Spain falls to the USA in the last match of the first round of the Nations Cup

The Spanish rugby team finished the first round of the Nations Cup (Nations Cup) with a tight defeat (29-22) against the United States in Raleigh, North Carolina

Los Leones has toured Canada and the United States with a draw at 42 against Canada in the first game and a victory against Tonga by 31-12 in a competition contested by the second level teams of world rugbythe international federation, and which will hold its second round in the fall.

According to the Spanish Federation in a statement, the match was the seventh meeting in history between both teams. The United States thus extends its historical dominance with six victories, while Spain maintains the victory achieved last year in Charlotte as the only favorable precedent.

The United States, as the national coach, the Argentine Pablo Bouza, had predicted, planned a match based on footwork and territorial pressure.

The Americans struck first with a test of Mitch Wilsontransformed to establish the 7-0 in the 11th minute. The Spanish reaction was immediate and just two minutes later Tani Bay signed a brilliant individual action to equalize the score with the transformation of Gonzalo López Bontempo.

The locals regained the initiative in the 18th minute thanks to a try from Paddy Ryanalso converted, and they opened the distance again. Spain, however, once again demonstrated personality and responsiveness. Jaime Manteca culminated a good collective action to support the second try of the Lions, the first of the player with the absolute XV shirt, and reduce differences before Julia Roberts struck again for the Americans, who went into halftime with a 19-12 lead.

After passing through the locker room came one of the best moments for the Spanish team.

Martiniano Cian starred in an extraordinary individual action to pose the oval in the 48th minute and Gonzalo Lopez transformed to equalize the clash. The fly-half himself completed the comeback twelve minutes later with a penalty shot that put the Lions ahead for the first time (19-22).

When Spain seemed to have the match under control, the United States once again imposed its effectiveness. Perry Mayo found the way to the try in the 66th minute and the transformation returned the lead to the hosts. Already in the final stretch, a penalty shot converted by Luke Carty closed the final score of 29-22.