Fri 11th Dec 2020Argentine Open Semi Finals SetAction continues tomorrow
Yesterday, Thursday 10 December, saw the last two qualifying matches of the 127th HSBC Argentine Open played on the eight day of action. The first match of the day, played on Ground 2 at Palermo, saw Los Machitos vs La Dolfina Polo Ranch. La Dolfina Polo Ranch streaked ahead with two excellent chukkas, however Los Machitos came back in the third chukka and outscored La Dolfina Polo Ranch 3-0, with goals from Santiago Toccalino, Mariano Aguerre and Agustin Merlos to tie the scores 6-6. By half-time Los Machitos has earnt their first lead, with a narrow 8-7 advantage. Los Machitos’ scoring successes continued in the second half, with four answered goals in the fifth chukka giving them an 11-7 lead. In the final three chukkas La Dolfina Polo Ranch struggled against Los Machitos’ dominance and led by Mariano Aguerre, enjoyed their first win in the 2020 Argentine Triple Crown, 15-11, managing to defeat their tough opposition, who had until that point been undefeated. The second match of the day saw the action move to Palermo’s main ground with Ellerstina vs La Ensenada La Aguada, played in very hot conditions. With Ellerstina the only team eligible for the 2020 Argentine Triple Crown and La Ensenada La Aguada having had a taste of success with wins in the Subsidiary Finals for both The Hurlingham and Tortugas Opens, there was all to play for and at the end of the chukka the scores were tied at one goal apiece. However, from the second chukka onwards Ellerstina took flight and began to streak ahead, leading 9-2 going into half-time. The fifth chukka saw Ellerstina extend their lead to 12-2 as La Ensenada La Aguada struggled to gain a footing in the game and as the final whistle rang out across Palermo, the scoreboard read 15-4 in favour of Ellerstina. These results mean that the Semi Finals have now been set: Saturday 12 December: RS Murus Sanctus vs La Irenita & La Dolfina Saudi vs La Natividad/Las Monjitas Sunday 13 December: Los Machitos vs Cría GT & Ellerstina vs La Dolfina Polo Ranch Photograph: The Semi Finals for the 127th HSBC Argentine Open have been set. By Matias Callejo/ Prensa AAP |