La Dolfina vs Valiente
It was the biggest match up of the U.S season on Sunday 21st April at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida as for the third time in 2024 La Dolfina took on Valiente. This time it was the U.S Open Polo Championship, the finale of the American Triple Crown. Going 1 for 1 in the previous two finals, Valiente winning the CV Whitney cup 12-10 and La Dolfina winning the USPA Gold Cup 12-9 it was best of 3 to see who would come out overall champion.
La Dolfina went in unbeaten since their loss to Valiente in the first tournament, on a 10 game winning streak and with 194 goals in the Gauntlet so far, most out of all teams and with an average of 20 shots on goal per game and a shooting accuracy of 49% placing them as the most accurate team in the roster for the season.
Valiente had suffered one defeat in the U.S Open to Coca Cola, but with the fewest fouls of any team in the Gauntlet as well as the most fouls drawn (66 from Adolfo Cambiaso) and an incredible 96% shooting accuracy from the penalty line (2s and 3s) their strengths lay in tactical, technical plays.
These team strengths were reflected in the game. All but 1 goal for La Dolfina came from the field, no surprise with Poroto's shooting accuracy ahead of the game at 50% (48% from the field) and him holding the title for most amount of goals in the Gauntlet (87 in total going into the final) and assists, while teammate Panelo was scoring in the top 3 for every offensive category stat including best shooting percentage in the Gauntlet at 57% plus 100% from the penalty line.
Meanwhile Valiente played their own strategy, proving the power of drawing fouls with 5 out of 7 of their goals coming from penalties while simultaneously keeping the penalty scoring threat against them low by only giving away 4 fouls in the entire game, only 1 of which was scoreable.
An evenly matched game, the two sides traded goals throughout the first half with Valiente maintaining the score advantage but La Dolfina constantly equalising. The first 3 goals for Valiente came from penalties, keeping Valiente out in front with their 75% accuracy from the penalty line, before Peke managed to shake the La Dolfina defence after a throw in to get their first field goal of the day.
It was all tied up at 5-5 going in to halftime.
La Dolfina played their usual team game throughout, working together to split the attention of Cambiaso who was forced to choose between defending Poroto or closing down Panelo while Rufino did a huge amount of work away from the ball to clear space for Poroto and Panelo to inter-play with pinpoint passes and effective attacking short plays.
Valiente played their customary formation with Joaquin making space and Peke and Paquito carrying the ball and creating offensive plays while Cambiaso supported behind sending it forward create open playing opportunities for his teammates.
The score remained close throughout, but the second half began to swing in favour of La Dolfina with higher possession and scoring opportunities. La Dolfina went into the final chukka in the lead for the first time since the first goal having managed to neutralise the Valiente offensive and leave them goal-less in the 5th.
As was their strength throughout the tournament, it was the off the ball plays that finally won La Dolfina the game. In the final chukka, Rufino, undefended ran down the centre of the field, took a pass from Poroto off a backhand pass from Panelo in well executed team combination play which to put them 9-7 in the lead taking the wind out of Valiente's sails and putting them out of reach of the white side before Panelo put the final clincher on it with another field goal to run out the winners 10-7.
The Teams:
Chukka Breakdown:
Score Progression:
Game Statistics:
Featured Player:La Dolfina went in unbeaten since their loss to Valiente in the first tournament, on a 10 game winning streak and with 194 goals in the Gauntlet so far, most out of all teams and with an average of 20 shots on goal per game and a shooting accuracy of 49% placing them as the most accurate team in the roster for the season.
Valiente had suffered one defeat in the U.S Open to Coca Cola, but with the fewest fouls of any team in the Gauntlet as well as the most fouls drawn (66 from Adolfo Cambiaso) and an incredible 96% shooting accuracy from the penalty line (2s and 3s) their strengths lay in tactical, technical plays.
These team strengths were reflected in the game. All but 1 goal for La Dolfina came from the field, no surprise with Poroto's shooting accuracy ahead of the game at 50% (48% from the field) and him holding the title for most amount of goals in the Gauntlet (87 in total going into the final) and assists, while teammate Panelo was scoring in the top 3 for every offensive category stat including best shooting percentage in the Gauntlet at 57% plus 100% from the penalty line.
Meanwhile Valiente played their own strategy, proving the power of drawing fouls with 5 out of 7 of their goals coming from penalties while simultaneously keeping the penalty scoring threat against them low by only giving away 4 fouls in the entire game, only 1 of which was scoreable.
An evenly matched game, the two sides traded goals throughout the first half with Valiente maintaining the score advantage but La Dolfina constantly equalising. The first 3 goals for Valiente came from penalties, keeping Valiente out in front with their 75% accuracy from the penalty line, before Peke managed to shake the La Dolfina defence after a throw in to get their first field goal of the day.
It was all tied up at 5-5 going in to halftime.
La Dolfina played their usual team game throughout, working together to split the attention of Cambiaso who was forced to choose between defending Poroto or closing down Panelo while Rufino did a huge amount of work away from the ball to clear space for Poroto and Panelo to inter-play with pinpoint passes and effective attacking short plays.
Valiente played their customary formation with Joaquin making space and Peke and Paquito carrying the ball and creating offensive plays while Cambiaso supported behind sending it forward create open playing opportunities for his teammates.
The score remained close throughout, but the second half began to swing in favour of La Dolfina with higher possession and scoring opportunities. La Dolfina went into the final chukka in the lead for the first time since the first goal having managed to neutralise the Valiente offensive and leave them goal-less in the 5th.
As was their strength throughout the tournament, it was the off the ball plays that finally won La Dolfina the game. In the final chukka, Rufino, undefended ran down the centre of the field, took a pass from Poroto off a backhand pass from Panelo in well executed team combination play which to put them 9-7 in the lead taking the wind out of Valiente's sails and putting them out of reach of the white side before Panelo put the final clincher on it with another field goal to run out the winners 10-7.
The Teams:
Chukka Breakdown:
Score Progression:
Game Statistics:
Tomas Panelo is our featured player from the U.S Open Polo Championship Final, showcasing his skills including:
Anticipating the play
Attacking play - defence to offence
Approach and shots on goal
Check out this video of just some of his highlights from the match against Valiente:
Selected Match Highlights:
Rufino puts pressure on Cambiaso to win the line and backs the ball to Panelo who turned quickly, anticipating the play. Panelo takes it forward as Poroto overtakes on the inside, running past Panelo to receive a pass and finish the play with a goal:
In the play that saw La Dolfina break away from Valiente, Panelo turns a defensive play into an attacking one, jumping on the loose ball and turning it before taking it up the field. A small, accurate backhand pass off the boards to Poroto who hits it one time to Rufino who has run up the centre of the field to receive. Rufino runs the ball to goal: