The Copa República Argentina came to an end on Saturday, with three finals – the two subsidiary games were held on the grounds of the AAP, in Pilar, while the championship match took place at Palermo. Unbeaten La Esquina faced La Chavita La Natividad, who previously lost one match.
Only three of the players who were about to decide the most coveted competition within the Autumn season in Argentina had previously lift this trophy. Spaniard Pascual Sainz de Vicuña won it in 2012 with La Esquina, while the Castagnola brothers, Bartolomé Jr. and Camilo claimed the tournament with a La Natividad lineup that also included their father, Lolo, in 2016. An extra data – it was birthday of La Esquina’s back, Tomás Rueda.
La Chavita LN received two goals on handicap, but La Esquina took a quick lead in first chukka. Although Bartolito Castagnola managed to tie at the end of that first period, the second chukka belonged to La Esquina, as they widened their advantage to 7-4. La Chavita LN displayed their best polo in the next chukka, and by half time, they closed the gap to just one goal – La Esquina had a narrow 7-6 lead.
However, a determined La Esquina foursome dominated the second half, based on a strong performance by all four players both in attack and defense, leaving La Chavita LN hopeless. At the end of the day, La Esquina, as a whole, demonstrated they deserved the title.
FINAL COPA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA: LA ESQUINA 13-9 LA CHAVITA LN
La Esquina: Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña 6 (3 goals), Isidro Strada 7 (6, 4 penalties), Francisco Bensadón 7 (4, 1 penalty), Tomás Rueda 4. Total: 24.
La Chavita LN: Camilo Castagnola 6 (1 goal), Franco Veronesi 4, Bartolito Castagnola 7 (5, 4 penalties), Matías Machado 5 (1). Total: 22.
Score La Esquina: (0-2) 3-3, 7-4, 7-6, 10-6, 10-8, 13-9.
Umpires: Martín Pascual and Guillermo Villanueva. Referee: Marcos Panelo.
Jaime Amorín BPP of the final Trophy: Peregrino Venucina, played by Francisco Bensadón.
BPP by the Argentine Breeders Association: Machitos Blusera, played by Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña.
FINAL COPA DIARIO LA NACIÓN: EL DESAFÍO 12-11 CORONEL SUÁREZ
El Desafío: Marcos Goti 3, Francisco del Campo 4, Tomasito Fernández Llorente 7, Felipe Dabas 4. Total: 18.
Coronel Suárez: Segundo Amadori 2, Santiago Harriott 2, Marcos Harriott 3, Diego Araya 7. Total: 14.
Score El Desafío: (0-4) 3-5, 7-6, 8-6, 9-10, 10-11, 11-11, 12-11.
Umpire: Rafael Silva.
FINAL COPA CANADÁ: CHAPALEUFU 11-10 LZ CARTAGENA DE INDIAS
Chapaleufú: Iván Lariguet 6, Nicolás Garzarón 3, Agustín Canale 6, Andrés Lariguet 5. Total: 20.
LZ Cartagena de Indias: Alejandro Bleckwedel 2, Tomás Gómez Naar 3, Clemente Zavaleta 7, Valentín Novillo Astrada 6. Total: 18.
Score Chapaleufú: (0-2) 3-2, 6-3, 7-6, 8-7, 8-8 y 11-10.
Umpire: Julio Bensadón.
COPA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA: Fixture & Teams
PICTURE GALLERIES:
