Mexico, Hong Kong China and England Book their Tickets to the Quarterfinals of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014
Glorious sunshine bathed the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club for the penultimate day of group matches at the Snow Polo World Cup 2014. The first contest saw snow polo newcomers Mexico taking on the powerful Chilean trio. Veteran Mexican Carlos Gracida got the game off to an explosive start with an early goal, the ponies full of running on the crisply pressed snow. Piling on the pressure, Chile forced an equalizer, levelling the scores before the bell.
Early in the second chukka, Chile missed a simple chance in front of the posts. Then from nowhere, Mexico’s Julio Gracida struck a thunderous shot high and long between the posts to put his side in front. Skilful stick work by the Chileans led to Matias Vial putting his name on the score sheet, with the game level at 2 – 2 going into the final chukka.
In a repeat of the opening chukka, Carlos Gracida struck early to put his side back in front. Chile put a penalty wide of the posts but soon recovered, Matias Vial showing excellent composure in front of goal to earn his side a hit from the spot, which he tapped in to level the scores at three goals each.
With a minute left on the clock, the breakthrough came for Mexico. Valerio Aguilar thumped a lofted shot from range that arched high and true between the posts, to the roar of his teammates. Mexico retained possession after the restart and ran down the clock to win 4 – 3, and ensure their progression to the quarterfinals.
The next match was a do-or-die encounter between Australia and Spain, both teams on zero points with the loser certain to be packing their bags. A skittish first chukka saw both sides waste penalties, but it was Spain’s Pascual de Vicuña who broke the deadlock. Australia struck back with two goals in quick succession to put them 2 – 1 in front at the end of the chukka.
The pony of Australia’s John Baillieu blocked a Spanish penalty at the start of the second chukka. The Aussies went for height with their own penalty seconds later, but the ball veered wide. Another exchange of penalties saw both sides convert, with the scores at 3 – 2 to Australia midway through the match. A late equaliser from Spain’s Mario Gomez set up a thrilling final chukka, the scores poised at three goals each.
The penalty exchange continued with both sides adding a fourth goal in an anxious six minutes of polo. Leading a rare charge late in the match, Australia’s John Baillieu galloped the ball toward goal but couldn’t quite steer it home. For a match characterised by penalties, it was perhaps inevitable that this one would go to a shoot-out. It did, with Mario Gomez scoring the decisive goal to give Spain their first points and send Australia back down under.
The final match of the day saw defending champions Hong Kong China against former finalists England. Both teams were on maximum points going into the game, so victory here would be a psychological advantage should these sides meet again in the latter stages of the competition.
England conceded a couple of penalties early in the opening chukka, Hong Kong China’s John Fisher converting one of them to go a goal ahead. Max Charlton evened the odds for England, with little to choose between the sides going into the second chukka.
Hong Kong China camped out in the English goal at the start of the second, John Fisher eventually rolling the ball over the line to put his side ahead. Fisher scored again with a penalty to put daylight between the two sides, but patient approach play by England forced an open goal penalty, the chukka ending advantage Hong Kong China at 3 – 2.
Facundo LLorente converted a fine goal for Hong Kong China to start the final chukka, but aggressive English play won them a goal back, Jack Richardson thumping it between the posts to narrow the scores. LLorente snuffed out England’s fight back however, latching on to a searching ball from Terrera to score the game’s final goal, Hong Kong China triumphing over England by five goals to three.
All six teams in Zone 1 have now played their last of three preliminary games, with Hong Kong China, England and Mexico through to the quarters. Australia has been eliminated, and either Spain or Chile will progress following a penalty shoot-out decider on Tuesday 14 January.
The fate of the teams on the other side of the draw will be decided tomorrow in the final day of preliminary matches. Canada plays Brazil, France takes on the USA, and New Zealand challenges South Africa.
The results so far:
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Results: Hong Kong China vs Spain 6 – 4
Australia vs Chile 0 – 4
England vs Mexico 5 – 1
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Results: New Zealand vs USA 3 (4) – 3 (3)
Canada vs France 3 – 5
Brazil vs South Africa 3 – 2
Friday, 10 January 2014
Results: England vs Australia 4 – 3
Hong Kong China vs Chile 5 – 4
Mexico vs Spain 4 – 3
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Results: South Africa vs France 1 – 2
New Zealand vs Canada 4 (1) – 4 (2)
Brazil vs USA 4 (2) – 4 (3)
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Results: Chile vs Mexico 3 – 4
Australia vs Spain 4 (1) – 4 (2)
Hong Kong China vs England 5 – 3