Pumas stun Lions in Dublin thriller

Despite the defeat, the Lions showed flashes of brilliance, while the Pumas seized their moment with flair and grit.

The Lions struggled early, their cohesion hampered by limited time together. Argentina, missing several Top 14 stars due to the match falling outside the Test window, played with ambition.

Tomas Albornoz opened the scoring with a penalty after a slick Pumas move down the left. The Lions responded, but tries from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sione Tuipulotu were disallowed for knock-ons. A Fin Smith penalty leveled the score at 3-3.

Argentina struck next, with Ignacio Mendy weaving past Duhan van der Merwe to score in the corner, making it 8-3.

The Lions answered through Bundee Aki's powerful close-range try, taking a 10-8 lead. But the Pumas roared back before halftime. After turning over a loose ball at a Lions ruck, they raced the length of the field, with Albornoz finishing a dazzling team try to lead 21-10 at the break.

The Lions clawed back in the second half. A driving maul earned a penalty try and a yellow card for Argentina's Mayco Vivas.

With the extra man, Tadhg Beirne powered over after Ellis Genge's storming run, narrowing the gap to 21-24.

But Argentina hit back decisively. Albornoz stepped past Tom Curry and linked with Matias Moroni, whose kick set up Santiago Cordero for a stunning try in the corner, restoring the Pumas' 28-24 lead.

The Lions threw everything at Argentina in the final 15 minutes, but the Pumas' defence held firm, securing a historic victory.

For Andy Farrell's Lions, the loss highlights areas to sharpen before facing the Wallabies. For Argentina, this triumph showcased their attacking flair and resilience, a result their fans will cherish.

Posts from the Lions' official X account emphasize their focus on regrouping, with Andy Farrell praising the squad's effort and highlighting preparations for Australia. Argentina's rugby union account celebrated the win, noting the team's "heart and passion" in overcoming a strong Lions side.

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