Audi versus Zacara: US Open Polo Championship – Preview
The Audi team will encounter Zacara on Sunday, April 4, 2011 in a must-win clash of the 2011 United States Open Polo Championship at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. Zacara will have the massive task of disposing Audi’s threat, in an away
contest.
Undoubtedly, it is one of the most critical matches of the quarter-final round. Audi won all the previous games in the event to bring in big names from all over the world. On the other hand, Zacara is looking to end their title dearth of last year.
Audi
The outfit comprised of Argentinean players have high hopes to lift the cup which they narrowly missed in the last edition of the US Championship. Audi performed superbly in the group stage, as they have yet to taste defeat in the 26 goal handicap tournament.
The fans of the Audi team are hoping that it will continue their best form in the remaining competitions.
It won all the previous games with great margin and is holding one of the top places in the event. In the event-opener, it thrashed Pony Express by five points (13-8), edged past Las Monjitas by two goals (14-12) and defeated Orchard Hill by six goals, (15-9).
It scored forty-two (42) goals while conceded only twenty-nine (29) in the three games.
Audi have had a tendency to take things for granted, so the fixture against Zacara will be a good test of their concentration on international polo as respect is tough to get, but even tougher to retain.
Zacara
The Zacara morale will be rock-bottom, as they had lost two games in the group stage. Though they lost the opening two contests with a little margin, they still managed a spot in the knock-out stage. The skipper of Zacara wanted to lift his players’ morale
before meeting the talented Audi outfit. They lost a couple of games by one goal while won the match with same one goal difference.
It lost to Crab Orchard in the first clash (15-14) and to Hawks (10-9), while earned a victory against Lechuza (7-6). On the whole, they delivered wonderful performances and fought brilliantly in all the shows. They marked 30 goals and gave away 31 points.
The unity and coordination is their plus point against Audi in the upcoming contest.
Players to watch
Gonzalito Piers (Audi)
He will lead the Audi attack pack in the crucial game against Zacara. Pieres has been is supreme goal-scoring form and notched 26 goals out of total 42 in three appearances. He will be glancing to add more to his tally and help his team to win the match.
Facundo Pieres (Zacara)
Interestingly, the two brothers will face each other, Facundo Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres, who both are in good form. Zacara have to rely on their prolific attacker Facundo Pieres who has scored eighteen goals in the last three appearances. He is currently
holding number two position in the world ranking.
Prediction
It would be a competitive fixture, as both teams are in good form. However, Audi will be the favourites to win the encounter. The game would be decided in sudden-death overtime with a one goal difference.
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