(L to R) Juan Martin Zavaleta hooks 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough in Dubai’s 13-10 Gold Cup win Saturday at Spain’s Santa Maria Polo Club.
Dubai (Rashid Albwardy, Martin Valent, Pablo MacDonough and Josh Cork) rode onto the Santa Maria Polo club field on Saturday with an 0-2 record in the 20-goal Gold Cup but behind nine goals from Pablo MacDonough managed knocked off La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Juan Martin Zavaleta, Tincho Merlos and Byron Watson), 13-10.
A cautious opening chukker saw Dubai score twice while holding La Indiana to a single scoring effort. The early lead went to Dubai, 2-1.
Dubai added three more goals in the second period with La Indiana managing to get a point on the scoreboard with their only goal of the chukker. After two periods of play, the lead belonged to Dubai behind a three-goal advantage, 5-2.
Dubai continued to dominate play into the third. Three more goals from Dubai had them in front by five goals at the end of the first half, 8-3, with La Indiana being held to a single goal.
For the first time all game long, La Indiana held their own in the fourth. La Indiana matched Dubai goal-for-goal. With two periods remaining in regulation lay, Dubai continued to lead, 10-5.
Three more Dubai goals were answered by a goal from La Indiana in the fifth. The Dubai lead grew to six goals, with La Indiana trailing, 13-7.
La Indiana continued to press their attack into the sixth as Dubai was content to hold their won. La Indiana scored three times in the final chukker as Dubai coasted to the 13-10 victory.
The victory is the first of the tournament for Dubai (1-2). La Indiana suffered their second loss of the competition and fell to 1-2.
Sunday’s Gold Cup play will feature Ayala (Iñigo Zobel, Peque Gonzalez, Facundo Pieres and Santiago Laborde) and Dos Lunas (James Fewster, Paul S. de Vicuña, Facundo Sola and Martin Podesta). Ayala has all but clinched a semifinal berth while Dos Lunas (0-2), a finalist in the club’s 2017 Maserati Silver Cup, will be looking for their first win of the tournament.