Reigning champions Habtoor Polo will take on 2019 winners UAE Polo in the final of the Bentley Emirates Silver Cup. The tournament forms part of the Gold Cup Series, the most important polo event in Asia and the Middle East. Both teams qualified for the final after their respective semifinal victories against AM Polo and Zedan on Wednesday, February 3, at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tournament sees seven teams, up to 18 goals, compete.
First up, Habtoor Polo gained a narrow advantage over AM Polo in the first chukka. AM Polo took a short lived lead in the second, but by half time, the score was tied 4-all thanks to penalty conversions by Benjamin Urquiza. Habtoor Polo made an impressive comeback in the fourth, outscoring AM Polo 4-1 to earn a 8-5 advantage. They widened the difference in the last chukka to claim 10-6 win and the first place in the final. Habtoor Polo’s talented Bautista Bayugar was the top scorer of the match.
UAE Polo and Zedan went head to head in the second semifinal. Following a 1-all tie in the first chukka, UAE Polo took a narrow 4-3 lead in the second, with goals by Tommy Beresford and Sheikha Alia, who once again subbed in for Sheikha Maitha. But Zedan replied quickly: Tomás Panelo and Gonzalo Ferrari showed their skills to tie the game 6-all at half time. This was followed by another tie (9-9). Zedan took a two goal lead at the start of the last chukka, but Tommy Beresford’s accuracy converting penalties tied the match 11-all with just a few minutes left on the clock. A 60-yard penalty was then awarded to UAE Polo. The shot went wide, but Sheikha Alia who picked up the ball to score and claim victory for UAE. They will now face Habtoor Polo in the final.
BENTLEY EMIRATES SILVER CUP – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
SEMIFINAL #1:
HABTOOR POLO 10-6 AM POLO
HABTOOR POLO: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 6, Matías González 4.
AM POLO: Sheikha Alia 0, Pablo Urquiza 4, Benjamín Urquiza 6, Alejandro Muzzio 8.
Score Habtoor Polo: 1-0, 2-3, 4-4, 8-5, 10-6.
Top Scorer: Bautista Bayugar (5 goals).
Umpires: Tim Bown & Peter Wright.
Third man: Jason Dixon.
SEMIFINAL #2:
UAE POLO 12-11 ZEDAN
UAE POLO: Sheika Maitha 0 *, Lukin Monteverde 5, Tommy Beresford 6, Jacinto Crotto 7.
*Subbed in by Sheikha Alia 0
ZEDAN: Amr Zedan 0, Tomás Panelo 7, Manuel Plaza 6, Gonzalo Ferrari 5.
Score UAE Polo: 1-1, 4-3, 6-6, 9-9, 12-11.
Top Scorer: Tommy Beresford (7 goals)
Umpires: Tim Bown & Jason Dixon.
Third man: Peter Wright.
Habtoor and UAE will play the final of the Bentley Emirates Silver on Saturday, February 5. Prior to the final, Bangash Dodson & Horrel and Dubai Wolves by CAFU will go head-to-head for the Subsidiary Hildon Cup.
IMAGES:
Bentley Emirates Silver Cup – Semifinals
THE BENTLEY EMIRATES SILVER CUP IS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV HERE.
BENTLEY EMIRATES SILVER CUP: Fixture & Teams