Saturday, March 5, was a very special day for UAE Polo. Not only were they able to vindicate their loss in the Bentley Emirates Silver Cup, but because the win was a spectacular win for HH Sheikha Maitha on her birthday.It was a hard fought contest, but UAE Polo claimed a 9-8 win over Habtoor to win the Gold Cup, the most coveted trophy in the Middle East, at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This is the third time UAE win the Gold Cup. They finished the competition unbeaten, maintaining that they are one of the strongest polo organisations, not only in the Middle East, but also in England and Argentina. The organisation is led by the legendary Lucas Monteverde.
Both UAE Polo and Habtoor had a remarkable tournament, and the final was very hard fought, as expected. Following consecutive ties in the two first chukkas, UAE Polo managed to take a narrow advantage in the two next, but Habtoor were hot on their heels. With UAE Polo leading by two in the last, Habtoor scored a couple of goals – the last converted by Bautista Bayugar to tie the game 8-all with only 30 seconds left in regulation time. The match went into extra chukka. Halfway through, Tommy Beresford secured the ball, scoring to seal the win for UAE Polo and the coveted Gold Cup title.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the trophy to the winners. Tomás Beresford, the top scorer of the match, was named MVP, while Brillante, ridden by Bautista Bayugar, took BPP honors.
Prior to the final, Zedan, led by an outstanding Tomás Panelo, who scored nine goals, defeated AM Polo 11-9 to win the Subsidiary Auto Millenium Cup.
The tournament saw eight teams up to 18 goals, compete.
The Gold Cup, the culminating moment of the season hosted by Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, 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 GOLD CUP WAS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
GOLD CUP – FINALS – SATURDAY, MARCH 5:
SUBSIDIARY AUTO MILLENIUM CUP:
ZEDAN 11-9 AM POLO
ZEDAN: Amr Zedan 0, Tomás Panelo 7, Manuel Plaza 6, Gonzalo Ferrari 5.
AM POLO: Sheikha Alia 0, Pablo Urquiza 4, Benjamín Urquiza 6, Alejandro Muzzio 8.
Score Zedan: 2-2, 5-4, 8-6, 9-7, 11-9.
Top scorer: Tomás Panelo (9 goals)
GOLD CUP:
UAE POLO 9-8 HABTOOR (EXTRA CHUKKA)
UAE POLO: Sheika Maitha 0, Lukin Monteverde 5, Tommy Beresford 6, Jacinto Crotto 7.
HABTOOR: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 6, Matías González 4.
Score UAE Polo: 2-2, 3-3, 5-4, 7-6, 8-8, 9-8.
MVP: Tomás Beresford.
Top Scorer: Tomás Beresford (5 goals).
BPP: Brillante (ridden by Bautista Bayugar).
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