The final day of play in Zone A of the 128th Abierto Argentino de Polo at Palermo began with La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team defeating La Irenita Polo Team 13-11 to move to the top of Zone A and reach the final where they will try to claim their ninth consecutive title.
Missing both David Stirling and Diego Cavanagh, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team entered the game against La Irenita Polo Team with a 34-goal team consisting of Adolfo Cambiaso, Francisco Elizalde, Alejandro Muzzio and Gringo Colombres, making his Argentine Open debut. Using an eight-goal run in the middle of the game to build a large lead, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team showcased an organized defense that limited the opportunities for La Irenita Polo Team. With his team shorthanded, Adolfo Cambiaso stepped up to lead all players with 10 goals, shooting an impressive 73% from the field. A late charge from La Irenita Polo Team that was led by Ignacio Toccalino and Santiago Loza ultimately fell two goals short in the 13-11 defeat.
Scoring just 30 seconds into the game, Cambiaso gave his team an early 1-0 lead, but La Irenita Polo Team’s Segundo Bocchino provided a quick response, producing back-to-back goals to give his team the lead. The remainder of the first half was dominated by La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team as they controlled possession and left few opportunities for their opponents. Beginning at the end of the first chukka and carrying into the middle of the third chukka, La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team scored eight consecutive goals, six of which came from Cambiaso in one of his strongest performances of the season. A scoreless fourth chukka left La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team holding the 9-3 lead at halftime.
The defensive game continued into the second half with both teams failing to record a goal for the second consecutive chukka as 18 minutes of play passed before a goal from Loza ignited La Irenita Polo Team. Scoring on the following play, Loza pushed his team forward by assisting on a Toccalino field goal in the third consecutive play to quickly change a six-goal deficit to just three. Turning his focus back to the offensive end, Cambiaso singlehandedly extended La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team’s lead, accounting for their next three goals and ensuring they held a comfortable five-goal advantage entering the final chukka. La Irenita Polo Team frantically tried to close the gap, shooting at goal seven times, but their four-goal eighth chukka left them two goals short, as La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team claimed the 13-11 win.