Audi leaves skid marks on Orchard Hill in 18-12 romp
By Alex Webbe
Gonzalito Pieres scored four of Audi’s (2-0) first five goals Thursday morning in the 2011 USPA Piaget Gold Cup match before leading his team to a resounding 18-12 win over Orchard Hill (0-2) at the International Polo Club.
“The team that’s going to win this match is the team that uses all four of its players,†prophesized former American 10-goaler Tommy Wayman, and that’s exactly what happened.
After feeling one another out in the opening two chukkers Audi went on a tear.
First chukker goals from Gonzalito Pieres and Brazilian 8-goaler Rodrigo Andrade were countered by goals from Orchard Hill’s Lucas Criado and Pablo MacDonough for a 2-2 tie.
Gonzalito Pieres added three more goals in the second, and Orchard Hill answered with a pair of goals from MacDonough and a goal from teammate Hector Galindo. After two periods of play, the score was deadlocked at 5-5, but that was when Audi took control of the match.
Third chukker action had Audi getting single goals from every member of the team beginning with a beautifully executed near-side shot for a goal from Andrade. MacDonough converted a penalty shot for a goal for Orchard Hill, but the rest of the chukker belonged to Audi. Nico Pieres, Gonzalito’s younger brother, scored his first goal of the game followed by Gonzalito’s fifth goal on the day. Audi team captain Marc Ganzi ended the chukker with a goal, and Audi took a 9-6 halftime lead.
Three straight goals from Audi opened the fourth chukker (two from Gonzalito Pieres, one from Andrade) for a 12-6 lead, but with seconds left in the period, Audi fouled and MacDonough made good on the ensuing penalty shot. Audi led after four chukkers, 12-7.
Fifth chukker goals from Andrade (penalty shot), Gonzalito Pieres and Nico Pieres had Audi ahead, 15-9, with Orchard Hill getting single goals from Criado and MacDonough (penalty shot). Audi stretched its lead to six goals, 15-9.
Two sixth chukker goals from Gonzalito Pieres had Audi in front by eight goals at 17-9 before Orchard Hill managed a rally. Three straight goals from Criado cut the Audi lead to five goals, 17-12, but with time running out, Gonzalito Pieres scored his eleventh goal of the game and put an exclamation mark on Audi’s 18-12 win.
Gonzalito Pieres’s eleven goals led all scoring with Andrade adding three goals and Nico Pieres scoring twice in the victory. Team captain Marc Ganzi scored once.
MacDonough led the Orchard Hill attack with six goals. Criado added five and Galindo scored once.
In late afternoon games, Lechuza (2-0) downed Pony Express, 10-5 and Las Monjitas (2-0) defeated Piaget 16-10.
Piaget Gold Cup action will continue on Saturday with a 1 pm match between Valiente (0-2) and Bendabout (0-2) followed by a 4 pm game between Zacara (2-0) and Crab Orchard (2-0).