Bendabout edge past Las Monjitas by 9-8 in US Open Polo Championship
Julio Arellano scored the game-winning goal in the sudden-death overtime, as Bendabout in a defensive oriented confrontation spanked a 9-8 victory over Las Monjitas in the round match of the United States Open Polo Championship. The cliff-hanging contest
was held at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
It is vital to mention here that Las Monjitas received first defeat in the US Open Polo Championship in the hands of Bendabout just by one goal. The defensemen of Bendabout played vital role in the triumph, as they limited Agustin Merlos only for two goals.
He was at his best in the recent season and scored average eight points in the recently-concluded USPA Piaget Gold Cup, while punched nine goals in the previous game of the US Open Championship.
The foursome of Las Monjitas displayed impressive performance in the first two chukkas. The Las Monjitas trio of Eduardo Astrada, Santiago Toccalino and Agustin Merlos marked one goal each and put their foursome ahead on the score-board. Interestingly, the
defensemen of Las Monjitas kept the Bendabout strikers off the score-board after the first two sets of play.
Arellano finally brought Bendabout into the score-net and punched a couple of goals in the third round. On the other side, the defensemen of Bendabout held the strikers of Las Monjitas only for a single point. The first three chukkas of play ended with Las
Monjitas sitting on top with two goals, 4-2 advantage.
The speed of the game further accelerated in the second half to make the score tie after the seven and half minute action. Arellano connected on a pair of penalty-shots at the start of the fourth period and had it all even. Merlos scored his second goal
of the day and upped the lead. However, the lead could not last long as Magoo Laprida marked a goal from the field and tied the knots at five-all.
Laprida of Bendabout nailed a go-ahead goal in the second last period, but it was countered by a field effort from Toccalino to make another tie. The two teams took a six-all tie with them to the sidelines with one chukka left to contest.
In a dazzling move, both foursomes exchanged a couple of points in the final set of play and made the score even once again. Laprida marked another goal at the start of the final frame which was responded by a goal from Astrada in the very next minute. In
a stunning move, the second goal from Astrada was also countered by a goal from Arellano and had it all even at eight-all. The tie forced the two sides to go into the sudden-death overtime to make the game decisive.
The game in the overtime period was most striking phase of the contest. Arellano in an impressive move rode away 240 yards down the field and nailed the game-winner through a classic scooping hit. Bendabout acquired second victory in the ongoing US Open
Polo Championship.
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