La Natividad and RS Murus Sanctus will go head to head for a place in the final of the 128th Argentine Open on Sunday, December 5. They advanced in the competition after claiming respective wins against Alegria and La Dolfina Brava on Tuesday, December 8, at Palermo. These two League B games should have been played on Sunday, November 28, but they were rescheduled due to poor weather.
In the opening game, La Natividad took on Alegria. The score was tied until the third chukka, but La Natividad took control of the game from the fourth chukka onwards, widening their advantage and dominating their opponents. Jeta Castagnola was ruthless in attack, scoring no less than 12 goals. Despite Alegria’s efforts to get back in the game, La Natividad kept their cool, claiming an impressive 20-9 victory.
The next game, on ground one, was very different. RS Murus Sanctus – with Facundo Sola back in the saddle – and La Dolfina Brava – still with Tomás Panelo subbing in for Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade – met in a high stakes match, with the loser facing immediate disqualification.
La Dolfina Brava got off to a better start, taking a 4-1 lead by the end of the first chukka. In the second chukka RS Murus Sanctus fought back, turning the game into a true spectacle. The score was tied on several occasions, with both teams performing ver well. To add to the drama, after three consecutive ties, the score was 12-all in regulation time, meaning that the game was sent into overtime. Facundo Sola scored the golden goal to give RS Murus Sanctus the victory. They will now take on La Natividad for a place in the final.
“It was very clear that today was not our best day,” Pablo MacDonough told PoloLine. “We got off to a very bad start and they played really well. La Dolfina Brava made us play more or less at the start, but at the same time, it also encouraged us to get better. The good thing is that we managed to keep close in the score, and at the end of the day, we won. There is a lot to improve, but the most important thing is that we were able to win, and we are still playing the Open.”
When asked about the league decider against La Natividad, Pablo shared: “It will be very tough, because we know we have to play really well against La Natividad. Otherwise, the result will be the same as in the final of the Hurlingham Open. I hope we learnt a lesson from that bad experience and that we will be able to play our best on Sunday.”
The Argentine Open sees, ten teams up to 39 goals, compete. The final is set for Saturday, December 11. Â
- ARGENTINE OPEN – TUESDAY DECEMBER 1– PALERMO
La Natividad 20-9 Alegria
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 9 (12 goals, 6 penalties), Pablo Pieres 9 (2, received a yellow card in the third chukka), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (4), Ignatius du Plessis 9 (2). Total: 36.
AlegrÃa: AgustÃn Merlos 7 (4, 1 penalty, received a yellow card in the second chukka), Pedro ZacharÃas 7 (3, 2 penalties), Tomás GarcÃa del RÃo 7 (2), Fred Mannix 7. Total: 28.
Score La Natividad:Â 3-0, 5-3, 6-5, 11-5, 13-7, 15-8, 18-8, 20-9.
Umpires:Â MatÃas Baibiene & Guillermo Villanueva
Third Man:Â Rafael Silva.
RS Murus Sanctus 12-12 La Dolfina Brava (extra chukka)
RS Murus Sanctus: Facundo Sola 9 (3 goals), Guillermo Caset 10 (3, 2 penalties), Pablo Mac Donough 10 (4), Juan MartÃn Nero 10 (3). Total: 39.
La Dolfina Brava P. T.: Guillermo Terrera 9 (2), Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. 8 (5, 3 penalties), Tomás Panelo 6 (2), Alejo Taranco 8 (2). Total: 31.
Score RS Murus Sanctus:Â 1-4, 4-5, 6-7, 6-8, 8-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-12.
Umpires: MartÃn Pascual & Gastón Lucero.
Third Man: José I. Araya.
IMAGES:
RS Murus Sanctus vs La Dolfina Brava