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.
Photo by Gregory Ratner - http://ratnersportsphotography.com
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 gals 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).