Thai Polo wins the 16–Goal Royal Pahang Classic at Royal Pahang Polo Club

Thai Polo wins the 16-Goal Royal Pahang Classic at Royal Pahang Polo Club

Thai Polo came from behind to defeat home favourites KotaSAS-IBIL 8-7 with a goal in sudden death overtime.

Julian Sagarna scored the winner a minute into the sudden death chukka to give Dato’ Harald Link’s Thai Polo the win the 16-goal Royal Pahang International.

The match started very evenly with both team trading goals in the early chukkas.  In the latter part of the second chukka KotaSAS-IBIL drew away with Manuel Crespo and Frankie Menendez taking charge of the game.

Thai Polo had come back from 6-3 down at half-time.  They regrouped and Raul Laplacette gave Carlos Pando more of an attacking role.  Midway through the third chukka Thai Polo got a goal to make it 4-6.

HRH Tengku Amir and Dato’ Zekri were being worked very hard by Dato’ Harald Link and Julian Sagarna.  KotaSAS-IBIL were finally pegged back at 6-6 in the final chukka but almost immediately a Crespo goal made it 7-6 in KotaSAS-IBIL’s favour again.

With just over a minute to go and a penalty from midfield to KotaSAS-IBIL, it looked all over for Thai Polo.  But Carlos Pando managed to steal the ball and ran all the way up the field to level the scores and take the match to the 2nd bell and then to the sudden death supplementary chukka.

In the extra chukka it Thai Polo who got possession from the throw-in.  Raul Laplacette tried to find Carlos Pando but it was Julian Sagarna who got the ball.  He was surrounded by players but managed to keep his cool and slot it through for the win.

HRH Tengku Puan gave away the prizes to the five participating teams in the Royal Pahang International. Dato’ Harald Link accepted the trophy on behalf of Thai Polo.