UAE were crowned champions of the IFZA Silver Cup – their first after four years – following a thrilling victory over AM Polo. The championship match took place at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, the venue of the Dubai Gold Cup Series, and had two very different halves. Indeed, Alia Al Maktoum’s lineup were the dominant force thoroghout the first three chukkas of play, stepping into half time with a comfortable 7-4 lead.
But from the fourth chukka onwards, things would change completely. UAE earned a crucial gap in by outscoring AM 4-0. However, in a naibiting fifth and final chukka, it was Isidro Strada – who provided a spectacular performance – who tied the scores, through a 40-yards penalty conversion. UAE’s Tommy Beresford and AM’s Benjamin Urquiza exchanged goals in order to maintain the scoreboard tied, until Beresford sealed the deal with a 60-yards penalty conversion in the last minutes in regulation time, to secure Sheikha Maitha’s team the win and the title. It is worth noting that Sheikha Maitha was unable to play the final.
THE DUBAI SILVER CUP WAS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
Dubai Silver Cup, fINALS
FINAL DUBAI SILVER CUP: UAE POLO 10-9 AM POLO
UAE Polo Team: Faisal Yabroudi 0, Lukin Monteverde 6 (4 goals), Mín Podestá 7 (2), Tommy Beresford 7 (4). Total: 20.
AM Polo Team: Sheikha Alia Al Maktoum 0, César Crespo 6 (1 goal), Isidro Strada 8 (6), Benjamin Urquiza 6 (2). Total: 20.
Score UAE Polo: 0-4, 3-5, 4-7, 8-7, 10-9.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene & Peter Wright. Third man: Jason Dixon.
MVP: Isidro Strada.
BPP: Nobu. Player: Mín Podestá.
BPP awarded by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: El Overo Sensata. Player: Lukin Monteverde.
The awards were presented by Martin Pedersen, Chairman of IFZA, and by the President of the UAE Polo Federation, Saeed Bin Drai.
FINAL SUBSIDIARY CUP: HABTOOR POLO 7-6 DUBAI WOLVES BY CAFU
Habtoor: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Matt Perry 5, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 7. Total: 20.
Dubai Wolves by CAFU: Habtoor Al Habtoor 1, Toly Ulloa 6, Teodoro Lacau 6, Jacinto Crotto 7. Total: 20.
Score Habtoor: 1-1, 3-2, 4-4, 5-6, 7-6.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene & Jason Dixon. Third man: Peter Wright.
Action for the Dubai Gold Cup Series will resume next week, with the Dubai Gold Cup, that will see eight teams up to 20 goals.
DUBAI SILVER CUP: Fixture & Teams