The penultimate qualifying stage of the Ghantoot International Polo Club was held on Friday February 28, with a double matchdate at Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that saw Ghantoot victorious and already through the final.
The first game featured the clash of the undefeated between UAE and Ghantoot; the winner would advance to the decisive match. After two chukkas with only one goal produced by UAE’s Lukin Monteverde, Ghantoot took off halfway the contest; they bounced back and took the lead. The remaining chukkas were very close and hard fought, but at the end of the day, and with only five seconds to go, it was Gonzalo Ferrari who secured Ghantoot the win and the first ticket to the final.
Habtoor and title holders, Abu Dhabi came next. Both lost their debut games, so they went head-to-head in search for a much needed win to maintain the hopes to reach the final. Habtoor had a better start, widening their lead quickly; however, Abu Dhabi was far from giving up. In the last seconds of the game, Aiti Garros scored to tie the scores and sent the contest to an extra chukka. But Habtoor’s Bautista Bayugar was ready to pick the ball, run quickly to the goalposts and left the deal said and done, leaving Abu Dhabi out of competition and as a consequence, Habtoor and UAE will fight for the second spot in the final.
The last league games will take place through March 4 and March 5, with the following order of play:
Abu Dhabi vs Ghantoot
Habtoor vs UAE
THE GHANTOOT INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP IS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV HERE.