PENALTY SHOOTOUT TO DECIDE TWO REMAINING SPOTS IN MEDIUM GOAL SEMIS
By Gonzalo Etcheverry
The Brunei and Lechuza Caracas teams won today their respective matches and thus qualified for the semifinals of the Cartier Gold Cup, the most important Cup on the 45th INDI International Polo Tournament.
Brunei defeated the already qualified Dubai by 12-10 and earned a spot on the decisive stage. Simultaneously, Lechuza Caracas defeated Ayala Polo Team by 16-14 and is the third qualified team. Now there is just one spot left in the semis, and two teams, Ayala and Dos Lunas A&G Banca Privada, fighting for that spot.
The fourth qualified team will be revealed on the last qualifiers to be played on Tuesday at Los Pinos, the main fields of the 45th INDI International Polo tournament, with the matches between Ayala Polo Club vs. Brunei, and Lechuza Caracas vs. Dos Lunas A&G Banca Privada.
Score Lechuza Caracas: 5-1, 6-4, 11-6, 12-8, 14-10, 16-14
Score Brunei: 3-1, 5-2, 7-4, 8-5, 10-8, 12-10
Juan Martín Nero (Lechuza Caracas)
For us, today’s match was very important to play on Tuesday at ease, knowing that we are already qualified and allowing the horses to relax a bit for the Semifinals on Thursday. Besides, we played a good match today, the functioning of the Team was good and we are very pleased about it.
Matt (Perry) complemented the team quite well and now, on the Gold Cup, we know how to function and we are performing well before the teams of great level that we have to encounter.
Matt Perry (Lechuza Caracas)
To be honest, I have had little time to adapt, I was coming from a different kind of polo in England, without the pace of high goal, but I feel better day after day, I am catching up, getting to know the horses and functioning well with the team. Honestly, I wasn’t very aware of what was going on in Sotogrande but I got the call, I hopped on a plane and here I am, enjoying the experience and trying to collaborate with the team the best that I can.
To be playing in Sotogrande, on this time of the year, its really important for me. To be on this tournament, with the best teams and organization, it is truly a dream come true.
Brunei vs. Dubai, Lechuza Caracas vs. Ayala, by Snoopy
Lechuza Caracas vs. Ayala, by Pablo Ramirez
Brunei vs. Dubai, by Pablo Ramirez
Socials, by Ana Clara Cozzi
Cartier Gold Cup
MEDIUM GOAL
Two matches took play today, closing the qualifiers of the Aerolineas Argentinas Gold Cup. Golden Goose Deluxe Brand defeated by a tight 11-10 Marqués de Riscal, and Brunei did the same with Royal Salute, but by 14-10.
With these results, Golden Goose joins GSA on the semifinals and now four teams will have to define the other two spots by penalty shootouts tomorrow at 10:30 at the Los Pinos Field 1. Teams are: Brunei, Sainte Mesme, Santa Quiteria and Seven Sevens.
Brunei vs. Royal Salute
Aerolineas Argentinas Gold Cup
LOW GOAL
Tomorrow, at 11am on the Puente de Hierro fields, the last qualifiers phase of the Isolas 1892 Gold Cup will take place.
Matches are as follow: Jolly Rogers vs Bayswater, Valdeparras vs Foxcote y Lechuza John Smith vs Shakib Polo Sotovila.
Foxcote is the only team qualified for semifinals and tomorrow the remaining three spots will be defined.
Isolas 1802 Gold Cup
