Audi stops Crab Orchard in OT; Orchard Hill wins

In a match many considered to be a prelude to this year’s finals of the United States Polo Association’s Open Championship, sponsored by Arcalux, Adolfo Cambiaso and his Crab Orchard team faced off against the two Pieres brothers, Facundo and Gonzalito and their Audi teammates in the opening rounds of play.

Following Crab Orchard’s two earlier meetings with the defending 2009 Open championship Audi team, Crab Orchard had to feel good about their chances. They defeated them10-7 on their way to the C. V. Whitney Cup championship title and romped past them 18-11 in Piaget Gold Cup play, bit today would be a whole new ballgame.

Facundo Pieres scored ten goals in leading Audi (2-0) to a 14-13 sudden-death overtime win over Crab Orchard (0-1) Wednesday afternoon in the 2010 Arcalux United States Open Championship at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

Crab Orchard had previously beaten Audi 10-7 in C. V. Whitney Cup play and blew them out of the water in an 18-11 Piaget Gold Cup match that left the Pieres brothers (Gonzalito and Facundo) wondering what it would take to stop the Adolfo Cambiaso-led team.

The speed of the game was evident from the onset, as the teams battled to a 2-2 tie after the opening chukker and left the field at the end of the first half deadlocked in a 6-6 tie. The lineup that moved Facundo Pieres up to the Number 2 position is partially credited with the outcome of the game while getting excellent support from teammate Inaki Laprida throughout the contest.

Two goals from Facundo Pieres were complimented by a single goal from Laprida in the fourth period as Audi took a narrow 9-8 lead. Crab Orchard was held to a pair of goals from Julio Arellano.

After miscuing on a penalty shot for Crab Orchard in the fifth, Cambiaso came back to convert two penalty shots while holding Audi to a single goal from Facundo Pieres. The teams left the field in a 10-10 tie.

Facundo Pieres scored his ninth goal of the game on a penalty shot in the sixth while getting a pair of goals from his brother Gonzalo Pieres. Single goals from Hilario Ulloa, Arellano and Cambiaso kept the score deadlocked at 13-13 as time expired, forcing a sudden-death overtime period.

Following a 10-minute intermission, Crab Orchard took possession of the ball on the ensuing throw-in and had the first opportunity to end it, but a pair of shots from Ulloa missed their mark.

Audi jumped on the ball and reversed the field, pressing toward the Crab Orchard goal. A last-ditch effort to keep Audi from scoring led to a penalty against Crab Orchard, and Facundo Pieres ended it with his tenth goal of the game on a penalty shot.

ORCHARD HILL14, PONY EXPRESS 11

Later in the day, a balanced Orchard Hill (2-0) attack fended off a talented Pony Express (0-2) lineup to score a 14-11 win in a fast-paced contest.

In the second round f the US Open championship, Orchard Hill jumped out to an early 3-1 lead and never trailed.

Orchard Hill led the game 8-5 at halftime and maintained the three goal lead throughout the balance of the game.

Lucas Criado and 10-goaler Pablo Macdonough led the Orchard Hill attack with eleven goals between them while getting a pair of goals from team captain Steve Van Andel and a single goal from the field from Hector Galindo.

Carlos Gracida led all scoring with seven goals for Pony Express.

US Open play will continue on Sunday, April 4 with four contests, beginning with a 10am match between Crab Orchard (0-1) and Pony Express (0-2) and ending with a 3 pm game between Lechuza (0-0) and Valiente (0-0).

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TAGS: 2010 IPC, Adolfo Cambiaso, Carlos Gracida, International Polo Club, Julio Arellano, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Polo, The International Polo Club