The final league matches of the 2025 edition of the Cartier Queen’s Cup took place on Wednesday 4th June, with both games going into extra time.
Match 1:
First up was La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal in action against Jean Paul Luksic’s Gaston Polo Team. Spectators and viewers of the livestream could have been forgiven for a déjà vu moment as La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal delivered an almost carbon copy of their previous game. They were trailing 9-7 at the end of the fifth chukka but went on to win this match 11-10 in overtime! Once again Poroto Cambiaso switched up a gear in the sixth chukka, effortlessly taking the ball through traffic and firing through goals. Gonzalo Ferrari and Sapo Caset worked tirelessly to keep Gaston Polo Team ahead – the distinctive blue helmet of Caset appearing everywhere at speed – but it proved impossible to stop La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal’s number four. The seventh chukka, the seventh overtime of the tournament, was fast and furious. Gaston won a penalty from almost on the boards but despite a huge hit from Cruz Heguy, it went wide. Cambiaso had the next opportunity and fired through a field goal, tap tap tapping the ball on his way to the flags!
Match 2:
The final league match of the tournament, Park Place versus Ojo Caliente, made equally gripping viewing. It was fast, furious and fabulous to watch. These teams were so evenly matched that there was never more than a goal between them. It was 8-8 at the start of the sixth, but as both Hilario Ulloa and Facundo Sola converted a penalty each, the game headed into extra time. The eighth overtime of the competition. This was a frenetic, yet wonderful extra chukka, with teams racing up and down The Queen’s Ground. A couple of minutes in and it was still anyone’s game – it was more a question of which team could avoid a penalty. Suddenly the action was all down at the Clubhouse end, the location of the Ojo Caliente goal. After a tight melee which seemed to involve every player on the field, Rufino Bensadon scored the winner for Park Place. This not only won them the match but earned Park Place a ticket into a three-way penalty shootout to decide the final qualifying team for the quarter-finals. Ulloa, Barto Castagnola (Desert Palm) and Sola lined up to take the penalties on The Queen’s Ground immediately after the Park Place/Ojo Caliente game was completed. Park Place won this contest too, thanks to Ulloa’s sharp shooting. He was the only player to successfully convert all four shots. His skill ensures Park Place’s hopes remain alive as they are now through to this weekend’s quarter-finals where they will play La Dolfina/Scone in the first test on Saturday.
Cartier Queen’s Cup Quarter-Finals
Saturday 7 June
12.00: La Dolfina/Scone v Park Place at Les Lions
15.00: Dubai v UAE Polo Team at Guards Polo Club
Sunday 8 June
12.00: La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal v Sujan Indian Tigers at Noel Farm
15.00: King Power v Aureus at Guards Polo Club
All games of the Queens’s Cup can be seen here
Polocam.tv – Quality Streaming Service
Image credit Pablo Ramirez