La Dolfina has reached the summit once again
In a great final match that was defined 5:27 minutes into the supplementary chukker, with a golden goal scored by Bartolomé Castagnola, La Dolfina became the champion of the Argentine Open when they beat La Aguada 14 - 13.
Cambiaso, who beat his own 500-goal record and, in fact, beat Bautista Heguy’s record, was the best player of the finals and won every single prize.
La Dolfina had already defeated La Aguada in a tight final match at Hurlingham, but this one was a lot tougher, far more keenly-contested and was lived with much more agitation.
Both teams fought until the last minute, but the cup was kept in the hands of La Dolfina, the twice Argentine champion (Indios Chapaleufú II was the last team to achieve this victory in 1999-2000).
In the first chukkers, the Novillo Astradas took the initiative. They began winning the match and based on their under-pressure marking technique, mostly focused on Cambiaso, they kept everything under control.
Until that moment, “the best defense” was more effective than “the best attack”. Until then, La Aguada was far more solid and they were doing everything right.
It was incredible how the players from Open Door blocked La Dolfina’s way towards the goal during these first three periods. This, with the exception of the penalty-shot way, which was the only way they could make a difference and there is where Cambiaso never failed.
In the fourth period, always through penalty shots, Cambiaso scored on three occasions and ended up by tying the game at 6 - 6. In spite of this, La Dolfina was finding it very difficult to reach the goal through their plays, and each time they scored La Aguada would get ahead of them immediately after.
The story only changed in the sixth chukker: la Dolfina managed to be on top of the scoreboard for the first time.
With a crushing start, 2.30 minutes into this chukker they had already scored 4 goals and they were now leading the scoreboard. With their third victory in this period, Cambiaso reached 500 goals in the history of the Open Championship (in point of fact, he reached 503 goals and beat Bautista Heguy’s record of 501goals).
La Dolfina’s number 1 player (today, the highest goal-scorer in the history of Palermo), feeling freer and more willing to run, started to be the star player everybody was wanting to match and began performing incredible plays (really incredible!!!).
The seventh chukker was played at a high level. It was very even. Miguel Novillo Astrada tied the match at 10 – 10. Cambiaso scored another penalty shot and Javier tied the match again…, in this way, they kept tying the match consecutively.
In the eighth chukker, a feeling of nervousness grew by the minute inside and outside the field.
Immediately after missing a 60-yard penalty shot, Nacho Novillo Astrada scored a goal through a penalty corner. But this joy did not last long because, once again, in an excellent run that started before the halfway line of the field, Cambiaso began zigzagging to avoid his opponents and tied the match at 13 - 13.
So, supplementary chukker it was…
La Dolfina started playing better in the overtime, in spite of the fact that Aiken Cura, Cambiaso’s best stallion broke a leg, which caused Adolfito deep pain and uncertainty.
With his eyes blinded by tears, La Dolfina’s number 1 player returned to the game with all his might after this interruption, being the only one who had the ball, whilst his team-mates cleared the way.
The match could have been won by either team. La Dolfina misses first, then La Aguada missed in two subsequent plays, which came close to one of the goal posts and, finally, Lolo Castagnola appeared after a brilliant approach performed by Cambiaso crowding this opponents together, to score the goal that defined the match; his first goal, but the most important of all for his team, which he scored 5:27 minutes into this chukker.
La Dolfina has reached the world polo summit once again. The Novillos narrowly missed winning the most important title of all as they lost their third consecutive final match.
Anyway, the Novillo Astradas played an excellent match and had a great season, which year after year continues to reaffirm their true team play.
For the champion’s part, Mariano Aguerre, Lucas Monteverde and Bartolomé Castagnola, who in spite of only having scored one goal each, contributed greatly towards their success, complying with every single requirements, above all the offensive plays during the second half of this match.
Teams
La Dolfina ShowMatch:
Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (11 goals, 7 penalties), Lucas Monteverde 9 (1), Mariano Aguerre 10 (1) y Bartolomé Castagnola 10 (1).
Total: 39.
La Aguada Telmex:
Javier Novillo Astrada 9 (3, 2 penalties), Eduardo Novillo Astrada 9 (1), Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 (5) e Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9 (4, 2 penalties, 1 corner).
Total: 37.
Progression - LD: 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 6-6, 6-8, 10-9, 12-12, 13-13 and 14-13.
Judges: Daniel Boudou and Matías Baibiene.
Referee: Esteban Ferrari.
