By Alex Webbe
Ten-goaler Sebastian Merlos scored eight goals, including the winning goal in the final chukker as Lechuza (1-1) scored a difficult win over La Herradura (0-2) in the 26-goal Lechuza Caracas Cup in Wellington.
“It was a good win,” said Sebastian’s brother, Pite. “The horses went well and we worked well as a team.”
Lechuza held the lead until the third chukker when La Herradura put four unanswered goals on the scoreboard.
Lechuza struggled its way back into the game with goals from Pite and Sebastian Merlos to tie it at 7-7, followed by a go-ahead goal from team captain Victor Vargas. A final goal from Sebastian Merlos ended the fourth chukker with Lechuza on top of a 9-7 score.
La Herradura scored the only two goals of the fifth chukker (penalty conversions by Julio Gracida), and the game entered the final chukker tied at 9-9.
Sebastian put Lechuza ahead 10-9 halfway through the final chukker, but another penalty conversion by Julio Gracida tied it again at 10-10. Memo Gracida appeared to breakaway with the ball to score the winning goal, but a penalty whistle erased the effort.
The final drive was carried down the field by Pite Merlos. Memo Gracida rode him off the ball just in front of the La Herradura goal but a trailing Sebastian Merlos tapped in the winning goal.
Friday’s Lechuza Cup battle of the unbeatens saw White Birch and Audi battle to a 13-13 tie before rains forced the postponement of the overtime period. The “sudden-death” overtime chukker will be rescheduled.