Lechuza cruise past Zacara by 14-12 to set a spot in USPA Piaget Gold Cup Finals
Sapo Caset scored ten goals for the second time in the tournament and had an assist to carry his team to a 14-12 win over Zacara in the semi-final contest of the United States Polo Association (USPA) Piaget Gold Cup. The crucial game was played at the International Polo Club in Floridia, Wellington, USA.
It was a great comeback from Lechuza into the game, which conceded five goals in the opening set of play. Zacara obtained a handicap goal, while Mariano Uranga and Facundo Pieres marked two and one goal respectively, to put their team ahead with three points lead.
Caset connected on a long spot-shot for Lechuza and that was the only offence in the period. Another goal was scored from Lyndon Lea to end the first chukka action with Zacara sitting on top with a four-point, 5-1 advantage.
The second frame was quite a low-scoring period as compare to the first, but was dominated by Lechuza. Facundo Pieres notched a score at the start of the period and stretched the lead up to five points. But Caset nailed another two goals and cut the lead down to three points.
The third set of play was played at a very fast tempo as five goals were scored from both sides in the seven and half minute period. The trio of Zacara including Uranga, Merlos and Facundo Pieres scored once each in the period and expanded the lead up to six goals. The attackers of Lechuza though showed their offence, but could score only two goals. Caset and Victor Vargas added a couple of goals and trailed by four points, 9-5, after the three-chukka action.
A revitalised Lechuza landed on the field with new ponies and as well new strategies. At the start of the game, it punched four goals and had it all even. Caset out of four, scored three goals of which one came on a penalty-shot while other from the field. Juan martin Nero marked a game-tying score and had it all even at 9-9. But Facundo Pieres succeeded to mark a go-ahead goal and regained the lead for Zacara at the end of the fourth frame, 10-9.
The second last frame was comprised of a nail-biting fight. Caset scored a pair of goals for Lechuza, while Facundo converted a penalty-shot for Zacara and had it all even at 11-all, with seven minutes left to play.
The players of Lechuza cranked up their offence in the final chukka and ran up three goals, while reduced Zacara only for a single goal. Pieres connected on another penalty-shot and regained the lead for Zacara, but it could not last long as Nero and Caset scored two and one goal respectively, to put Lechuza ahead on the score-board. The defensemen of Lechuza did not allow the opponents any goal until the final horn and rode away the field with a 14-12 win. Lechuza will face Audi in the finals of the tournament.
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