Estancia Grande shootouts Alegria by 19-17 in the Argentina Open Polo Championship
Another close fixture that took place between Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros and Alegria Crowne Plaza resulted in a thrilling victory for the former. Agustin Merlos remained focused and invincible, and earned his team their second win in the 2011 Argentina
Open Polo Championship.
Estancia registered 19 goals against the 17 of Algeria in the heated game that was played at the Cathedral of Polo, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Estancia Grande came out strong in the first period, marking three straight notches as Agustin Merlos potted a couple of goals while his teammate, Lolo Castagnola, accounted for a single goal from the field.
The lone goal from Alegria was scored at the hands of Mariano Aguerre. Alegria was trailing by two goals, 3-1, after the seven and a half minutes of play.
The second set of play was filled with numerous attacks and counterattacks, with both sides hurling fire against each other.
Castagnola and Agustin Merlos unfolded the second set of play scoring a couple of goals, stretching Estancia Grande’s lead up to five. This lead instigated Alegria’s players who started playing a fast and a furious game to reduce the lead.
A couple of goals from Paco de Narvaez and similar from Fred Mannix changed the entire scenario, tying the knots at five-all.
The two foursomes swapped two goals each in the third set of play, taking the score to a seven-all stalemate. Aguerre and de Narvaez were the point scorers from Alegria while Agustin Merlos lit the lamp twice for Estancia Grande.
The fourth set of play began with a field goal from Pite Merlos that was countered by a penalty conversion at the hands of Mannix. Agustin Merlos whacked a penalty shot after a player from Alegria committed a foul.
Estancia Grande was enjoying a one-goal lead, 9-8 at halftime.
In an unexpected move, Alegria acquired five unanswered goals in the fifth set of play, taking the score to 13-9. On the other hand, Estancia Grande failed to add any goal to its score in the seven and a half minutes of play.
Francisco Bensadon and Mannix scored three and two goals, respectively for Alegria. Estancia Grande scored two goals against the three of Alegria in the 6th frame.
Bensadon added two goals while de Narvaez lit the lamp once for Alegria. From the other side, Agustin Merlos led the entire action with back to back goals.
Agustin Merlos was the only point scorer in the second last period, reducing the Alegria’s lead down to two goals, 16-14.
The final action opened at the hands of Bensadon but that was Alegria’s last score in the game.
Agustin Merlos notched three goals in the final period while his teammates, Pite Merlos and Castagnola, added one each, sealing the victory for Estancia Grande by 19-17.
Tags: