The conclusion of group play in the 128th Abierto Argentino de Polo featured a high-profile match-up on Field 1 at Palermo as La Natividad defeated RS Murus Sanctus 17-14 to claim the last spot in the final where they will face La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team.
A rematch of the Hurlingham Open final, both teams had their sights set on the final, but it was La Natividad who produced an exceptional offensive performance that RS Murus Sanctus was unable to match. Trailing 7-3 early in the game, La Natividad took control by scoring 13 of the next 16 goals due to their pinpoint accurate shooting from the field and penalty line. Shooting 67% during that stretch while also adding three penalty goals, La Natividad’s potent attack applied continuous pressure to the RS Murus Sanctus defense. Camilo Castagnola finished with 9 goals to overcome Sapo Caset’s 10-goal performance, but it was the balanced, accurate attack from La Natividad that leads them into their first ever Argentine Open final. 
Fouled just seconds into play, RS Murus Sanctus went to the penalty line where Caset converted the attempt to take the early lead. Quickly followed by a field goal by Facundo Sola, RS Murus Sanctus seemed determined to build an early advantage, but a response from Camilo Castagnola brought the game even by the end of the first chukka, tied at 2-2. Foul trouble for La Natividad in the second and third chukkas allowed Caset to find his rhythm from the penalty line, scoring four goals while also adding a field goal as he singlehandedly scored five unanswered goals to give RS Murus Sanctus the commanding 7-3 lead. However, La Natividad’s improved discipline towards the end of the half resulted in them fighting back into the game. A Penalty 2 conversion for Polito Pieres was followed by five goals from Castagnola as he continued to be an active receiver for Pieres, giving La Natividad the slim 9-8 lead at halftime. 
Holding RS Murus Sanctus scoreless in the fifth chukka, La Natividad inched further ahead on Pieres’ second goal, but little separated the two teams as three chukkas remained to determine a spot in the final. With fouls less prominent, the pace increased and resulted in La Natividad and RS Murus Sanctus exchanging goals, with Caset continuing to lead his team’s attack with his eighth goal. Maintaining their two-goal lead, La Natividad took full control of the game in a decisive seventh chukka that ultimately sealed the outcome. Bartolome Castagnola made his impact on the game with three goals and an assist during a 4-0 seventh chukka that quickly turned a two-goal lead into a six-goal difference with one chukka remaining. Despite RS Murus Sanctus’ best effort with four goals on perfect shooting in the final chukka, La Natividad secured the 17-14 victory and a place in the final against La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team. All four La Natividad players will be looking for their first Argentine Open title next Saturday at Palermo.