| Match Detail | British & Irish Lions | Argentina (Los Pumas) |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 24 | 28 |
| Tries | Bundee Aki (19′) Penalty Try (46′) Tadhg Beirne (53′) |
Ignacio Mendy (12′) Tomás Albornoz (41′) Santiago Cordero (59′) |
| Conversions | Fin Smith (20′, 54′) | Tomás Albornoz (42′, 60′) |
| Penalties | Fin Smith (10′) | Tomás Albornoz (5′, 26′, 40′) |
| Venue | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | |
| Player of the Match | Tomás Albornoz (ARG) | |
From the very first minute, Luke Carandiki, our birthday boy, set the tone for the match with his lineouts. There were tense moments: a try that seemed certain vanished due to a small mistake, and the stadium held its breath… no try!
But Argentina was quick to respond. Alvin and Carreras combined perfectly for Mendy to score the first try and Argentina opened the scoring with 7-0, thanks to the impeccable conversion. Later, Byaki, at 35, showed that experience counts in defense, while Gonzalez and Alvin added another Argentine try, bringing the score to 14-0 before halftime.
The second half brought drama: the Lions were awarded a penalty try after a deliberate knock-on and received a yellow card, while Argentina remained lethal. Moroni and Cordderero broke through the lines, exploited spaces, and added two more tries, with perfect conversions. Every attempt by the Lions seemed to hit an Argentine wall; defense and passing accuracy made the difference.
Final statistics
Tries: Argentina 4 | Lions 1 (including penalty try)
Conversions: Argentina 4/4 | Lions 1/1
Cards: Lions 1 yellow
Standout tackles: Byaki, 35, brilliant in defense
Mistakes: Luke Carandiki loses control at a key moment
In the end, the 1888 Cup travels to Argentina. The combination of speed, strategy, and heart of its players made the victory well deserved, leaving the Lions with the feeling that they had tried everything but were unable to overcome a relentless and organized team.