In the final match of Zone A in the 128th Abierto Argentino de Polo, a La Ensenada Brubank victory would push them into the final, but Ellerstina Johor controlled play to capture the 15-13 victory at Palermo.
Their rival for so many years, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team was cheering for an Ellerstina Johor victory to secure their place in the final, while a La Ensenada Brubank victory would mean the improbable result of both Ellerstina Johor and La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team missing the final. However, Ellerstina Johor controlled play over the first five chukkas to hold off multiple charges from La Ensenada Brubank in their comeback attempt. A foul-ridden game resulted in three yellow cards and two technical awarded, but the difference in the game came down to shooting accuracy from the field. Ellerstina Johor shot 45% compared to just 26% for La Ensenada Brubank, to complete their tournament with the 15-13 triumph.
A rare scoreless first chukka left the scoreboard unchanged, but a foul carried into the second chukka, leading Facundo Pieres to convert the Penalty 2 and open the scoring. Momentum swung in Ellerstina Johor’s favour, outscoring La Ensenada Brubank 3-0 in the second chukka, receiving two field goals from Ulloa, while Alfredo Cappella contributed a goal on the first play of the third chukka. Determined to provide a response, La Ensenada Brubank’s Juan Britos utilized the opportunities from two Ellerstina Johor fouls to convert consecutive Penalty 2 attempts. Scoring just inside the final horn of the chukka, Juan Martin Zubia brought La Ensenada Brubank back within one as they proved they were worthy of another upset victory. Never allowing La Ensenada Brubank to pull even, Ellerstina Johor dominated the fourth chukka thanks to the play of Gonzalito Pieres, who scored three goals in three minutes to end the half ahead 8-4.
Fouls began to pile up in the second half, beginning with a fifth chukka that featured three yellow cards and two technical. After the flurry of whistles, the result was three penalty goals for Facundo Pieres and one for Juan Britos, allowing Ellerstina Johor to pull further ahead and increase their lead to seven. In urgent need of offense, La Ensenada Brubank kept Ellerstina Johor off the scoreboard in the sixth chukka, inching closer on field goals from Alfredo Bigatti and Britos, and then the umpire’s whistle slowed play once again. Five of the next six goals came via the penalty line with La Ensenada Brubank benefiting from the accuracy of Britos, but they were unable to get any closer than two goals as Ellerstina Johor hung on for the 15-13 victory and therefore sending La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team into the final where they await the winner of Sunday’s game between RS Murus Sanctus and La Natividad.