ADCB Ghantoot Polo wins the McLaren Silver Cup Final

Mahak Mannan 13:09 18/02/2014
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  • Winning in style: ADCB Ghantoot Polo celebrate winning the Mc Laren Silver Cup Final

    ADCB Ghantoot Polo Team were crowned champions of the McLaren Silver Cup Final after defeating Desert Palm 2 by nine goals to eight in a thrilling final at the Dubai Equestrian Club. 

    The ADCB Ghantoot team, comprised of Abdullah bin Dismal, Juan Zubiaurre, Facundo Sola and Pelayo Berazadi, were able to claim the early advantage but Desert Palm 2 managed to stage a mini comeback by scoring four goals by the end of the second chukka.

    In the third period ADCB Ghantoot got back into the match with a great performance by Sola as he took control of the game and led his team to a 7-4 lead.

    Despite Ghantoot’s advantage, Desert Palm 2 refused to accept defeat as they closed the gap to one goal in the fifth and last chukka with only a minute of the game remaining.

    However, in a nail-biting final minute which kept the spectators engrossed, Desert Palm 2 were unable to find another goal as Ghantoot claimed the Silver Cup title. 

    Facundo Sola was the MVP of the match and also named MVP of the Silver Cup after an exhibition of great polo that included a goal with a broken mallet.

    Sola, Ghantoots star player for the night was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the match for his efforts to keep the team alive in the game which also included scoring a goal with a broken mallet.

    Match progression: 2-1/ 4-4/ 7-4/ 8-6/ 9-8

    Elsewhere, Habtoor Polo won the the Hildon Cup, defeating Mahra Polo by six goals to five in another big match on the same day.

    Mohammed Al Habtoor’s team won the brother’s duel as they ended the third Chukka with a 5-2 advantage.

    Mahra’s Nacho Gonzales had the last action of the game but in the end Habtoor managed to hold on to win the Hildon Cup title.

    Match Progression: 2-1/ 2-2/ 5-2/ 6-5 

    Next Up in the Dubai Open Polo calendar is the Dubai Polo Gold Cup, the biggest event of the series and the fourth largest tournament of its kind in the world.

    Ten teams will battle it out at this year’s Gold Cup which gets underway on 24 February at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian club in The Arabian Ranches.

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