Valiente win the USPA Gold Cup for the second year running ! April 1st, 2018
The final of the USPA Gold Cup was played between the powerhouse Valiente ad Flexjet
1st April 2018 | WELLINGTON
Share
David Lominska
The final of the USPA Gold Cup was played between the
powerhouse Valiente ad Flexjet at the International Polo Club
Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Having remained unbeaten
throughout the tournament, Valiente faced Flexjet, who had a
point to prove having lost to them earlier in the tournament.
Facundo Pieres started the proceedings with two quick fire goals, and the first chukker ended at 2-1. Adolfo Cambiaso propelled the ball past the Flexjet defenders and expertly got his first goal of the match in the second chukker. Valiente scored two more to make it 5-3 at the end of the second chukker. Adolfo added another right before halftime to double their lead to 6-3. Both teams scored three goals each in the fourth chukker and the score was 9-6 at the end of it in favour of Valiente. The score was 11-9 at the end of the fifth chukker as Flexjet inspired by Nicolas Pieres looked set for a comeback. The final chukker was a tense affair, but Adolfo Cambiaso settled the nerves by scoring his fifth for the day and despite two goals by Flexjet, it was a little too late, and Valiente successfully defended their title by 12 goals to 11, with Cambiaso lifting his 14th SPA Gold Cup.
Flexjet’s Nicolas Pieres was adjudged the MVP as he scored 7 goals for his team. Best Playing Pony honours were awarded to Macarena, a grey mare owned by Mariano Gonzalez and played by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker.
Facundo Pieres started the proceedings with two quick fire goals, and the first chukker ended at 2-1. Adolfo Cambiaso propelled the ball past the Flexjet defenders and expertly got his first goal of the match in the second chukker. Valiente scored two more to make it 5-3 at the end of the second chukker. Adolfo added another right before halftime to double their lead to 6-3. Both teams scored three goals each in the fourth chukker and the score was 9-6 at the end of it in favour of Valiente. The score was 11-9 at the end of the fifth chukker as Flexjet inspired by Nicolas Pieres looked set for a comeback. The final chukker was a tense affair, but Adolfo Cambiaso settled the nerves by scoring his fifth for the day and despite two goals by Flexjet, it was a little too late, and Valiente successfully defended their title by 12 goals to 11, with Cambiaso lifting his 14th SPA Gold Cup.
Flexjet’s Nicolas Pieres was adjudged the MVP as he scored 7 goals for his team. Best Playing Pony honours were awarded to Macarena, a grey mare owned by Mariano Gonzalez and played by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker.
