Following the rain delay, the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship, at Palermo, resumed on Wednesday December 3, with two crucial games. The first match saw the clash between La Zeta Kazak and Los Machitos, with the former in need of a win to maintain their hopes alive to remain within the main draw of the 2026 Triple Crown. The second contest was the first semifinal, La Natividad La Dolfina vs. UAE.
The day’s opening game were the clash of La Zeta Kazak and Los Machitos, with the former determined to achieve their goal – a much needed win to secure a spot in the playoff against La Aguada Don Ercole, the recent winners of the Cámara de Diputados Cup. But it’s worth to notice, as well, that if La Dolfina II beat La Ensenada on Thursday December 4, La Zeta Kazak and La Dolfina II must play a match between the two of them to decide the team who will be able to go to the playoff against La Aguada Don Ercole. This means that a win by La Zeta Kazak would have Sol de Agosto dropped from the 2026 main draw of the Triple Crown.
The French-Argentinian lineup were the dominant force thoroghout the first half, while Los Machitos struggled to earn a farewell victory at Palermo, because La Zeta Kazak made things quite impossible for them, at least until the third chukka. Los Machitos bounced back in the fourth, and with goals by Torito Ruiz and Alfredo Bigatti, they managed to close the gap to one goal (6-7).
However, La Zeta Kazak were back in the game from the fifth chukka onwards, seizing the reins clearly – they outscored Los Machitos 2-0, with goals by Nico Pieres and Pelon Stirling to earn a 9-6 lead. Stirling added two more goals in the sixth to secure La Zeta Kazak a five goal advantage, 11-6. And the deal was almost said and done by the end of the seventh chukka, when La Zeta Kazak claimed a 15-7 lead. Los Machitos needed a miracle to overcome the result; and although they outscored La Zeta Kazak 3-1 in the last chukka, it was the latter that took the win home, and they are still on the run for a chance to play the 2026 Triple Crown.
The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, arrived to Palermo to see the second game of the day, the first semifinal of the Argentine Open between La Natividad La Dolfina and UAE. Although they already met in the final of the Hurlingham Open, with the former victorious, it was one of the most anticipated games of the year, indeed, with the two of them unbeaten at Palermo. La Natividad La Dolfina aimed to earn the first spot in the championship match, UAE’s mission was to avoid it.
Polito Pieres opened the scores, but La Natividad La Dolfina replied quickly, with three unanswered goals by Adolfo Cambiaso, Jeta Castagola and Poroto Cambiaso, to claim an early 3-1 lead. By the end of the third chukka, they were 7-3 ahead, but UAE were not about to make things easy for them. There were a whirlwind of goals in the fourth chukka – Polito Pieres and Tomás Panelo converted one penalty each to close the gap to two goals (5-7); Jeta Castagnola scored, and La Natividad La Dolfina were three ahead, until Polito Pieres produced another remarkable goal. By half time, La Natividad La Dolfina were 8-6 up.
The fifth chukka was quite similar – Juan Martín Nero picked the ball from Tomás Panelo and now the gap was reduced to just one goal. UAE almost overwhelmed La Natividad La Dolfina; even Nero could have tied the scores, but luck was not on their side, and once again, things turned in favour of the Cañuelas-based foursome. Poroto Cambiaso produced two goals, and La Natividad La Dolfina had a three-goal advantage. However, UAE quickly scored three unanswered goals and the gap was just one goal again (10-9).
A hard fought contest followed in the sixth and seventh chukka, with La Natividad La Dolfina struggling to battle a determined UAE foursome who remained on their tails. In the last minutes of the seventh chukka, Juan Martín Nero and Tomás Panelo scored to tie at 13-all. With only one chukka left, it was cleary anyone’s game.
And what a thrilling last chukka! It was Tomás Panelo who ran quickly to the goalposts to give UAE their first lead, 14-13. A new tie would come, when Poroto converted a 30 yards penalty. Many started to think about a possible extra chukka, but one certain Jeta Castagnola became the hero of the day – he produced two spectacular unanswered goals to seal the deal, and secured La Natividad La Dolfina a very hard fought 16-14 win, and the first spot in the final of the 132° Argentine Polo Open Championship.
After a tough game, on a very hot Wednesday afternoon, La Natividad La Dolfina achieved their first step on their way to obtain the Triple Crown; they are still unbeaten and, moreover, two of the team members, Barto and Jeta Castagnola, are current title holders of the Argentine Open. And despite the loss, UAE deserves to be largely recognised for delivering their best polo in a remarkable semifinal; they fought hard, they gave everything on the field and they never gave up, aiming for a victory that escaped them only in the last minutes of play.
THE LAST MATCHDATE OF THE 132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY DECEMBER 4:
2pm: La Ensenada vs. La Dolfina II
4,30pm: Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu vs. La Irenita La Hache (league decider)
THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH OF THE 132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 7 AT 4,30pm.
132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo, by Matías Callejo / Prensa AAP.