The 127th Argentine Open saw a historic family affair on the first match played on Wednesday, December 9, as La Irenita and La Irenita II, representing the Mac Donough organisation, went head to head. Result aside, the match was a moving tribute to the unforgettable Jorge Mac Donough, a renowned horse breeder and the founder of the family organisation, whose legacy is continued today by his sons, Matías and Pablo.
The first half was very close, with few goals–only six in four chukka–as La Irenita led 4-2, despite the efforts made by both teams attempting to score more. A great fifth chukka followed. Tito Ruiz Guiñazu and Pedro Falabella converted two great goals to tie the match 4-all. That was followed by another quick goal by Santiago Loza to give La Irenita II their first advantage (5-4). But in the last seconds, Juan Gris Zavaleta tied the contest once again, 5-5. La Irenita pushed back in the seventh chukka, scoring to make it 8-5. While Tomás Fernández Llorente scored a goal for La Irenita II, luck was not on their side, and La Irenita took the 8-6 win. The victory was much needed as it increases their chances of maintaining their place among the top eight teams in the 2021 Triple Crown.
Up next, a killer of a match followed as defending champions La Dolfina Saudi took on RS Murus Sanctus. For both, a win meant the possibility of fighting for a spot in the final in their next upcoming match. La Dolfina got off a strong start, and over the first two chukkas, Adolfo Cambiaso converted all his penalty shots, securing a 5-2 lead by the end of the second chukka. The first half was very rough, hard fought, with plenty of fouls, with almost all goals were scored on penalty conversions. But before stepping into half time RS Murus Sanctus managed to hold La Dolfina scoreless–a penalty conversion by Facu Sola closed the gap down to one goal, and a fantastic field shot by Fran Elizalde, ended up between the goalposts in the last seconds of play, to tie the match 6-all.
While La Dolfina managed to hold on to their lead, RS Murus Sanctus fought hard. Following a fifth chukka with plenty of goals, and as La Dolfina lead by two (10-8), RS Murus Sanctus were able to tie the match 10-10 halfway through the sixth chukka, courtesy of Alfredo Cappella and Sapo Caset. With two chukkas remaining, it was all to play for. Pablo Mac Donough scored for La Dolfina, but Fran Elizalde scored another great field goal, and Sapo Caset scored a 30-yard penalty to give RS Murus Sanctus a one goal lead (12-11). Juan Martín Nero converted a penalty from the spot in the eighth chukka to tie the game 12-all, and quickly added a field goal to put some distance between their opponents with just three minutes remaining on the clock. But RS Murus Sanctus were far from giving up. Sapo Caset scored once again, and finally, Fran Elizalde sealed the deal, scoring a fantastic goal to become the hero of the day. RS Murus Sanctus broke La Dolfina’s winning streak of 34 undefeated matches at Palermo, and claimed a fabulous 14-13 win.
Now, we have to wait and see what happens on Saturday. Only then will we know who will qualify for the final. These are the options, if RS Murus Sanctus beats La Irenita:
-If La Natividad Las Monjitas defeat La Dolfina, La Natividad Las Monjitas will qualify for the final.
-If La Dolfina defeat La Natividad Las Monjitas by two goals or more, La Dolfina will qualify for the final.
-If La Dolfina beat La Natividad Las Monjitas by only one goal and score 13 goals or more, La Dolfina will reach the final.
-If La Dolfina beat La Natividad Las Monjitas by 1 goal and score 12 goals or less, RS Murus Sanctus will qualify for the final.
LA IRENITA 8-6 LA IRENITA II
La Irenita: Martín Podestá 7 (1 goal) (received a yellow card in the seventh chukka), Juan Martín Zavaleta 8 (2), Facundo Fernández Llorente 7 (2), Juan Martín Zubía 8 (3 penalties). Total: 30.
La Irenita II: Santiago Loza 7 (2) (received a yellow card in the seventh chukka), Tomás Fernández Llorente Jr. 7 (3 penalties), Juan Ruiz Guiñazú 8 (1) (received one yellow card in the secon chukka), Pedro Falabella (h) 7. Total: 29.
Score La Irenita: 0-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5, 8-6.
Umpires Matías Baibiene & Gonzalo López Vargas.
Third Man: Esteban Ferrari.
BPP Polo Argentino: Irenita Gaviota (Open Easy Ride x Irenita Golondrina. Player: Santiago Loza.
Nominees:
Emezeta Cocinera (Open Abelino x Gete Pinga), played by Juan Martín Zubía.
Irenita Maya (Dolfina Cuarteto x Irenita Milenaria), played by Martín Podestá-
RS MURUS SANCTUS 14-13 LA DOLFINA SAUDI
RS Murus Sanctus: Facundo Sola 9 (1 penalty) (received a yellow card in the third chukka), Francisco Elizalde 8 (4), Guillermo Caset 10 (7, five penalties) (received a yellow card in the seventh chukka), Alfredo Cappella Barabucci 8 (2) (received a yellow card in the fifth chukka). Total: 35.
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (7, five penalties), David Stirling 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10 (1), Juan M Nero 10 (5, four penalties). Total: 40.
Score RS Murus Sanctus: 0-3, 2-5, 4-6, 6-6, 8-10, 10-10, 12-11, 14-13.
Umpires: Guillermo Villanueva (h) & Martín Pascual.
Third Man: Gastón Lucero.
The 127th Argentine Polo Open resumes on Thursday, December 10:
12pm: La Dolfina Polo Ranch vs. Los Machitos
5pm: Ellerstina vs. La Ensenada La Aguada
127° ARGENTINE POLO OPEN: Fixture & Teams
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