Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2015 – Day 4
Chile and France Go Through, USA Victory and Mexico and Spain in Trouble
Packed weekend crowds descended on the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club to cheer the six teams in action on day four of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2015, but especially the red jerseys of home side Hong Kong China, up against in-form France in what promised to be a thrilling clash.
But the first match of the day saw Chile take on Mexico. True to form, it was Chile who started the brightest. Number two Martin Zegers got his side off the mark following lively running by Alejandro Vial, with Ignacio Vial Mazieres adding a second from the penalty spot after three minutes. Two more Chilean goals followed without reply, Mexico yet to stage a convincing attack.
Martin Zegers and Alejandro Vial combined for Chile’s fifth a minute after the restart. Mexico were desperate for a spark of inspiration and they found it courtesy of Diego Solorzano, who scored an absolute belter from the boards to get his team off the mark. Would it stem the Chilean tide? Alejandro Vial thought otherwise, causally trotting in his second of the game to make it 6 – 1 at the midpoint of the chukka. A Chilean penalty miss then went punished by Mexico, Carlos Hernandez galloping after an over hit pass and managing to backhand the ball through the posts from the tightest of angles.
Mexico threw the kitchen sink at the Chileans in the final chukka, but the red-shirted defence stood firm, Martin Zegers snatching another on the counterattack. It was a much more positive display from the Mexicans in the final minutes, but the damage had already been done, the score at the bell 7 – 2. Chile have booked their place in the knockout stages; Mexico need a win against Spain on Monday to stand any chance of progression.
The second of the day’s games promised fireworks, with two time Snow Polo World Cup Champions Hong Kong China against France. The first chukka didn’t disappoint, Hong Kong China’s Juan Britos thwacking his side into an early lead. A valiant charge at goal from France’s Patrick Primael Paillol was capped off with a clinical strike inside the post to tie the scores at a goal each. Further French pressure resulted in a penalty, Brieuc Rigaux making no mistake from thirty yards. Desperate French defending kept out Hong Kong China’s Pablo Juaretche seconds before the bell; advantage France going into the second chukka leading 2 – 1.
But France couldn’t turn their early pressure into goals in the second, and as time ticked away Hong Kong China saw more of the ball, John Fisher thumping home a penalty three to even the odds. Clement Delfosse replied with a well-worked team goal, but their lead was wiped out again by another clinical Fisher penalty. The Hong Kong China veteran then made it three from the spot, but France’s Patrick Primael Paillol snatched a goal back with a second left on the clock to tie the scores at four each.
The third chukka belonged to France, with two more goals for Brieuc Rigaux and one for Patrick Primael Paillol without reply. 7 – 4 the final score, with France through to the quarterfinals. Hong Kong China may need a result from their final group game against Chile.
The last match of day four was a high stakes contest, as both Spain and USA had failed to win their opening matches. The USA scored the only goal of a tense first chukka as both sides sized one another up, Tommy Biddle Jr. nudging his penalty two comfortably between the posts.
The USA’s Mike Azzaro stunned Spain with a fine early goal to start the second chukka, and Tommy Biddle Jr. put another score on the board seconds later from the penalty spot. Trailing three goals to nothing at the halfway stage, Spain struggled to get themselves into the game despite strong running from Juan Marambio. Finally they had their first score, Santiago Marambio making his penalty two count. The Spanish fight back was short lived, however, Mike Azzaro and Tommy Biddle Jr. linking superbly for the USA’s fourth at the 30-second bell.
Trailing 4 – 1, Spain had everything to do in the final chukka, but it was the USA’s Delmer Walton who scored first. A positive Spanish fight back won them a penalty which Santiago Marambio slotted home. Tommy Biddle Jr. missed with a penalty of his own, and Juan Marambio made him pay by finding teammate Pelayo Berazardi with a mighty pass, the Spanish player tapping it in from close range. Santiago Marambio then scored again to close the gap to a single goal at the 30 second bell, and, in a breathless half minute, Pelayo Berazardi came within a whisker of levelling the scores. His shot arched wide, however, and USA took the spoils, winning by five goals to four. Hard luck for Spain, who face a potential wooden spoon clash with Mexico in their final game next week.
Coming up tomorrow, the deciding group games in Zone 1, with Argentina against Canada, New Zealand playing Peru, and England taking on Brazil.