It is indeed such a crazy, crazy 2021 Palermo! La Dolfina Saudi earned the first spot to the championship match of the 128th. Argentine Open, on Saturday December 4. La Dolfina Saudi defeated La Irenita first, and had to wait Ellerstina to overcome La Ensenada in order to advance to the final. And that’s it, Ellerstina won, and La Dolfina Saudi will be able to play their ninth consecutive final at the Cathedral.
So, La Dolfina Saudi met La Irenita in the day’s opening match on ground two, featuring a second change within the lineup – Alejandro Muzzio replaced Diego Cavanagh once again and now Raúl Colombres filled in for Pelón Stirling. Despite the changes, it was expected a win for La Dolfina Saudi (although this is a very unpredictable Open), and they managed to claim a close 13-11 win, led by an extraordinary Adolfo Cambiaso, who seized the reins, and produced no less than 10 goals.
La Dolfina Saudi’s win left Ellerstina hopeless, unable to play the final. In addition, there was a very deep emotional issue within the team – Nicolás Pieres travelled to the US to undergo surgery due to his heavy fall in the Hurlingham Open, a surgery which was a complete success. With a heavy mood, Ellerstina faced La Ensenada, and far from the fuss around the match, Ellerstina took on the field, determined to defeat La Ensenada, the team who only needed a victory to get through the most awaited final of the year.
Following a scoreless first chukka, Ellerstina took off in the second period and outscored La Ensenada 3-0; from then onwards, Ellerstina imposed their play, and by half time they were leading 8-4. However, La Ensenada was far from giving up, and fought hard to get closer in the score, thanks mostly to Juan Martin Zubia´s goals, and managed to shorten the gap to 10-14 with only one chukka remaining. Could they be able to make it?
Despite the efforts until the last minute, luck was not on La Ensenada’s side. At the end of the day, Ellerstina said farewell to Palermo with a 15-13 win.
As a conclusion, it can be said that both Ellerstina and La Ensenada deserve a standing ovation. Ellerstina were determined to win, even they did know they had no chances to advance to the final, while facing a worrying moment with Nico’s health issue; and La Ensenada had a great season – they demonstrated they are an enjoyable team, with a remarkable present and an even better future ahead.
And La Dolfina Saudi? Well, there’s not enough words what this team, this whole organisation mean. They are beyond team members changes or any circumstances. La Dolfina already left a mark within the big history of polo and sport as a whole.
The Argentine Open sees, ten teams up to 39 goals, compete. The final is set for Saturday, December 11. Â
- ARGENTINE OPEN – SATURDAY DECEMBER 4 – PALERMO
La Dolfina Saudi 13-11 La Irenita
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (10 goals, 2 penalties), Francisco Elizalde 9 (1), David Stirling 10 (replaced by Raúl Colombres 7 with 2 seconds in the first chukka), Alejandro Muzzio 8 (2). Total: 34.
La Irenita:Â Santiago Loza 8 (3), Segundo Bocchino 7 (4), Ignacio Toccalino 8 (4), Isidro Strada 8. Total: 31.
Score La Dolfina Saudi:Â 2-2, 7-2, 9-3, 9-3, 9-3, 10-6, 12-7, 13-11.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Gonzalo López Vargas.              Â
Third Man:Â MartÃn Aguerre.
Ellerstina 14-13 La Ensenada
Ellerstina:Â Facundo Pieres 10 (8, 6 penalties), Hilario Ulloa 10 (3, received two yellow cards in the fifth chukka), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (3), Alfredo Cappella 8 (1). Total: 37.
La Ensenada Brubank: Juan Britos 9 (9, 6 penalties), Alfredo Bigatti 8 (1, received a yellow card in the fifth chukka), Juan MartÃn ZubÃa 8 (3), Jerónimo del Carril 8. Total: 33.
Score Ellerstina:Â 0-0, 3-0, 4-3, 8-4, 12-5, 12-7, 14-10, 15-13.
Umpires:Â MartÃn Pascual & Guillermo Villanueva.Â
Third Man: José I. Araya.
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La Dolfina Saudi vs. La Irenita
La Dolfina’s contenders will emerge on Sunday December 5, following the match between RS Murus Sanctus and La Natividad. Previously, Chapaleufu will meet Alegria – the winner will earn a spot to the playoff against the champion of the Cámara de Diputados Cup, while the loser will play the 2022 Qualification.
- ARGENTINE OPEN – SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 – PALERMO
2pm: Chapaleufu vs. Alegria
Chapaleufú: Rufino Bensadón 7, Juan MartÃn Zavaleta 8, Julián de Lusarreta 7, Felipe Dabas 7. Total: 29.
AlegrÃa: AgustÃn Merlos 7, Pedro ZacharÃas 7, Tomás GarcÃa del RÃo 7, Fred Mannix 7. Total: 28.
Umpires: MartÃn Pascual & Gonzalo López Vargas.              Â
Third Man:Â Federico Martelli.
4,30pm: RS Murus Sanctus vs. La Natividad
RS Murus Sanctus: Facundo Sola 9, Guillermo Caset 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan MartÃn Nero 10. Total: 39.
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 9, Pablo Pieres 9, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9, Ignatius du Plessis 9. Total: 36.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva.
Third Man:Â MatÃas Baibiene.
128° ARGENTINE OPEN: Fixture & Teams