In Friday’s final, Justo Cuitiño scored the winning goal in extra chukka to secure Habtoor’s 8-7 win over Green Gates and capture the Polo Masters Cup, second tournament of the Dubai Gold Cup Series, at Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.

Habtoor closed the first chukka with a 1-0 lead, but Green Gates revved their game up in the second, led by skilled Spaniard Pelayo Berazadi, who managed to convert four goals to outscore Habtoor 4-2. Habtoor’s single goal in the second chukka was scored by Justo Cuitiño.

The intensity of the match heightened in the following two chukkas. While Berazadi took control for Green Gates, J.J. Díaz Alberdi and Felix Esain worked hard to mount a comeback for Mohammed Al Habtoor’s team. With less than a minute remaining in the chukka, Díaz Alberdi scored to send the match into OT, and that was when Cuitiño sealed the deal to claim the title for Habtoor.

The Subsidiary Trophy went to Hesketh, who beat Mahra 6-4. Following two tight first chukkas, Hesketh managed to dominate Mahra quite easily in the second half of the match. Mahra fought back, but they were unable to control their opponents.

The Dubai Gold Cup Series continues on February 18 with the coveted Gold Cup (Dubai Open), the most important competition of the series.

HABTOOR 8 vs. GREEN GATES 7

Habtoor: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Felix Esain 2 (2 goals) Juanjo Díaz Alberdi 3 (4, 2 penalties), Justo Cuitiño 3 (2). Total: 8.

Green Gates: Noor Abukhadra -1, Santos Iriarte 0, Pelayo Berazadi 5 (7, 4 penalties), Tomás Iriarte 4. Total: 8.

Score Habtoor: 1-0, 2-4, 4-6, 7-7, 8-7.

MVP: Felix Esain.

BPP: Open Dorotea, played by Mohammed Al Habtoor.

HESKETH 6 vs. MAHRA 4

HESKETH: Kim Roche -1, Raja Abuljebain 0, Manuel Plaza 6, Tomás Palacios 3. Total: 8.

Mahra: Khalaf Al Habtoor 0, Tariq Al Habtoor 1, Tuki Ruiz Guiñazú 4, Alejandro Gowland 3. Total: 8.

Score Hesketh: 1-1, 3-2, 5-3, 6-4.

THE FINALS OF THE POLO MASTERS CUP WERE STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE  HERE.

IMAGES

Finals Polo Masters Cup

Video Interview with Justo Cuitiño

POLO MASTERS CUP – TEAMS:

Habtoor: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Felix Esain 2, Juanji Díaz Alberdi 3, Justo Cuitiño 3. Total: 8.

Green Gates: Noor Abukhadra -1, Santos Iriarte 0, Pelayo Berazadi 5, Tomás Iriarte 4. Total: 8.

Mahra: Khalaf Al Habtoor 0, Tariq Al Habtoor 1, Tuki Ruiz Guiñazú 4, Alejandro Gowland 3. Total: 8.

UAE: Sheika Maitha Al Maktoum 0, Martin Bracco 2, Hazel Jackson 2, Benjamín Panelo 4. Total: 8.

HESKETH: Kim Roche -1, Raja Abuljebain 0, Manuel Plaza 6, Tomás Palacios 3. Total: 8.