Audi downs Valiente II, 12-11
ByAlex Webbe
Audi (2-1) scored its second win in the 2012 Nespresso USOpen Championship Thursday morning at the International Polo Club in Wellingtonwith a 12-11 win over Valiente II (1-1), as second round play got underway.
There was a slow start to a Valiente II team that tookthe field without 10-goal superstar Adolfo Cambiaso, and with Argentine 9-goalerSantiago Chavanne stepping into the lineup, it was a bit choppy in the openingchukker as the Valiente team adjusted to one another. Chavanne scored the first goal of the gamewith 2:31 left on the clock in the first chukker for a 1-0 lead. Audi responded with a goal from the field fromGonzalito Pieres in the last 22 seconds for a 1-1 tie.
The pace picked up in the second chukker as Audi got itsengine running, but a Valiente II foul resulted in a crash to the ground atspeed by Nico Pieres and mount. Thehorse was fine, but Nico Pieres was forced to leave the field and Nic Roldan wasbrought in to replace him. GonzalitoPieres converted the 30-yard penalty shot that was awarded to the Audi team fora 2-1 score. Chavanne converted apenalty shot for a single goal for Valiente II. With less than thirty seconds on the clock, Gonzalito Pieres took abackhand pass from Roldan at midfield and drove down the field to score as timeexpired. Audi led, 3-2.
Audi and Valiente II exchanged goals in the third. Jeff Hall scored a goal from the field andGonzalito Pieres added another penalty goal. Valiente II answered back with single goals from Pelon Stirling andChavanne. At the end of the first half,Audi held a narrow 5-4 lead.
Two more goals from Gonzalito Pieres in the second half werecountered by a single goal from Stirling. Audi extended their lead to two goals, 7-5.
Roldan and Gonzalito Pieres scored single goals in thefifth, but the Valiente II lineup started to produce. Stirling scored a goal from the field and apenalty, Robert Jornayvaz scored back to back goals from the field as ValienteII knotted it up at 9-9.
Jornayvaz scored the opening goal of the sixth chukker togive Valiente II its first lead since the opening chukker, 10-9. Gonzalito Pieres converted a penalty shot twominutes into the period to deadlock it at 10-10. Roldan had Audi back on top with a goal fromthe field with Jornayvaz evening up the score at 11-11 with his fourth goal ofthe day. Gonzalito Pieres would scorethe final goal of the day with 1:37 on the clock as Audi celebrated their firstOpen victory.
Gonzalito Pieres led all scoring with nine goals (four onpenalty shots) Roldan added two goals and Hall scored once in the win.
Jornayvaz and Stirling led the Valiente II attack withfour goals apiece. Chavanne was creditedwith three goals in a losing effort.