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Third place for Varlion Blackstorm

Jean-Marc Tyberg's team beat Talandracas in OT

The much awaited final of the Coupe d'Or in Deauville is due on Sunday

By PoloLine & Alejandra Ocampos

Prior to the much expected final of the Coupe d'Or between Royal Barriere and Richard Mille, due on Sunday, Deauville International Polo Club hosted the match for the third place between Varlion Blackstorm and Richard Mille.

Talandracas, with Hughes Carmignac filling in for father Edouard, took an early 1-0 lead in the first chukker, thanks to a 40-yards penalty conversion by Agustín García Grossi. Talandracas dominance was stronger in the second period, with three consecutive goals by García Grossi, that took them to a heavy 4-0 lead.

Two scoreless chukkers were more than enough enough for Varlion Blackstorm. Two goals by Dario Musso and Clemente Zavaleta Jr. cut the margin to two goals, 3-2 in favour of Talandracas, in the third chukker.  However, Talandracas had another opportunity through Milo Fernández Araujo, that was quickly responded by Tito Ruiz Guiñazu for Varlion Blackstorm. With seconds remaining, Gracía Grossi once again, converted a penalty that took Talandracas to a 6-4 lead by half time.

A 40-yards penalty was awarded to Talandracas and was converted by Milo Fernández Araujo, which meant that Talandracas extended their advantage to 7-4. Meanwhile, Varlion Blackstorm fought hard to get into Talandracas' goalposts, which they only did once, through Darío Musso.

However, and despite the goal average and Talandracas' dominance of the match, Varlion Blackstorm was far from giving up. In the fifth chukker, it was Talandracas who remained scoreless, while Darío Musso scored the chukker's single goal, that cut the margin to two goals, 7-5 for the Carmignac's squad.

Varlion Blackstorm had only seven minutes ahead to change their fate. But it was Talandracas who hit first, when Agustin García Grossi converted a 30-yards penalty. And that was when the momentum for Varlion Blackstorm arrived: four unanswered goals - one by Darío Musso and three by Clemente Zavaleta Jr. - gave Tyberg and his boys their first lead in the match, 9-8. To everybody's surprise, Talandracas was missing an almost secured win. But with a few seconds to go in regulation time, a 30-yards penalty is awarded to Talandracas, and was successfully converted by Fernández Araujo, to send the match to OT.

Talandracas' dominance thoroghout most of the match made almost impossible to think about an extra chukker; but nothing is over  til it's over. So, Darío Musso picked the ball, and scored the goal that secured Varlion Blackstorm a win that at first was unexpected.

Score Varlion Blackstorm: 0-1, 0-3, 3-6, 4-7, 5-7, 9-9, 10-9