Polo Times Magazine Subscribe to Polo Times Home
HomeNewsTournamentsClassifiedsAbout usSubscribeContact
 
 
 
 

Thu 4th May 2017

USA Take the Fifth Spot at FIP XI World Championships

Team USA beat both Guatemala and Mexico to convincingly secure their spot at the FIP XI World Polo Championship in Sydney, Australia this October.

Winning silver in 2015, this year they will be battling against the world’s best teams for their chance at the gold. Following three weeks of training in Sydney before flying to Florida to compete in the qualifier, USA came out fighting. USA beat Guatemala convincingly 10-6½, but it was Mexico in the Final who gave them a run for their money.  

The USA captured the lead straight out of the first line-up with three goals from mid-field. With Mexico close behind, USA surrendered a solitary goal to end the first chukka 3-1. A goal by Mexico’s Velarde narrowed the deficit in the second, but USA countered with two goals; a Penalty 2 conversion from Viana and a field goal from Obregon to widen their lead to 5-2.
An undeterred Mexico team bounced back in the third, shutting down USA’s defence and scoring four unanswered goals to take the lead, 6-5, for the first time. Gonzalez hammered in another goal for Mexico early in the fourth for a two goal lead, 7-5. USA snatched the ball from the throw-in but an attempt on goal went wide by mere millimetres from the left post. The USA team did not lose confidence, as Viana converted a Penalty 3 open goal, followed by an equalising goal from Radcliff, moving into the fifth 7-7. A Penalty 5 spot against USA gave Mexico the advantage with three minutes and 30 seconds remaining in play. A beautiful cut shot to goal from Viana was picked up nicely by teammate Muller, who finished the goal to take back the lead 8-7. In the final moments, a nearside back-hand miss by Mexico, allowed USA’s Viana time to score the final goal, sealing the win for USA 9-7.
With the qualification of USA, we now know five out of eight of the teams going to Sydney (Australia, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand & USA). The European qualifier takes place on Sunday 7 May after which the team line-up will be complete.
The Most Valuable Player of the match was awarded to Felipe Viana and Best Playing Pony was presented to nine-year-old Chili, owned by Del Walton and bred by Gabriel Crespo in Aiken, South Carolina.
 
FIP Zone A Playoff Final Teams:
USA: R. Muller (3), G. Obregon (4), F. Viana (5) & H. Radcliff (2)
Mexico: J.J Alba (4), A Gonazalez (3), M. Gracida (4) & D. Velarde (3)
 
Photograph: USA's Felipe Viana flips the ball on the nearside, Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez riding hard to defend. Courtesy of USPA Polo

Follow Polotimes on Twitter
 

Other top stories


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

Mon 25th Mar 2024
The USPA Gold Cup Final
La Dolfina/ Tonkawa lift trophy in Cambiaso playoff

Fri 22nd Mar 2024
The WPL Founders Cup
Debut Win for Park Place

Thu 21st Mar 2024
2025 Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Dates


Wed 20th Mar 2024
HPA Polo Assistant Vacancy


Tue 19th Mar 2024
Bhansali Polo Lift Dubai Challenge Cup
6½-5 win against El Basha Polo

Mon 18th Mar 2024
USPA Gold Cup Semi Finals Set
Coca Cola vs Valiente & La Dolfina/Tonkawa vs Park Place

Sun 10th Mar 2024
Ghana's 67th Independence Polo Tournament


Tue 5th Mar 2024
Polo Times March Issue Out This Week
Snow Polo, SUPA Special & Start of Season Nutrition

Mon 4th Mar 2024
The 2024 Savile Cup
Mystery Creek take historic title

See all news in:


End of Polo Times news page

Advertiser information Contact us Subscribe Work for us All information is subject to copyright 2015

Highlights

Latest Classified

Latest Classified

 Get into Polo

Get started in polo

Information on how to get started in polo
 Destination of the Month

The global game

Holidays and breaks playing or following polo around the world
 Wallpapers

Online magazine

Login to read current and back issues of the magazine
 Find your nearest club

Club contacts

Find your nearest polo club
Cookies in Use