El Cabure wins VIII Julio Novillo Astrada Cup in extra chukka
El Caburé defeated AlegrÃa Millarville 13 -12, with a golden goal by Federico Virasoro in extra chukka, and won the VIII Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, Presented by Rio Uruguay Seguros, in the final held at La Aguada Polo Club, in Open Door, Argentina.
Following a very even first chukka, that ended in a 2-1 tie, El Caburé took the lead in the second period by a 4-3 score. Two goals by Clemente Zavaleta in the third chukker, gave AlegrÃa Millarville a 5-4 lead in the third chukker.
El Caburé tied in the fourth chukka, and since then on, they took control of the match and the score; by the end of the fourth period, they outscored AlegrÃa 10-7. They handled to retain the lead in the fifth chukker, but only by one goal, 11-10.
In the sixth chukka, AlegrÃa Millarville rode onto the field, with the strong determination to battle back the result. And they did it. Thanks to a very balanced team effort, and two great goals by Clemente Zavaleta, AlegrÃa took a 12-11 lead, with only one minute remaining.
But it’s not over until it’s over; with only nine seconds to go, a 60-yards penalty was awarded to El Caburé, and Agustin Merlos’ perfect shot tied at 12-all, and the match went into extra chukker.
Within a minute in extra chukka, Federico Virasoro took the ball and run straight to the goalposts, to score the winning goal for El Caburé, to get the 13-12 victory and the VIII Julio Novillo Astrada Cup.
Prior to the final, La Picaza defeated La Tapera 12-7 and won the Subsidiary Trophy.
At the awards ceremony, El Caburé’s, AgustÃn Merlos, was named MVP, while the Fair Play Award went to Alegria Millarville’s Julian Mannix. Oro Bruma, breed by Santiago Ballester and played by Juan Gris Zavaleta, was awarded with the Asociación Argentina de Criadores de Caballos de Polo Award; and Espiga, breed by Tomás Uscher and played by Agustin Merlos, took the River Slaney BPP of the final. Besides, the four members of the winning team received four Reverso Squadra watches, from the worldwide prestigious watchmaker, Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Following the final and the trophy presentation, players, special guests, media, sponsors and friends enjoyed the traditional cocktail and Argentine asado and the warmth of the Novillo Astrada family at their home.