Audi edges out Mansour in 2011 Bombardier Pacific Coast Open: 9-8 – Polo Update
What can be said when both the teams were not ready to confess defeat not in terms of official record but in the courage and morale. Gonzalito Pieres, the 10-goal handicap Argentinean polo pro was at his best and scored the game in the waning moments to
carry Audi to a 9-8 victory over Mansour in the group match of the 2011 Bombardier Pacific Coast Open. The nail-biting contest between Mansour and Audi teams was held at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in California.
Audi succeeded to continue their winning streak while Mansour after one of the competitive fixture lost the maiden game of the tournament. Both the Audi and Mansour foursomes entered the field having wins in their hands, therefore opened the game quite brilliantly.
It was Audi not anyone else that drew the first blood and established their dominance over the field. Gonzalito Pieres marked a couple of penalty conversions while his team-mate Carlos Gracida accounted for a field goal. From the other side, Lolo Castagnola
came into action and passed through the ball twice. The first frame of action was completed with Mansour trailing by a single goal at 3-2.
The speed of the game slowed down in the second set of play as compared to the first. Pieres scored off another penalty shot which was countered by a penalty goal from Sapo Caset. The two quarters were putting efforts to take the ball possession.
In the third set of play, Castagnola added another goal from the field while his team-mate Caset managed a penalty conversion to put their side ahead at the scorecard. However, the players from Audi were not sitting idly. Carlos Gracida and Marc Ganzi added
one goal each and finished the first half action with both teams holding it at six-all.
With minutes into the fourth chukka, Mansour started playing a hard and fast game in order to take a go-ahead goal. The Audi team failed to convert a penalty shot into a successful goal. On the other hand, the team Mansour added two more goals and earned
a two-goal edge at the end of the fourth period, 8-6. Owing to brilliant defence from Mansour, the players from Audi did not make an addition in the seven minutes of play.
The second last period was belonged to Audi which could only score once in the hands of Carlos Gracida and reduced the lead down to a single goal. They also made their defence tight and kept Mansour at bay throughout the seven minutes.
The Audi team maintained their offensive style of play and obtained two more goals while holding Mansour out of action. Carlos Gracida and Pieres accounted for one goal each and registered the win for Audi.
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