Crab Orchard Tops EFG Bank 10-9
By Alex Webbe
Adolfo Cambiaso, polo’s “greatest player” announced his return to Florida with an exclamation mark as he scored three goals in leading Crab Orchard to a 10-9 win over EFG Bank in the Outback 40-goal Challenge Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
The concept of the eight top polo players in the world competing against one another is heady enough, but to have the game decided in the last second of the game by the son of Friday nights inductee, Gonzalo Pieres, Sr., into the Polo Hall of Fame game’s made it a story book ending.
Gonzalo Pieres, Sr. was a mainstay of high-goal polo in the Palm Beaches for years while establishing an international reputation as one of the elite players of the game. But Saturday was Gonzalito’s turn to write the dramatic ending to a polo story.
The game kicked off with America’s Mike Azzaro scoring the first two goal of the game for Crab Orchard while a stingy defense shut out the EFG Bank lineup.
Facundo Pieres got his team on the board in the opening minute of the second chukker, and two ensuing goals from Pablo MacDonough had Crab Orchard trailing 3-2 after the first fifteen minutes of play.
Facundo Pieres opened the scoring in the third period with a goal, which was quickly followed by a tally from teammate MacDonough for a 5-2 lead. Miguel Novillo Astrada kept Crab Orchard from being blanked, and the half ended with EFG Bank holding on to a 5-3 lead.
The fourth period was all Crab Orchard, as Cambiaso scored twice and Astrada and Azzaro added single goals. EFG Bank was blanked, and found it trailing 7-5.
Facundo Pieres added his third and fourth goals of the game in the fifth chukker while a miserly defense blanked Crab Orchard. Tied at 7-7, both teams charged into the final period.
Astrada scored the first goal of the sixth period giving Crab Orchard an 8-7 advantage, but the lead was short-lived. Facundo Pieres converted a penalty shot and added a goal from the field to give EFG Bank a 9-8 edge with time running down.
Cambiaso turned on the magic that never seems to leave him to score the tying goal, and moments later led the charge down the field in the waning seconds of play, but it would be the young Gonzalito Pieres who would carry the ball through the goal posts for the winning score.
Cicatriz, owned and played by Cambiaso, was named Best Playing Pony while MVP honors were shared by teammates Azzaro and Astrada.
EFG Bank’s Facundo Pieres led all scoring with six goals. Teammate Pablo MacDonough added three in the loss.
Cambiaso scored three goals for Crab Orchard with Astrada and Azzaro adding three goals apiece. Gonzalito’s single goal, however, was good for the win.
The event benefited the Polo Players Support Group, which provides financial assistance to seriously injured, or ill polo players and grooms. The 2007 event raised more than $400,000.