By Alejandra Ocampo
The clash of the Sheikhas is coming up – Sheikha Alia’s AM/UAE and Sheikha Maitha’s UAE, are through the final of the Standard Chartered Gold Cup, the most important tournament of the Gold Cup Series, the most prestigious polo event in Asia and the Middle East, hosted by Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.
AM/UAE defeated Ghantoot 11 a 8, while UAE took a 9-8 win over Zedan. Both were thrilling semifinal games, and even the second was decided in extra chukka. In addition, UAE, runner up of the Silver Cup, will have the opportunity to retain the title they won last year.
The first semifinal kicked off with a great neckshot goal by Santiago Cernadas to give AM/UAE a 1-0 lead in the first chukka. However, Ghantoot followed them closely, so the score was very leveled in the first two chukkas.
But Sheikha Alia and her boys were about to change the story in a fantastic third chukka. Jacinto Crotto and Santiago Cernadas proved to be a lethal combination, and overwhelmed Ghantoot – they outscored them 5-0, which meant that the scoreboard read a 8-4 advantage for AM/UAE by half time.
The match had changed completely, and it was very hard for Ghantoot to swallow that unexpected bucket of cold water. And despite Ghantoot never gave up, commanded by their leading man, Marcos Araya, the damage was already done. AM/UAE’s three strong professionals – Santiago Cernadas, Nacho Acuña and Jacinto Crotto, combined to shut any attempt from their rivals. Following a goal by Acuña in the fifth chukka, Ali Al Merri and Pablo Llorente scored for Ghantoot, but all was said and done. The biggest surprise of the Gold Cup, AM/UAE, were already in the championship match.
There was much expectation about the second semifinal, that would have two of the strongest organisations of the Middle East on the ground – title holders, UAE and Zedan. And, definetly, no one were dissappointed.
The first half was very balanced; Zedan managed to maintain a very tight lead; by half time they were 5-4 up, and widened that advantage to 7-5 at the end of the fourth chukka.
But drama was about to come in the last chukka. And blame it on Tomás Beresford, who found the flags to close the gap to one goal. Zedan replied quickly through a 40-yards penalty converted by Santiago Laborde, to re-gain the two goal advantage. But UAE kept pushing. Beresford scored once again and with seconds remaining in regulation time, he came back to the goalposts to tie at 8-all and send the match into extra chukka. That’s when UAE’s very own Tomás, Panelo, sealed the deal and got UAE the ticket to the final.
The finals of the Gold Cup (Dubai Open) are set for Friday, March 6:
2pm, Bentley Cup Final: Habtoor vs Abu Dhabi
4PM, STANDARD CHARTERED GOLD CUP FINAL: AM UAE VS UAE POLO
ALL GOLD CUP MATCHES ARE STREAMED LIVE VIA POLOLINE TV.
AM/UAE 11 vs. GHANTOOT 8
AM/UAE: HH Sheikha Alya 0, Jacinto Crotto 7 (3 goals, 1 penalty) Santiago Cernadas 7 (6, 4 penalties), Nacho Acuña 4 (2).
GHANTOOT: Ali Al Merri 1 (1), Marcos Araya 7 (5, 1 penal), Marcos Panelo 4 (1), Pablo Llorente 6 (1).
Score AM/UAE: 1-2, 3-4, 8-4, 10-6, 11-8.
UAE 9 vs. ZEDAN 8
UAE: HH Sheikha Maitha 0, Benjamin Panelo 4 (2), Tomás Panelo 6 (1) , Tomás Beresford 6 (6, 4 penlaty).
ZEDAN: Amr Zedan 0 (2), Santiago Laborde 6 (5, 3 penalties), Manuel Plaza de Ayala 6 (1), Juan Jauretche 6.
Score UAE: 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 5-7, 8-8, 9-8.
IMAGES:
Semifinals, by Ana Clara Cozzi
REWATCH:
The Gold Cup, the most important tournament of Asia and the Middle East, was established in 2009. Over the last decade, the competition has become one of the most prestigious of the international polo calendar. The Gold Cup also awards points for the WPT Championship Cup category of the World Polo Tour.
STANDARD CHARTERED GOLD CUP: TEAMS AND FIXTURES