Mon 13th Apr 2015 Coca-Cola and Valiente advance to Semi Finals Adolfo Cambiaso returns from injury to take Valiente into final four Coca-Cola and Valiente are in the final of this year’s US Open Semi Finalists to be confirmed. Following this weekend’s high paced action at International Polo Club in Palm Beach, Gillian Johnston’s Coca-Cola side defeated FlexJet convincingly whilst Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente returned to full strength to narrowly beat Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas side. Coca-Cola and FlexJet took to the Engel & Volkers field in the main match of the day, with Coca-Cola going on to produce one of their strongest performances of the tournament. FlexJet achieved an early lead 2-0 at the start, but it was not to be long-lasting as Arellano proceeded to convert three successive penalties to make it 3-2 to Valiente before the end of the first chukka. Coca-Cola continued to play solidly as a team throughout the first half, with each of their four players contributing to the 8-4 goal count – an approach that they had planned to take while discussing their tactics. Following their performance, Pelon explained, “The four of us know exactly what our weapon is, and that’s our number one. So we use her, she helps us, we use Sugar and Julio to open the game up and play our way. It’s all team effort. If we win, we win as a team, and when we lose, we lose as a team.” The second half of the match turned out to be no different. Coca-Cola returned in sync, and despite a hat-trick courtesy of Nic Roldan, there was little FlexJet could do to stop Coca-Cola’s consistent rhythm, with Arellano continuing to apply the pressure right until the final whistle, to help Coca-Cola achieve an impressive 15-10 win, and a place in the Semi Finals. Julio Arellano was awarded the Most Valuable Player award whilst the Best Playing Pony went to Nic Roldan’s Prima. The other Quarter Final match saw Valiente face Lechuza Caracas, with both Adolfo Cambiaso and Bob Jornayvaz returning to competition following injuries. Cambiaso had only managed to fit in one practice before their Quarter Final, but, as he demonstrated to the crowd in the opening seconds of the chukka, it seemed that was enough. Valiente were the first of the two teams to score, going on to increase their lead to 3-1 at the end of the first chukka. Both sides illustrated solid team play in the first half of the match, creating a half time score of 7-6 in favour of Valiente. Close play continued into the second half of the match, and at no point could it be said that there was a definite victor. The deciding goal was sent through the posts by Taranco in the final seconds, taking Valiente through to the next stage of the tournament. Despite having not played for some time, at no point did Cambiaso show any signs of fatigue, changing from no less than four ponies in the final chukka –a decision he thought was perhaps crucial in order to secure victory. First up was his stallion Boeing who Cambiaso says ‘is my beset one right now,” then it was on to Lufthansa, OneTip, and finally Sugar.  Following Valiente’s success, Jornayvaz said, “It was great to have everybody back and have the starting team play. We had a lot of energy. Finally we are getting healthy and hopefully by Wednesday (for the Semi Final) we will be a lot healthier.” The 111th US Open  continues on Wednesday 15 April, with the Semi Final taking place at International Polo Club. Coca-Cola will play Orchard Hill at 2.30pm before Valiente face Audi at 5pm. US Open Quarter Finalists Coca-Cola Gillian Johnston Sugar Erskine Julio Arellano Pelon Stirling FlexJet Melissa Ganzi Nic Roldan Miguel Novillo Astrada Magoo Laprida Valiente Bob Jornayvaz Alejo Taranco Guillermo Terrera Adolfo Cambiaso Lechuza Caracas Victor Vargas Nico Pieres Agustin Garcia Grossi Juan Martin Nero Photograph: Adolfo Cambiaso returns from injury to help Valiente achieve a place in Semi Finals. By Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Other top stories Fri 26th Apr 2024 Tomas Panelo Raised to 10 Goals in USA USPA 2024 Outdoor Handicap Raises Tue 23rd Apr 2024 Second 2024 WPL Win for Park Place The WPL Triple Crown of Polo Mon 22nd Apr 2024 La Dolfina Win US Open Polo Championship 10-7 win against Valiente in Final Fri 19th Apr 2024 La Dolfina & Valiente Reach US Open Final Cambiasos will do battle once again Wed 17th Apr 2024 Polo Times April Issue Out Now This issue packed with insights, reports & features Mon 15th Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Semi Finalists Last spot being decided today Thu 11th Apr 2024 Synergy Clothing Lift Thai Autumn Cup Narrow 8-7 win in Final Wed 10th Apr 2024 Free Pony Changes During Extreme Heat UK Rule Change Tue 9th Apr 2024 2024 English High Goal Teams 22 teams will take part in this season Mon 8th Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Update Today’s action between Dutta Corp vs Valiente Wed 3rd Apr 2024 Milly Hine & Mia Cambiaso Reach 9 Goals in US U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship winner & finalist recognised Tue 2nd Apr 2024 WPL Palm Beach Open Finalists Travieso vs Casablanca on Sunday 7 April Mon 1st Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Sunday Results Wins for La Dolfina & Dutta Corp See all news in: April 2024March 2024February 2024January 2024December 2023November 2023October 2023September 2023August 2023July 2023June 2023May 2023April 2023March 2023February 2023January 2023December 2022November 2022October 2022September 2022August 2022July 2022June 2022May 2022April 2022March 2022February 2022January 2022December 2021November 2021October 2021September 2021August 2021July 2021June 2021May 2021April 2021March 2021February 2021January 2021December 2020November 2020October 2020September 2020August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020March 2020February 2020January 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019September 2019August 2019July 2019June 2019May 2019April 2019March 2019February 2019January 2019December 2018November 2018October 2018September 2018August 2018July 2018June 2018May 2018April 2018March 2018February 2018January 2018December 2017November 2017October 2017September 2017August 2017July 2017June 2017May 2017April 2017March 2017February 2017January 2017December 2016November 2016October 2016September 2016August 2016July 2016June 2016May 2016April 2016March 2016February 2016January 2016December 2015November 2015October 2015September 2015August 2015July 2015June 2015May 2015April 2015March 2015February 2015January 2015December 2014November 2014October 2014September 2014August 2014July 2014June 2014May 2014April 2014March 2014February 2014January 2014December 2013November 2013October 2013September 2013August 2013July 2013June 2013May 2013April 2013March 2013February 2013January 2013December 2012November 2012October 2012September 2012August 2012July 2012June 2012May 2012April 2012March 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010December 2009November 2009October 2009September 2009August 2009July 2009June 2009May 2009April 2009March 2009February 2009January 2009December 2008November 2008October 2008September 2008August 2008July 2008June 2008May 2008April 2008March 2008

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