The United Stated defeated Brazil 9-7 a short while ago for its second consecutive victory in opening round play at the FIP World Polo Championship in Santiago Chile.
Team USPA went with the same four players that triumphed over Argentina yesterday: Jesse Bray, Felipe Viana, Remy Muller and Patrick Uretz.
The United States jumped out to a fast start, building a 5-1 lead by the end of the second chukker. Brazil narrowed the lead to 7-6 by the end of the fourth chukker and tied the match 7-7 at the beginning of the 5th. The United States did all the scoring after that, winning 9-7. The win makes the USA the top seed in its bracket heading into the semi-finals.
Jesse Bray had his second consecutive six goal performance at FIP, and Patrick Uretz contributed the United States other three goals. Bray is the tournament’s leading goal scorer thus far.
United States coach Joel Baker said: “Argentina and Brazil have dominated the World Polo Championship since the beginning. It is a really a big deal for United States polo to be in a difficult bracket and come out undefeated. Now it’s on to the semi-finals. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
United States team captain Mason Wroe said: “After today’s game against Brazil and moving ahead to the semi-finals we feel that the team is going very well and has great chemistry. The semi-final round will only get tougher but we feel very confident in our abilities and feel that more good things are still to come for Team USPA”