By Alex Webbe
In a battle of the best, 9-goaler Gonzalito Pieres converted a penalty shot that gave his Audi team the slimmest of winning margins in an 11-10 win over Lechuza in the first Lechuza Caracas Cup at the Lechuza Caracas Polo Grounds in Wellington.
In a neck and neck contest that saw seven ties and the lead change hands three times, Lechuza was held to a single goal from the field by Pite Merlos in the first chukker while only two of Audi’s eleven goals came via penalty shots.
Audi seemed to take control early and held the lead for most of the first half.
In the fourth chukker, however, Lechuza capitalized on a number of Audi mistakes as 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos converted three penalty goals to take an 8-7 lead. A field goal from Facundo Pieres accounted for the only Audi scoring of the chukker.
Pite Merlos converted a Safety in the fifth chukker to extend the Lechuza lead to 9-7 before Audi came storming back.
Goals from Audi team captain Marc Ganzi and Gonzalito Pieres knotted it at 9-9 as the period ended.
Sebastian Merlos converted his seventh penalty shot of the game to open the scoring in the final chukker, giving Lechuza a short-lived 10-9 advantage, but Audi was far from through. A goal from the field by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres was followed by a game-winning penalty conversion from brother Gonzalito, and Audi rode off the field the victors.
Lechuza converted nine of twelve penalty shots, but couldn’t manage to shut down the high-powered attack of the Pieres brothers in the championship match.
Audi’s Facundo Pieres scored six goals on the day (five from the field, one penalty conversion). Brother Gonzalito Pieres added three goals (two from the field and one penalty conversion. Marc Ganzi and Nacho Figueras added single goals for the win.
Lechuza’s Sebastian Merlos led the field with seven goals, all by penalty shots. Brother Pite Merlos added three goals.