Thu 20th Apr 2017 US Open Finalists Decided Rematch of 2015 Final Yesterday, Wednesday 19 April, the Semi Finals of the US Open were played at International Polo Club, Palm Beach (IPC). The first match of the day saw Flexjet take on defending US Open champions Orchard Hill in a Pieres family contest, as Gonzalito and Nicolas lined up for Flexjet whilst Facundo and Polito donned the black shirts of Orchard Hill. With world-class players on both sides, the play was a display of clean, fast-flowing polo with limited fouls and end-to-end goals. By the end of the fifth chukka, the close score of 7-6 in favour of Flexjet reflected the competitiveness of the two teams. However Facundo Pieres wasn’t ready to surrender Orchard Hill’s opportunity for a place in the Final, and scorched through the sixth chukka with three consecutive goals to secure a 9-7 lead for Orchard Hill. A goal from Rodrigo Andrade closed the gap and with just a minute of play left on the board Flexjet were awarded a penalty 2 which Gonzalito calmly converted to draw the scores at 9-9 and take the thrilling match into an extra chukka. The tension was palpable, and the pressure appeared to get the better of Gonzalito as he failed to convert a penalty 4, and in the end it was brother, Facundo, who stole the ball from a throw-in and delivered the golden goal to end the match 10-9. In the remaining Semi Final, Valiente stormed the scoreboard from the outset, devastating Travieso’s hopes of reaching the Final. By half-time Valiente led 9 goals to 3, and the onslaught continued throughout the second half as Valiente mercilessly secured goal after goal, resulting in a 16-6 final score.   The US Open Final between Orchard Hill and Valiente will be played on Sunday 23 April at IPC, both teams faced each other in the 2015 US Open Final which saw Valiente take the victory 11 goals to 9 – will history repeat itself or will Orchard Hill retain their 2016 title?   US Open Final Teams: Valiente (26): Bob Jornayvaz (2), Matias Torres Zavaleta (6), Diego Cavanagh (8) & Adolfo Cambiaso (10) Orchard Hill (26): Polito Pieres (10), Juan Chavanne (5), Facundo Pieres (10) & Steve Van Andel (1)   Photograph: Facundo Pieres reaches for the ball during the Semi Final. © David Lominska/International Polo Club

Other top stories 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 Tue 26th Mar 2024 The U.S. Open Polo Championship Fixture & Teams Tournament begins on Wednesday 27 March 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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