First Win for El Salvador against Uruguay
El Salvador registered an historic first win in international RL against Latin American opponents Uruguay.
On Saturday 1/10/17, in fine but blustery conditions in Sydney, El Salvador fought hard for a resounding but unexpected 46-10 victory.
The big win has immense significance for El Salvador, a nation of just 6.5 million people which has fared poorly for decades in football and Rugby Union.
The Trueno Azul (Blue Thunder) were coming off a 32-12 loss to Thailand and a 58-20 loss to Chile in their only previous International RL appearances. But after devoting themselves to a three-month preparation before the Uruguay game, the Salvadorenos reaped the rewards of hard work in a clash that was expected to be tight and go either way.
Making the win ever more meritorious, El Salvador played most of the game with just two interchanges, after one player fell gravely ill hours beforehand and another suffered a serious shoulder injury in the first half.
Gold Coast-based fullback Anthony Maatouk was a star on debut with three tries for El Salvador, while former prison inmate Oscar Mendoza continued his remarkable personal transformation by posting the opening try and kicking four goals from four attempts, several from the sideline.
Uruguay had been level 6-all until the 24th minute courtesy of a try by their own star on debut, Joel Smith but fell away in the 20 minutes before and after halftime. In a heated affair that displayed plenty of fiery Latino spirit, two players were sin binned for fighting after a second half melee.
On Saturday 1/10/17, in fine but blustery conditions in Sydney, El Salvador fought hard for a resounding but unexpected 46-10 victory.
The big win has immense significance for El Salvador, a nation of just 6.5 million people which has fared poorly for decades in football and Rugby Union.
The Trueno Azul (Blue Thunder) were coming off a 32-12 loss to Thailand and a 58-20 loss to Chile in their only previous International RL appearances. But after devoting themselves to a three-month preparation before the Uruguay game, the Salvadorenos reaped the rewards of hard work in a clash that was expected to be tight and go either way.
Making the win ever more meritorious, El Salvador played most of the game with just two interchanges, after one player fell gravely ill hours beforehand and another suffered a serious shoulder injury in the first half.
Gold Coast-based fullback Anthony Maatouk was a star on debut with three tries for El Salvador, while former prison inmate Oscar Mendoza continued his remarkable personal transformation by posting the opening try and kicking four goals from four attempts, several from the sideline.
Uruguay had been level 6-all until the 24th minute courtesy of a try by their own star on debut, Joel Smith but fell away in the 20 minutes before and after halftime. In a heated affair that displayed plenty of fiery Latino spirit, two players were sin binned for fighting after a second half melee.
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