As was the case in the Bentley Emirates Silver Cup, Habtoor and UAE Polo will clash in the final of the second 18-goal tournament hosted by Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The teams claimed respective wins over Dubai Wolves by CAFU and Abu Dhabi in the semifinals played on Wednesday, March 2.
In the first semifinal, father and son (Habtoor’s Mohammed Al Habtoor, and Dubai Wolves by CAFU’s Habtoor Al Habtoor) went head to head. Habtoor bounced back from a 0-3 disadvantage in the first chukka to take the lead from the second chukka onwards, led by a talented Bautista Bayugar, who was very well supported by Juan Jauretche and Matías Gonzalez. Habtoor managed to hold on to the lead to claim the 7-6 win and secure a place in the final.
The next game got off to a very even first half, until UAE Polo seized the reins to take an impressive 11-8 win against Abu Dhabi. The win secured Sheika Maitha’s organisation a place in the final.
As a result, Habtoor and UAE Polo will go head to head in a final for the second time in this 18-goal season, this time playing for the most coveted trophy of the season in the UAE.
The Gold Cup forms part of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, the most prestigious polo event in Asia and the Middle East, held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The tournament sees eight teams, up to 18 goals, compete.
THE GOLD CUP IS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
GOLD CUP – SEMIFINALES – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2
HABTOOR 7-6 DUBAI WOLVES by CAFU
HABTOOR: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 6, Matías González 4.
DUBAI WOLVES BY CAFU: Habtoor Al Habtoor 1, Alfredo Cappella 8, Toly Ulloa 6, Charles Cooney 3.
Progresión Habtoor: 0-3, 4-3, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6.
Umpires: Tim Bown & Peter Wright.
Third man: Jason Dixon.
Top Scorer: Bautista Bayugar (4 goals).
UAE POLO 11-8 ABU DHABI
UAE POLO: Sheika Maitha 0, Lukin Monteverde 5, Tommy Beresford 6, Jacinto Crotto 7.
ABU DHABI: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Segundo Amadori 4, Jerónimo del Carril 7, Santiago Cernadas 7.
Progresión UAE Polo: 2-2, 4-3, 7-4, 8-7, 11-8.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Jason Dixon
Third man: Tim Bown.
Top scorer: Tomás Beresford (6 goals).
The Gold Cup will come to an end on Saturday March 5, with the finals:
SUBSIDIARY FINAL
2,15pm: AM Polo vs. Zedan.
FINAL GOLD CUP
4,15pm: Habtoor vs. UAE Polo.
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