The UAE National Day Cup 2020, held in honour of the country’s 49th year of the Spirit of the Union, had seven teams compete on the fields of Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club. The Qualifying matches resulted into a Subsidiary Final between Mahra Polo and Ankora Polo; and AM Polo faced Green Gates Polo team at the Final Match.
Ankora had the lead from the start of the Subsidiary Final and kept a two-goal advantage by halftime. Mahra had scored goals that kept them close to its opponent yet Ankora kept up the pace and had taken complete control of the last two chukkers, closing the game at eight goals to five.
SUBSIDIARY FINAL: ANKORA 8-5 MAHRA
ANKORA: Khalid Alomran -1, Maxi Malacalza 3, Jose von Potobsky 5, Tomas Palacios 3. Total: 10.
MAHRA: Rashid Al Habtoor 0, Tarik Al Habtoor 1, Segundo Amadori 4, Jacinto Amadori 5. Total: 10.
Prior to the start of the final match, AM Polo and Green Gates Polo teams proudly carried the UAE Flag followed by the UAE National Anthem. After each player was introduced, Green Gates grabbed the lead until the end of the second chukker at 3.5 goals to nil.
AM Polo team managed to meet them halfway with two goals at the penultimate chukker. The excitement kicked in at the final chukker as a penalty shot from AM Polo team inched the gap by half a goal. Both teams raced for the win, and Tomy Iriarte stole the victory from Green Gates at the last second that ended the match at 4.5 goals to 4.
UAE NATIONAL DAY CUP FINAL: AM POLO 4.5-4 GREEN GATES
GREEN GATES: Noor Abukhadra 0, Charles Cooney 2, Tuki Ruiz Guinazu 4, Cesar Crespo 4. Total: 10.
AM POLO: Sheika Alya al Maktoum 0, Santos Iriarte 1, Pablo Urquiza 4, Tomas Iriarte 4. Total: 9.
H.E. Humaid Bin Drai, Founder and Chairman of Bin Drai Enterprises, awarded:
MVP: Tomas Iriarte.
BPP: Charm, ridden by Tuki Ruiz Guiñazú.