Santa Clara edges past Circa by 11-10 in Everglades Classic Cup
Diogo Gallego scored the game-winning goal in the sudden-death overtime, as Santa Clara spanked an 11-10 win over Circa in the Everglades Classic Cup being contested at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Circa looked on the verge of a triumph after the five chukkas, but Santa Clara pumped in eleven goals to stun Circa 11-10, in the extra-time. Gallego stole the show and ruined the defence line of Circa in the heated-contest game.
The game started at very fast pace and first round concluded with both teams holding a two-all deadlock with them to the sidelines. Kris Kampsen opened the goal-scoring account for Santa Clara and marked two goals in the first period. Wesley Finlayson of
Circa in counter offences scored same two points and tied the knots at 2-2.
In two chukkas, Circa established their first lead in the game. Tomas Garcia del Rio notched two goals in the second round and put Circa ahead on the score-board. Kampsen scored a solitary goal for Circa and trailed by one point at the end of the second
set of play.
Despite numerous attacks and counter-attacks, only one goal was scored in the third set of play. Gallego marked his first goal of the day and had it all even at 4-4. Owing to stiff defence of Santa Clara, Circa remained score-less in the seven and half minute
period. The score at the end of the first half of play was tied at four-all.
The speed of the game further accelerated in the second half and five points were scored in the fourth round. Gallego connected on a couple of penalty-shots, which were countered by a field goal from Finlayson. In the later time, del Rio notched another
two goals and again earned a single point lead, 7-6 for Circa.
Kampsen scored another goal from the field and had it all even at seven-all. Finlayson and del Rio added one goal apiece and snuck ahead a two-goal, 9-7 advantage for Circa.
The attackers of Santa Clara cranked up their offence in the final set of play and received three goals, while limiting Circa only for a single point. Martin Pepa nailed a field goal and expanded the lead up to three points.
But a pair of goals from Tommy Biddle and a solitary effort from Gallego levelled the scored at 10-all and made the game more interesting in the last moments of the regulation time period. The deadlock forced the two teams to move into the sudden-death overtime
to make the match decisive.
Few minutes into the extra-time, Gallego managed to take the ball away and risked a long shot which sailed perfectly into the goal-post. With the go-ahead goal of Gallego, Santa Clara rode off the field with an 11-10 win.
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