Pony Express cruise past Piaget in USPA Piaget Gold Cup – US Polo Recap
Juan Garcia Grossi scored the game-winner in the sudden death over-time, as Pony Express rode off the field with a 12-11 win over Piaget in the United States Polo Association Piaget Gold Cup. The cliff-hanging competition was played on Sunday at the International
Polo Club in Wellington.
Piaget, the lowest handicap team of the tournament obtained a couple of goals in the beginning and managed to establish an early lead in the game. Nachi Heguy and his team-mate Lolo Castagnola scored one goal each for Piaget to put Pony Express under intense
pressure. Pony Express remained scoreless in the period and trailed by four goals, 4-0.
The attackers of Pony Expressed though cranked up their offence in the game, but could only score twice and conceded another two points. Santiago Chavanne and Bautista Heguy managed one point apiece for Pony Express.
The strikers of Piaget were not sitting idle and watching the game pass by, as Nachi Heguy connected on a spot shot while Castagnola added a goal from the field and regained their four points lead in the game at the end of the second period, 6-2.
The Pony Express attack came alive in the third set of play and managed three scores while holding Piaget scoreless in the period. Bautista Heguy nailed a couple of goals while his team-mate Grossi accounted for one point and cut the lead down to a single
point, 6-5 after the three-chukka action.
The fourth set of play was dominated by Pony Express, as they obtained another four goals while reducing Piaget to a solitary goal. Nachi Heguy scored off a 40-yard penalty shot and attempted to put his team ahead on the scoreboard, as it was the only offence
of Piaget in the seven and half minute period.
The attackers of Pony Express came forward and ran up four goals in the period, as Bautista Heguy displayed a brilliant effort, scoring three goals and earning the first lead in the game for Pony Express. Grossi accounted for another goal and upped the lead
to two scores, 9-7.
In a stunning move, Piaget made another come-back into the game and received three points, while holding Pony Express goalless in the round. Nachi Heguy connected on another pair of spot shots while Castagnola contributed a goal from the field effort and
regained a narrow one-goal lead, 10-9, with one chukka left to play.
The final period was opened with a goal from Castagnola, but Grosse nailed a couple of goals and had it all even at eleven-all. An end-to-end play was observed in the remaining time and both teams went into the sudden-death over-time to decide the winner
of the match.
After a brief intermission, the two teams started the over-time period at a very fast pace and enthralled the spectators. Grossi managed to take the ball away and hit a long drive which moved into the goalposts. With the go-ahead goal, Pony Express notched
the first victory in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.
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