Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2015 – Day 9
Brazil To Play USA In The Grand Final
From twelve teams to two – after nine days of dramatic snow polo action, the grand final match-up of the fourth Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup has been decided. In front of expectant weekend crowds at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, Brazil beat Argentina 9 – 7 to book their place, while USA edged past France 7 – 6.
Of the four semi-finalists, Argentina went into the game with the strongest record in the competition, finishing fourth in 2012’s Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup and second in 2013. Their opponents Brazil had featured in every snow polo tournament to date at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, finishing a respectable fourth in 2014.
Brazil were first on the attack, forcing a desperate clearance from Argentina’s Hector Jacinto Crotto. In a flash, the Argentinean number three then found himself up the other end, bundling in the first goal of the game. Brazil’s Guilherme Lins quickly evened the odds with a penalty two as play swung the way of the yellow shirts, scoring once more at the close of the chukka to make it 2 – 1 to Brazil.
It was first blood to Argentina once again after the restart, Jacinto Crotto whipping in the ball from the tightest of angles for Juan Cruz Gregouli to latch on to and score off the backhand. A pair of Brazilian penalties both floated wide before it was Argentina’s turn to hit from the spot with a penalty three, Crotto firing straight and true to make it 3 – 2 to Argentina. Their lead was short-lived, however; Guilherme Lins made it third time lucky with his penalty at the bell to level the scores at the halfway stage of the match.
Argentina raced away to two quick goals at the start of the third chukka. Brazil, undefeated in the tournament, were facing their toughest test so far trailing by five goals to three. It didn’t seem to phase Aloisio Vilela Rosa though, who galloped toward the hotel end to thump in a hard-fought team goal and cut the deficit to a single score. Following an exchange of penalties for both sides, the chukka ended in a flurry of excitement, Brazil’s Guilherme Lins galloping the length of the field against the clock to score with two seconds left to play, the score 6 – 6 going into the deciding chukka.
Brazils Gustavo Garcia put his side a goal ahead early in the chukka with a chipped shot over the head of his marker. Argentina immediately pressed for an equaliser, winning a penalty in the process which Jacinto Crotto coolly converted to make it seven goals each. Argentina had arguably been the better side throughout the match but the grit and tenacity of the boys from Brazil was beginning to tell, Lins putting his side ahead with his sixth of the match as time ticked away. Lins stretched the lead further with a tap-in penalty soon after to make it 9 – 7, and as play resumed Jacinto Crotto elected to go for glory from range, but his arcing shot flew wide of the target. That left it for Brazil to run down the clock and book their place in the grand final of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2015; Argentina will have to be content with fighting for the subsidiary spoils.
Where the first semi-final had been fractious and stop-start, France versus USA was open and flowing. USA looked the sharper team in the early stages, Tommy Biddle Jr drawing a penalty two from the French defenders. Biddle put it away and then turned provider as play resumed, his searching through-ball setting up Mike Azzaro for the USA’s second. France got their game going with a Brieuc Rigaux penalty on the three minute mark, and the French number two scored again in the final minute to make it 2 – 2 at the break.
Showing the sort of form that had seen his side cruise through the earlier stages of the tournament, Clement Delfosse galloped in a fantastic goal for France to get the second chukka underway. USA had their backs to the wall as the French trio sent in wave after wave of attacks, but their defences held, and at the other end Delmer Walton set it up for Tommy Biddle to thump in and level the scores. Another USA attack saw Biddle bash in a backhand strike with his back to goal to make it advantage USA at the halfway point in the match, the score 4 – 3.
USA stretched the lead early in the third chukka, Tommy Biddle Jr. thumping in a penalty, but two penalty scores from France levelled the game at 5 – 5 after three minutes, and so the scores remained going into the fourth and final period.
It was first blood to the USA in the final chukka, Tommy Biddle Jr. scoring his fourth of the game with a penalty. Biddle added another from open play seconds later, finishing off a quick one-two. Feeling the pressure, France’s Brieuc Rigaux put his penalty wide, but the French number three had another bite at the cherry on the three minute mark. Who should thwart it this time but Tommy Biddle Jr, turning goalkeeper to save it on the line. Delfosse finally made it count with a penalty two to close the gap to 7 – 6, but just as USA looked to have done enough to win the match, France forced a penalty with 19 seconds left on the clock. In an astonishing final play, Rigaux’s shot bounced off the post for USA to thwack clear, but still the French weren’t done, the men in white launching a desperate last attack, but the buzzer sounded a second before the ball rolled over the USA goal line. Agony for the French; a day to remember for team USA.
The standout performer today for the USA team, Tommy Biddle Jr. had reason to be hopeful for his side’s chances against Brazil in the grand final tomorrow. “The French were tough and it was a great match; the Brazilians are going to be just as tough in the final. But we are always confident and we are here to win.”
The snow polo concludes tomorrow at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, with France playing Argentina in the fight for third place before USA take on Brazil to decide who is crowned champions of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2015.
Replay of all games is available on www.hurlinghampolo.com