Bin Drai defeated Habtoor Polo by 8 goals to 7 to become the inaugural winners of the Dubai Challenge Cup 2016.
Saeed Bin Drai, Tomás Iriarte, Matías Torres Zavaleta and Raúl Laplacette played a great final against resolute opponents to lift the St. Regis International Cup trophy at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort.
The match was a brilliant spectacle and despite being down by two goals with two minutes to go, Bin Drai demonstrated their trademark never-say-die attitude to take the game.
Raúl Laplacette was the MVP of the final and mare Mili from patron Saeed Bin Drai was the BPP.
MATCH PROGRESSION:
Bin Drai: 2-1/ 2-3/ 4-4/ 7-6/ 8-7
End of the match! @BDPolo wins the Dubai Challenge Cup after defeating @HabtoorPolo by 8 goals to 7 in a great final at @HabtoorPoloClub
— Dubai Polo Gold Cup (@DubaiGoldCup) April 1, 2016
Earlier in the final of the Bentley Cup Wolves Polo Team beat Edrees by the same scoreline (8-7).
Ahmed Al Habtoor’s team, Agustín Canale, Diego Araya and Jerónimo del Carril won a nail-biting affair after an extra chukker.
However it was a stunning 30-yard penalty Diego Araya that eventually separated the two teams and ensured the trophy went home with Wolves.
MATCH PROGRESSION:
Wolves: 2-1/ 3-3/ 6-7/ 7-7/8-7