Lechuza versus Las Monjitas: US Open Polo Championship semi-final Preview
Las Monjitas will take on Lechuza in the semi-final contest of the United States Open Polo Championship on Saturday at the International Polo Club in Wellington. Both the foursomes won their quarter-final games unexpectedly and vowed to move forward in the
title claiming fight.
Las Monjitas
Las Monjitas bounced back in quite shocking way and powered a 9-8 win over talented Crab Orchard in the knock-out stage. Surprisingly, it reached the semi-final stage after winning only two games out of total four.
They opened the tournament at high impetus, but failed to keep back their level and received two defeats in the group matches. In the opening game, they overpowered Valiente by one score, but lost to Audi and Bendabout in the next two matches. However, they
displayed a brilliant game on the field and overwhelmed Crab Orchard, the unbeaten and highest goal scorer foursome of the tournament, by one goal in the quarter-final match.
They had a great game plan, stick-work and speed against Crab Orchard and shocked everyone by winning the game. No one was expecting such results from players of Las Monjitas. They scored 41 goals and conceded only 42 in the four appearances. The Las Monjitas
players are hoping to find the perfect team chemistry in the remaining games.
Lechuza
Lechuza, the other semi-finalist foursome is looking to continue its winning spirit in the semi-final round to get a place in the finals. In another shocking game, it defeated Bendabout to set a spot in the semi-finals.
It has better track record as compared to Las Monjitas. It won three out of total four games. It thrashed Faraway in the opening match by four points and managed a victory against Piaget with same four scores. But they became cool down and received a defeat
in the hands of Zacara by a single point.
The most shocking performance was their victory against Bendabout in the quarter-final game. Las Monjitas has a better record in goal scoring, as they scored 42 goals and received only 31 in the four games.
Players to watch
Agustin Merlos (Las Monjitas)
As per the expectation, he turned out to be dangerous and made the shocking triumph possible against Crab Orchard. He scored four goals out of total nine points. But, he brought his team-mates into the mainstream game.
In the four games, he scored only seventeen goals, but his game plan and attacking strategies were impressive throughout the event. He is mulling to add more points to his tally in the remaining fixtures.
Sapo Caset (Lechuza)
Caset is on a high momentum in the season and his goal-scoring ability has not been shut in any match of the tournament. He was the player who solely scored ten goals out of total fourteen and made the victory possible for Lechuza in the crucial game.
He will be a real threat for Las Monjitas in the semi-final game and if he scores then they will definitely win the game.
Predictions
Both teams are on a high thrust to move into the title-claiming fight of the tournament. The two teams handed shocking defeats to their opposing teams in the quarter-final fixtures. Considering the previous track record, Lechuza is better than Las Monjitas
and is expected to win the game.
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