Relentless Murus Sanctus Attack Leads to Victory Over Vikings
The sixth day of the 2021 Gold Cup for the British Open Championship began with a closely contested match between Murus Sanctus and Vikings at Manor Farm. Heavily outshooting Vikings, Murus Sanctus produced just enough scoring chances to capture the 9-8 victory and their first win of the tournament.
Holding the possession advantage through the match, Murus Sanctus produced 25 shots compared to just eight for Vikings, but despite the large shot difference, Vikings were able to challenge Murus Sanctus into the final seconds. Executing a two-man game, Sapo Caset and Facundo Sola produced a consistent attack, but converted just 32% of their attempts. Vikings’ Juan Martin Zubia led his team with five goals, including 3 for 4 penalty shooting, but despite Vikings’ best effort to overcome the disparity in possession, they were unable to pull even during the final chukka in the 9-8 defeat.
Striking first on a pass from Sola, Caset opened the scoring for Murus Sanctus, but the remainder of the first chukka belonged to Vikings. Producing back-to-back goals, Zubia led the offensive push from Vikings, collecting a goal and an assist to give his team the 2-1 lead. The second and third chukkas proved to be indicative of the rest of the match as Murus Sanctus continued to produce opportunities around goal, shooting at goal twelve times compared to just two from Vikings, but were only able to convert three. Held without a field goal during that stetch, Vikings kept the score tied at 4-4 after two penalty conversions from Zubia.
The constant pressure of Murus Sanctus’ attack began to pay off at the start of the second half as they built a two-goal lead thanks to the performance of Sola. Scoring all three of his team’s goals in the chukka, Sola’s accuracy pushed Murus Sanctus forward while Vikings’ only response came from a field goal by Sebastian Merlos. With Murus Sanctus continuing to hold the possession advantage, Vikings needed to take advantage of each opportunity they created and were able to do so in the fifth chukka, pulling within one goal after two goals and an assist from Zubia. Presented with an opportunity to tie the game, a missed Penalty 3 sailed wide for Vikings, allowing Murus Sanctus to keep their lead in a scoreless sixth chukka and claim the 9-8 victory.
Scone Complete Astounding Comeback to Defeat Park Place
The much-anticipated match between Scone and Park Place in the Gold Cup for the British Open Championship provided a dramatic finish on the Lawns Ground at Cowdray Park Polo Club. Trailing 7-2 entering the fifth chukka, Scone came all the way back to even, sending the game into overtime where Isidro Strada scored the golden goal to complete the impressive comeback for the 9-8 victory.
Held without a field goal in the opening half, Scone faced a significant deficit on the scoreboard after a dominant 5-0 opening chukka in favour of Park Place. However, after the slow start, the Adolfo Cambiaso-led defense held Park Place to just three goals the rest of the way, allowing Scone to fight their way back in the final stages of the match. Facundo Pieres and Will Harper contributed three goals each for Park Place as they had their sights set on a second victory but the accurate penalty shooting from Strada, converting all four of his attempts in the final two chukkas, spearheaded Scone’s impressive comeback that was completed in overtime for the memorable 9-8 win.
Receiving one goal on handicap, Park Place dominated the first seven minutes of play, racing out to a 5-0 lead that left the Scone team stunned. Led by the play of 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, Park Place scored in a variety of ways with Pieres adding two goals from the field and one penalty conversion, while Harper also added his first goal of the game. Held scoreless for the second consecutive chukka to begin the game, Scone’s attack was contained by Park Place’s defensive effort, but luckily Park Place were also kept off the scoreboard, leaving the difference at five. A Penalty 4 conversion for Adolfo Cambiaso finally ended the drought for Scone, but it was quickly matched by Harper’s second goal, resulting in a stunning 6-1 lead for Park Place entering halftime.
Attempting to extend their lead further, Park Place exited halftime by continuing to push forward and attack the Scone defense. Producing six shots at goal, Park Place had their opportunities to take a commanding lead, but one goal from Juan Britos was all they could produce, leaving Scone with a glimmer of hope as they continued to trail by five goals. A Penalty 2 conversion for Strada opened the scoring in the fifth chukka, but Park Place seemingly maintained control as another three minutes ticked off the clock and they remained ahead by four. A field goal for Strada was quickly followed by a foul on the following throw-in that resulted in a penalty conversion for Scone and in an instant, the dynamic of the game changed, and Scone trailed by just two. Adding another penalty conversion for his fourth goal of the chukka, Scone completed the impressive comeback, tying the game at 7-all at the end of the fifth chukka. The game remained tied throughout most of the sixth chukka as a safety for Strada with five minutes left was the last goal of regulation, sending the game into overtime. Winning a throw-in close to the Park Place goal in the first seconds of the extra chukka, Strada ran straight to goal and sent the ball through the posts to begin Scone’s celebration of their astounding comeback to capture the 9-8 victory.