Bangash and AM Polo teams secure spots in IFZA Gold Cup semi-finals

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo and AM Polo sealed their spots in the semi-finals of the IFZA Gold Cup 2023 after winning the thrillers at the Al Habtoor Polo Club.

In the first quarter-final, both Ghantoot Polo and Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo teams displayed a defensive play, with one lead for former.

Tomas F. Llorente Jr. for the Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo team scored the first goal of the game, and by the third chukker he closed it with a 1-goal lead for the team, bringing the score 5 goals to 4.

Ghantoot Polo accelerated their performance by scoring three goals, resulting in a tied score of 7 goals each by the end of the penultimate chukker.

Marcos Araya from Ghantoot Polo and Federico Von Potobsky from Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo each scored a goal, ending the 5th chukker with 8 goals to all.

For the second time in the tournament a golden goal witnessed, and this time it was Haider Bangash, the patron of the Bangash team, who clinched the winning goal. The team's impressive victory secured their place in the semi-finals.

The much-anticipated match between Dubai Wolves by CAFU and AM Polo team began with a promising start, as Teodora Lacau scored the opening goal.

 The Wolves maintained their lead until the second chukker, and in the third, the team's patron, Habtoor Al Habtoor, scored a goal to extend their lead.

However, Benjamin Urquiza and Benjamin Strada from AM Polo responded with a goal each, resulting in a tied score of five goals by the end of the third.

During the penultimate chukker, AM Polo's Cesar Crespo and Urquiza scored two consecutive goals, turning the tables in their team's favor.

In the final stretch, Habtoor Al Habtoor of Dubai Wolves by CAFU managed to score, bringing the score to double digits, but ultimately it was Crespo who sealed the victory for AM Polo with a final score of 11-10.