China's national inline hockey team concluded their 2025 Chengdu World Games campaign with a narrow 5-4 loss to Argentina on Monday, securing eighth place in the eight-team tournament. The host nation's squad faced an intense battle for seventh position after both teams entered the match winless in their previous four games.
A Nail-Biting Match
The Chinese team started strong with Liu Chaoyi opening the scoring in the sixth minute, followed by Li Zhihao extending the lead to 2-0. Argentina's Hernan Insua and Rodrigo Irisarri leveled the score before halftime, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.
A Dramatic Finale
Zhuang Haojie and Chen Xingnan helped China regain the lead twice, but Argentina's Owen Haiek proved decisive with three crucial assists and a goal. The match reached its climax when Irisarri scored the winning goal with just 12 seconds remaining, securing Argentina's first victory in Chengdu.
While the result marked China's fifth consecutive defeat, the high-scoring game demonstrated growing competitiveness in the sport ahead of future international competitions.
