The 126th Argentine Open, the most important polo tournament in the world, resumed on Wednesday in Palermo. For a third year in a row, ten teams are competing for the prestigious title. Defending champions La Dolfina are playing for their seventh consecutive championship.
Ground two was packed as spectators gathered to watch La Natividad take on Cria Yatay. The Cañuelas-based team didn’t disappoint, playing an attractive match. The game was even until the seventh chukkas, where La Natividad took flight. They went on the attack and secured their second victory of the tournament. They now face Las Monjitas on Sunday.
Next, Ellerstina faced La Albertina Abu Dhabi on ground one. The match was notably tough for the Pieres’ team; they were only able to secure the win at the very end. La Albertina was ahead at several times throughout the match, even taking a five-goal advantage in the fifth chukker. But little by little, Ellerstina began to make a comeback, tahnks to their horse power and their talent. The men in black secured their win with a successful 30-yard penalty conversion.
LA NATIVIDAD 14-10 CRÍA YATAY
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 6 (7 goals, 4 penalties), Matías Torres Zavaleta 7 (1), Bartolomé Castagnola 7 (4), Nachi du Plessis 8 (2). Total: 28.
Cría Yatay: Valerio Zubiaurre 8 (3 goals), Magoo Laprida 8, Joaquín Pittaluga 8 (3 penalties), Iñaki Laprida 8 (4, 1 penalty). Total: 32.
Score La Natividad: 1-2, 2-3, 4-4, 6-5, 8-8, 9-9, 12-10, 14-10.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene and Gastón Lucero.
Third man: Gonzalo López Vargas.
Best Polo Argentino of the match: Latia Ramona (Open Cabernet x Future Rayuela), played by Barto Castagnola.
Nomination: Cabe Claudina (Machitos Chelo x Dolfina Schiffer), played by Camilo Castagnola.
ELLERSTINA JOHOR 13-11 LA ALBERTINA ABU DHABI
Ellerstina Johor: Facundo Pieres 10 (8 goals, 7 penalties), Gonzalo Pieres 9 (1) (injured, replaced by Lucas James 7 at 2:46 of the eight chukker), Polito Pieres 10 (2), Nicolás Pieres 10 (2). Total: 39.
La Albertina Abu Dhabi: Victorino Ruiz Jorba 6 (3 goals), Francisco Elizalde 8, Ignacio Toccalino 8 (5, 2 penalties), Alfredo Cappella Barabucci 8 (3, 2 penalties). Total: 30.
Score Ellerstina Johor: 0-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-7, 6-10, 11-10, 12-10, 13-11.
Umpires: Martín Pascual and Guillermo Villanueva.
Third man: Gastón Lucero.
Best Polo Argentino of the match: Open Guillermina (Optimum x Open Geisha), played by Nicolás Pieres.
Nomination 1: Open Azarenka (Sportivo x Rusita), played by Facundo Pieres.
Nomination 2: Open Mamadera (Ellerstina Pícaro x Open Mama Mia), played by Gonzalo Pieres.
The Argentine Open resumes on Saturday:
2pm: La Dolfina Polo Ranch vs La Irenita
4:30pm: La Dolfina vs La Aguada
126TH ARGENTINE OPEN: Fixture & Teams
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