La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team Overcomes Injuries to Reach Tortugas Open Finals
Entering Friday’s semi-final, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team was missing three (Pablo MacDonough, David Stirling and Juan Martin Nero) of their four 10-goalers to injury, facing La Dolfina Polo Ranch with a rare one-goal deficit on handicap. Despite losing another player in Rodrigo Andrade to injury in the fifth chukka, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team overcame their slow start to capture the 10-6 victory and advance to the Tortugas Open final against Ellerstina.
Inaccurate shooting in the early stages of the match kept La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team off the scoreboard in the first two chukkas, as they converted just 1 of their first 10 attempts. Generating higher quality chances from their defence, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team produced a 9-1 run, overwhelming La Dolfina Polo Ranch across the field. Held off the penalty line, La Dolfina Polo Ranch struggled to match the horsepower of La Dolfina Saudi Polo team from the field, managing 13 less attempts at goal in the 10-6 defeat.
La Dolfina Polo Ranch emerged as the leader in the first chukka after a field goal from Juan Britos. Despite holding the possession advantage, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team were unable to convert any of their four attempts in the low-scoring start to the game. Utilizing a different line-up with Rodrigo Andrade and Ignacio Laprida, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team took a few chukkas to find their footing, failing to score for the second consecutive chukka. La Dolfina Polo Ranch pushed their lead to three on field goals from Alejo Taranco and Guillermo Terrera, pushing for a spot in the final. Poroto Cambiaso ended the drought for La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team in the third chukka, but that was the only goal they could muster, continuing to trail by two goals. Poroto Cambiaso continued to play above his six-goal handicap, assisting on Laprida’s first goal while quickly following with his second. Quiet throughout most of the first half, Adolfo Cambiaso scored from distance to end the half, giving La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team their first lead of the game.
Replacing Rodrigo Andrade, Pedro Zacharias made an immediate impact, converting a penalty 2 just two minutes after entering the game. Scoring two goals in quick succession, Adolfo Cambiaso excelled in a decisive point in the match to extend La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team’s lead to four. Held without a goal for over 20 minutes of play, La Dolfina Polo Ranch’s Guillermo Terrera ended the 9-1 run for La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team, but they still faced a four-goal deficit with time running out. Turning their focus to defence in the seventh chukka, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team limited La Dolfina Polo Ranch to just one field goal from Diego Cavanagh to capture the 10-6 victory and reach the Tortugas Open final.
Photo credit : Matías Callejo / Prensa AAP
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Tortugas CC Open Finalist:
Ellerstina Johor: Facundo Pieres 10, Hilario Ulloa 10, Gonzalo Pieres (h) 9 and Nicolás Pieres 10. Total: 39.
Sarmiento Subsidiary Cup Finalists:
La Natividad-Las Monjitas: Camilo Castagnola 8, Pablo Pieres 10, Bartolomé Castagnola (h) 9 and Ignatius Du Plessis 9. Total: 36.
La Ensenada-La Aguada: Segundo Bocchino 6, Alfredo Bigatti 8, Matías Torres Zavaleta 8 and Jerónimo Del Carril 7. Total: 29.