The 112th U.S. Open Polo Championship needed an extra chukker to find a winner. On 24 April at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Orchard Hill beat Dubai 13-12 when Facundo Pieres broke away for the sudden-death goal.
The line-ups
- Orchard Hill: Steve Van Andel, Facundo Pieres, Juan Martín Nero and Julián de Lusarreta. They were runners-up the previous year.
- Dubai: Rashid Albwardy, Alejo Taranco, Facundo Sola and Adolfo Cambiaso, making their first U.S. Open appearance.
Both teams had gone through the tournament unbeaten.
How the final unfolded
Pieres scored 18 seconds in, Dubai quickly equalised, and a penalty and a Cambiaso run put them 3-1 up. Albwardy’s breakaway made it a two-goal lead in the second before a Nero and Pieres combination cut it back. In the third, goals from de Lusarreta, Nero and Pieres gave Orchard Hill a three-goal lead, but Dubai rallied to lead 8-7, and a Pieres penalty made it 8-8 at the end of the fourth.
The fifth chukker was a penalty-ridden period. Dubai led 11-9 after a safety, Pieres solo goal levelled it, and Dubai went 12-11 up. Orchard Hill won a challenge, and a Pieres penalty tied it at 12-12 with 50 seconds left. In overtime the Orchard Hill defence repelled an early Dubai attack, and Pieres broke clear to score the winning goal.
- Seymour Knox MVP: Facundo Pieres.
- Hartman best playing pony of the Open: Divas Dos, owned by Orchard Hill and ridden by Nero.
Before the match the USPA also honoured the horse Wembley for his long career in high-goal polo. The final is due to be shown on NBC Sports Network on 30 April.
Chile win the Copa de las Naciones
On 28 April in Buenos Aires, Chile won the seventh Copa de las Naciones at Palermo, beating the hosts Argentina 7-6 in a final that had been delayed by rain. Chile led 5-3 after the fourth chukker, Argentina levelled at 5-5 in the next, and Chile restored the lead to finish ahead. It was Chile’s first title in the competition, after they had beaten the 2014 champions England 10-9 to reach the final, and it follows their world championship win in 2015.
Sources: Town-Crier Newspaper, T13, Emol
