Valiente I vs. Lechuza Caracas

03/18/2012, 12:00 pm |

Valiente I - 11, Lechuza Caracas - 10

Earlier in the day, Valiente I needed overtime to score an 11-10 win over a talent-laden Lechuza team to move into the Piaget gold Cup semifinals.

Lechuza opened the match with three straight goals before Valiente I could respond. A 70-yard goal from the field from 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero was followed by a pair of goals from Facundo Obregon for the early 3-0 lead. Miguel Astrada got Valiente I on the scoreboard with a goal from the field. Just a minute later a Lechuza foul in the goal mouth gave Valiente I an easy penalty shot in the goal mouth that Miguel Astrada converted. The first chukker ended with Lechuza leading, 3-2.

Lechuza got a single penalty goal from 10-goaler Sapo Caset in the second period but were totally abused by a relentless Valiente I offense that scored four goals. A 40-yard penalty goal from Miguel Astrada was followed by three goals from the field from Nacho Astrada and the game was all even at 4-4.

Polito Pieres scored his first goal of the day for Valiente I in the third chukker, but Lechuza countered with a penalty goal from Caset. The score remained tied at 5-5 at the end of the first half.

The fourth chukker belonged to Lechuza as they got a pair of penalty goals from Caset and two goals from the field from Nero. Miguel Astrada converted a 60-yard penalty shot for a goal, trailing Lechuza by a single goal, 9-8.

Lechuza team captain victor Vargas scored the first goal of the fifth chukker in the opening minute of play. A pair of penalty goals from Miguel Astrada ended the chukker in a 10-10 deadlock.

An intense sixth chukker saw the teams racing from end to end with no results. With time expiring and the final horn sounding, a sudden-death overtime period was forced.

Both teams struggled for control of the ball in the overtime chukker, but it would be a ball driven by Valiente I that would evoke a foul and put Miguel Astrada at the penalty line. With six minutes left to play, a Valiente I player was fouled, sending Miguel Astrada to the penalty line once again. The 40-yard shot was converted and Valiente I rode off the field with the 11-10 win.

Miguel Astrada led all scoring with seven goals (six on penalty shots). Nacho Astrada scored three times and Pieres added a single goal in the victory.

A balanced Lechuza attack had Caset leading the scoring with four penalty goals. Nero added three goals from the field. Obregon scored twice and Vargas accounted for a single goal.