Brazil, New Zealand and USA Triumph in the Final Day of Preliminary Matches at the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014
It was crunch time today at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, as polo fans young and old gathered for the final round of preliminary matches to determine which teams to the quarterfinals of the Snow Polo World Cup 2014.
The day’s first match saw Brazil up against Canada. Both teams have recorded one victory from their opening two games; a win today would guarantee qualification. Brazil opened the scoring seconds after the throw-in, Renato Junqueira blazing out of the ruck in a flurry of snow to run the ball between the posts. Canada’s Robert Stenzel made it all square with a 20-yard penalty, and the scores remained tied at the end of a closely fought first chukka.
The play opened up in the second chukka with chances for both sides, Brazil edging it but unable to deliver that final blow. The scores stayed at one goal each going into the third, with Canada coming close to scoring early on, a terrific shot by the number two Brandon Phillips floating inches wide.
A mark of just how competitive the tournament has been so far is the sheer number of games decided by penalty shoot-outs or a single goal. In this case, the latter; Brazil’s Renato Junqueira galloping half a field length and managing to keep control of the ball to pop it over the line seconds before the bell. Jubilation for the Brazilians who go through; Canada’s fate was out of their hands.
The day’s second fixture saw the USA up against a French side turning out to be one of the surprise packages of this Snow Polo World Cup. With two wins out of two, France has already booked their place in the quarterfinals; USA needed a win to avoid going into a penalty shoot-out decider.
A 30-yard penalty for the USA brought about the only goal of a vigorous opening chukka. France’s Brieuc Rigaux stepped on the gas at the start of the second chukka, hurtling goalwards only to push his shot wide. Another let-off came for the USA seconds later as Pierre N’Goumou failed to convert from his breakaway charge. The French pressure did eventually pay off, with Rigaux snatching a loose ball from a throw-in to level the scores at 1 – 1.
A glorious backhand shot from USA’s Del Walton put the Americans in front a minute into the third chukka. USA pulled away with a neat goal from Pelon Escapite and then added a fourth from a penalty. Coming back strongly, French pressure led to two penalty goals, the score 4 – 3 to USA with seconds remaining. In a last-gasp attack, France’s N’Goumou kicked his pony towards the posts but pulled his shot just wide. USA took the points to follow France into the quarterfinal stages.
New Zealand played South Africa in the final preliminary match of the tournament. New Zealand’s two opening games were both decided by penalty shoot-outs with one win; they needed another here to be sure of making the quarterfinals. With two losses it was make or break for South Africa; a win would at least give them a chance for a penalty shoot-out decider.
A goalmouth scramble early on in the chukka saw New Zealand’s Tom Hunt roll the ball over the line to open the scoring. Sam Hopkinson added a second soon after, the New Zealand side camped out in the South Africa goal. A surging counterattack by the South Africans, however, led to a tap in from the spot, to end the chukka 2 – 1 to New Zealand.
A sprightly start by South Africa saw them even the scores in the second chukka, the match on level-pegging going into the final six minutes. South Africa scored again early in the third chukka to nose ahead of the New Zealanders, both nations at full tilt in an end-to-end battle. In the final minute, New Zealand’s Sam Hopkinson
converted a 20-yard penalty to make it 3 – 3 at the bell, and sent the game to penalties.
With both nations converting two of their three penalties it went to sudden death. New Zealand’s Tom Hunt kept his nerve to score the decisive goal, dumping South Africa out of the competition and booking New Zealand a place in the quarterfinals.
At the end of the final day’s polo for the Zone 2 sides, South Africa, with zero points, are eliminated, along with Canada who registered one win while the other four nations on this side of the draw all managed two wins. In Zone 1 decided yesterday, Hong Kong, England and Mexico are through to the quarterfinals, Australia are eliminated, and a penalty shoot-out will decide whether Chile or Spain progress. With so many teams tied on four points, penalty shoot-outs tomorrow will determine the exact billing of the quarterfinal matches.
After a thrilling and closely contested six days of polo, Snow Polo World Cup commentator and former player Mr. Ian McDuie shared his views on the action so far. “This year has been much more evenly matched than previous tournaments, with lots of close games and penalty shoot-outs. I think the countries are now realising what sort of teams they need to compete here at the Snow Polo World Cup.â€
Drawing on 30 years of experience commenting on polo around the world, Mr. McDuie picked out his players of the tournament so far. “Certainly Guillermo Terrera for Hong Kong China – he just gets better and better and he has an amazingly quick polo brain. What he’s able to do is read the game and find space.†McDuie was also impressed with Chile’s Matias Vial. “He’s helped get Chile back into the game a lot, and he’s a very aggressive player.†England’s Jack Richardson was also singled out for praise. “I think England will be very hard to beat, and together with Hong Kong China those two sides remain favourites for the competition.â€
Tomorrow is a rest day as well as featuring the deciding penalty shoot-outs, with the quarterfinals beginning on Wednesday 15 January.
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
Monday, 13 January 2014
Results: Canada vs Brazil 1 – 2
France vs USA 3 – 4
New Zealand vs South Africa 3 (3) – 3 (2)