Dubai misses out to Zacara
By Antje Derks
What an amazing tournament the Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup is turning out to be. The eighteen teams entered are displaying magnificent, close-run polo, making it hard to predict this year’s eventual winner. So far, four matches have ended in a sudden death seventh chukka, and today (Friday’s) match between Dubai and Zacara was no exception.
Dubai started without Adolfo Cambiaso, fielding a team consisting of Tariq Albwardy, Christian Laprida, Juan Ambroggio and Nicholas Roldan. Adolfo is currently resting after pulling a riding muscle. It remains to be seen when he returns to the saddle.
Despite scoring the opening goal, and ending the first chukka 2 – 1 in front, Dubai looked decidedly shaky, fouling often and not really connecting as a team. Zacara, with in-form players Ignacio Toccalino and Eduardo Novillo Astrada, took full advantage, leading 4 – 2 by the end of the second period.
Dubai started the third chukka meaning business, but weren’t quite able to convert their chances. By half-time Zacara maintained their lead. A pep talk during the break obviously inspired Dubai, as they returned all guns blazing. Zacara initially managed to extend their lead by two goals, but some great play by Roldan , Laprida and Ambroggio meant Dubai were leading 7 – 6 going into the fifth chukka.
The fifth and sixth chukkas saw the lead see-sawing between the two teams. By the final bell of the sixth chukka both Dubai and Zacara were tied at 9 – 9. The players re-mounted for the start of the seventh chukka, looking for a “golden goalâ€. Nerves meant that players on each side missed opportunities to win the match. The eventual winner came from Santiago Laborde mid-way through the chukka. The final scores: Zacara 11, Dubai 10.