By Alejandra Ocampo
Valiente and Coca Cola emerged as winners following the twomgames of the USPA Gold Cup, that took place at International Polo Club Palm Beach, on Sunday.
In the day’s opener, Valiente took a 14-10 win over Orchard Hill, in a very close contest, that was determined in the two last chukkers.
Although Valiente always remained in the lead, Orchard Hill kept their pressure. Bob Jornayvaz’s foursome displayed a perfect team play, while Steve van Andel’s team relied on their leading man, Facundo Pieres, who scored the ten goals for the black jerseys.
Valiente outscored Orchard Hill 3-1 in the fifth chukker, which meant that they had a 13-9 lead when the last chukker started. Both teams scored one goal apiece in those last seven minutes of play, and by the end of the day, Valiente claimed their second consecutive win.
Score Valiente: 2-1, 4-5, 7-5, 10-8, 13-9, 14-10
Scorers:
Valiente: Diego Cavanagh 5, Matias Torres Zavaleta 5, Adolfo Cambiaso 3
Orchard Hill: Facundo Pieres 10
A continuación, Coca Cola derrotó a Audi por 11 a 8. Arrancó muy fuerte Coca Cola, con cuatro goles consecutivos de Julián de Lusarreta, para cerrar el primer chukker 4 a 1 (Gonzalito Pieres descontó para Audi).
El partido se puso parejo en los dos chukkers siguientes, cuando Audi consiguió remontar, para lograr una ventaja de 6 a 5 en el half time.
Up next, Coca Cola defeated Audi 11-8. Coca Cola had a stronger start, with an early 4-1 lead in the first chukker, following consecutive goals by Julián de Lusarreta. Gonzalito Pieres scored Audi’s single goal.
Audi leveled the match in the next two chukkers. They cut the margin to one goal in the second chukker, and took a tight 6-5 lead by half time.
But a determined Coca Cola foursome were about to change the situation in the following two chukkers. They managed to hold Audi scoreless in the fourth and fifth and with only seven minutes remaining, Coca Cola led the scores 10-6.
Despitr Audi outscored Coca Cola 2-1 in the sixth chukker, everything was said and done, and Coca Cola took a very important win hime.
Score Coca Cola: 4-1, 5-4, 5-6, 9-6, 10-6, 11-8
Scorers:
Coca Cola: Julián de Lusarreta 6, Miguel Novillo Astrada 2, Julio Arellano 1, Gillian Johnston 1
Audi: Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 4, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 2, Tomás Pieres 2
The semifinals of the USPA Gold Cup are due on Wednesday March 22, times yet TBA. The matchups are as follows: valiente (2-0) vs. Audi (0-2) and Coca Cola (1-1) vs. Orchard Hill (1-1). The winners will qualify to the final.