Adolfo Cambiaso leads La Dolfina to another Argentine Open final game.
La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero) became the first team to qualify for a berth in the final of the 2014 Argentine Open Championship on the strength of a resounding 17-11 win over La Aguada (Facundo Sola, Sapo Caset, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) Saturday afternoon on the Number 1 field at Palermo in Buenos Aires.
La Aguada stayed close in the first five chukkers, Trailing 2-1 after the opening seven minutes of play down just two goals, 8-6 at the end of the first half of play.
The two teams traded goals in the fifth, ending the period with La Dolfina on top of an 11-9 score.
La Dolfina’s horses might have been the difference as the depth of the defending champion’s string allowed them to outscore La Aguada 3-1 in the sixth chukker for a four goal, 14-10 lead.
The two teams traded single goals in the seventh, 15-11, but a 2-0 final chukker La Dolfina’s 17-11 victory.
Adolfo Cambiaso led the La Dolfina attack with eight goals (six on penalty shots). Pelon Stirling showed little effects from his elbow, scoring five times. Pablo MacDonough accounted for three goals and Juan Martin Nero added a goal for the win. Sapo Caset scored twice from the field and converted six penalty shots for La Aguada for eight goals on the day. Facundo Sola scored twice and Miguel Novillo Astrada added a goal in the loss.
The win allows La Dolfina the opportunity to defend their 2013 Argentine Open title and a chance to score an unprecedented second consecutive Triple Crown sweep.
Magual 15, Miramar 11
Playing for pride and a third place finish in their bracket, Miramar (Gonzalo Del Tour, Vaerio Zubiaurre, Inaki Laprida and Santiago Toccalino) battled Magual (Alejandro Muzzio, Ignacio Toccalino, Marcos Di Paola and Jaime Huidobro) to a 7-7 halftime score before riding on to beat them by four goals, 15-11 in earlier play at Palermo.
Alejandro Muzzio led all scoring with ten goals (four on penalty conversions). Ignacio Toccalino added four goals and Marcos Di Paola scored once for the win. Santiago Toccalino led the Miramar attack with five goals (four on penalty shots). Valerio Zubiaurre scored four times and Gonzalo Del Tour added two goals in a losing effort.
Argentine Open action continues on Sunday at 4:30PM with Ellerstina facing Alegria in a rematch of last year’s Alegria victory to determine La Dolfina’s opponent in the final. La Aguada/Las Monjitas and Chapaleufú will meet in a 2PM contest.