganize their pack late in the match.

The Pumas suffered a slight setback in the first minute when it lost lock Pedro Rubialo who failed a head injury assessment and was replaced by the experienced but fiery Tomas Lavanini. Argentina came into the match with a 6-2 split on the reserves bench.

Carreras scored the first points of the match in the 10th minute, a penalty, and in the 15th minute Gonzalez scored the first try to give Argentina a 10-0 lead.

Scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou intercepted a pass and, handling for a second time, kicked deep into Wallabies territory, then caught Tom Wright in possession five meters from the goal line. Argentina won a penalty which it kicked to touch. The first drive broke up but Gonzalez joined the drive when it regrouped and scored.

The Wallabies rarely found their way into the Argentina 22 in the first half and when they did they encountered rigid defense. But in the 28th minute, playing under penalty advantage, Len Ikitau created a little space and Tom Wright off-loaded in a tackle to Gordon who scored under the posts. Lolesio converted.

That cut the Pumas' lead to three points but Carreras extended it to six points with his second penalty.

Noah Lolesio missed a penalty at the edge of his range just before halftime. But Carreras kicked his third to start the second half and increase the Pumas' lead to nine points.

Australia finally found some space with quick ball in the 50th minute and created a superb try for Valetini. Allan Alaaltoa handled twice and Gordon kept the ball in motion, picking runners. Ikitau beat tackles and Lolesio carried the ball strongly before Valetini drove over.

Lolesio converted and then kicked a penalty to give Australia its first lead at 17-16 in the 58th minute.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Australia coach Joe Schmidt, left, and Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi, talk before the start of a rugby championship test match between Argentina and Australia, in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Los Pumas Thomas Gallo, right, is tackled by Australia's Matt Faessler during a rugby championship test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Jeremy Williams catches the ball during a rugby championship test match between Argentina and Australia in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Los Pumas Agustin Creevy waves to fans at the end of a rugby championship test match between Argentina and Australia in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Marika Koroibete catches a ball during a rugby championship test match between Argentina and Australia in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Noah Lolesio, center, is tackled Argentina's Los Pumas Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8, and JFranco Molina, right center, during a rugby championship test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Tom Wright is tackled by Argentina's Los Pumas Mateo Carreras during a rugby championship test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Rob Valentini, #6, is tackled by Argentina's Los Pumas Thomas Gallo during a rugby championship test match between Argentina and Australia in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Jake Gordon, right, celebrates after scoring a try during a rugby championship test match against Argentina in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Jake Gordon scores a try during a rugby championship test match against Argentina in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Alison Lee sparked a shirtless caddie celebration by spinning a wedge into the cup for eagle. Andrea Lee holed a bunker shot to set up Rose Zhang’s walk-off eagle one hole later. And Megan Khang paused for 10 seconds to let gravity help her out on a critical birdie putt.

The wait was worth it for the United States, which maintained a four-point lead over Europe in the Solheim Cup on Saturday.

With top-ranked Nelly Korda getting an afternoon break after winning the leadoff point in three consecutive sessions of team matches, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis watched her role players excel, and the Americans concluded a warm, breezy day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 10-6 advantage.

“They’re playing the way I expected them to play, so I’m not surprised at all,” Lewis said. “But at the same time, to do it on this stage and in these moments and to pull these shots off and to make the putts and to do it with the joy that they’re doing it with, it’s the coolest part to me.”

Europe, which has captured the Solheim Cup the last three times, won the last two matches to conclude a 4-4 day. But the team in royal blue and yellow will need its largest comeback in Sunday singles to make it a record four in a row. The U.S. rallied from four points down to win in Germany in 2015.

The U.S. needs 4 1/2 points from a dozen singles matches to win the cup, and Europe needs eight points to retain it. Captain Suzann Pettersen drew inspiration from the European Ryder Cup team's rally from the same deficit to win at Medinah in 2012.

“I was on the opposite side in Germany, and I know what it feels like,” Pettersen said. “Everyone remembers Medinah. I mean, it’s a tough task.”

Lewis has relied on data to find the right combinations, whether keeping Korda and Allisen Corpuz together for alternate shot; sending rookie Lauren Coughlin out with three partners; or giving Zhang a comfortable pairing with Andrea Lee, her fellow Stanford Cardinal.

“I know their games backwards and forwards, and it’s allowed me to create some really good pairings,” Lewis said.

Korda and Corpuz fell behind early against Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen but turned it around on the back nine and got a break when Corpuz hit a worm-burner of a fairway wood into the par-5 14th hole that avoided the water and settled within 20 feet. Korda put her hands on her head in disbelief and Lewis gave Corpuz a shoulder rub in the fairway.

Korda holed the putt for eagle, her second in a row on a hole the U.S. has dominated, and she and Corpuz became the first American duo to go 4-0 in foursomes after winning twice last year in Spain.

“The Americans have played unbelievable. I don’t know how many eagles they’ve had. It seems like they’ve had double figures,” Hall of Famer and European assistant captain Laura Davies said. “They’ve just played great golf. Out-putted us at the moment. Deep squad of players. We’ll never say never, but it is going to be very, very difficult to get the cup back.”

A day after transportation problems prevented most fans from getting to the golf course for the opening tee shots, a situation that LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan took responsibility for, the grandstands surrounding the first tee were full and fans lined the gallery ropes shortly after 7 a.m.

The only thing that kept them quiet was a slow start by the Americans, but it got loud once Korda started rolling.

In the first afternoon better-ball match, Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom were 2 down to Khang and Alison Lee when Nordqvist birdied the par-3 11th hole. Khang's tying putt hung on the lip for 10 seconds before dropping, and she confirmed with a rules official that she had not waited too long for the ball to move.

Needing two putts to win the 14th, Khang made her 15-footer for eagle anyway, setting up the latest fist-pumping celebration for the Americans’ loudest cheerleader, who was next to the green in a cowboy hat when Corpuz hit her approach hours earlier.

Khang and Lee closed it out on the next hole for a 4-and-3 victory, Lee's first in a Solheim Cup match since 2015. She gave the U.S. an early lead with her wedge from 86 yards for an eagle 2 on the second hole, and the Americans’ caddies stripped from the waist up and chest-bumped to pay off a bet with Lee that they agreed to on the tee box.

“Literally holed out five minutes after that conversation. Great motivation,” Lee said.

Zhang and Andrea Lee never trailed in their 6-and-4 victory over Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. Zhang, the youngest U.S. player at 21 who had a forgettable Solheim debut last year, joined Korda and Coughlin by winning all three of her matches.

Pettersen benched Leona Maguire, a valuable contributor in the last two Solheim Cups who has played poorly this year, for both sessions. Rookie Albane Valenzuela also sat out all day, while Charley Hull and Pedersen played four matches each.

Hull delivered. The excitable English player hit a 300-yard-plus drive on the par-4 18th to set up a wedge to tap-in range by Esther Henseleit for a 1-up victory in foursomes over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, then did it again as she and Georgia Hall beat Corpuz and Lilia Vu 2 up in better ball.

Lexi Thompson improved her record in alternate shot to 7-2-1 in what is likely her final Solheim Cup, teaming with the unbeaten Coughlin to make four birdies in six holes on the back nine and beat Maja Stark and Hall, 4 and 3.

Thompson and Ewing were beaten 2 and 1 by Ciganda and Pedersen in fourballs. Ewing has lost her last six Solheim Cup matches.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from a bunker on the 15th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang smiles after winning a fourball match on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Emily Pedersen celebrates winning a fourball match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

United States' Rose Zhang celebrates after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang, right, is congratulated by teammate United States' Andrea Lee after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Alison Lee, center, reacts flanked by celebrating caddies after finding the cup from the fairway on the second hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Megan Khang celebrates after making a putt on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from the fifth tee during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lexi Thompson smiles after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lauren Coughlin hits from a bunker on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Ally Ewing hits from the 18th fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Esther Henseleit celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Charley Hull celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda hits from the first fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda celebrates after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda, left, is celebrates with teammate Allisen Corpuz after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)