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Habtoor Polo Team marches on undefeated at Dubai

Reigning champions defeat Zedan Polo Team in OT; Bin Drai Polo Team, the day’s other victors

Habtoor Polo Team vs. Zedan Polo Team. (Photo: Gonzalo Etcheverry/DubaiPoloGoldCupSeries)

Two matches were scheduled for this Friday (March 1st), the fourth day of qualifying matches corresponding to the Gold Cup, which is the second stage of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, of the United Arab Emirates.

The day’s first clash saw the highest amount of goals scored so far in the tournament, and also was the first one with a winning margin of more than one goal. Mahra Polo faced Bin Drai Polo Team, and despite the first-named team being 7-4 ahead at half time, Bin Drai Polo Team rallied in the second half, with Juan José Brane scoring no less than eight goals (four of them in the final seven minutes), ending up as winners the match 14-9.

Later on in the day, reigning champions Habtoor Polo Team claimed their second win in this, their second outing in the Gold Cup, paving their way towards the semi-finals with a 7-6 win over Zedan Polo Team. The teams were very evenly-matched throughout the clash, and Habtoor Polo Team was 6-5 ahead in the final minutes until Ignacio Heguy, Zedan Polo Team’s leading player, made it 6-all, forcing the teams into a sudden death definition in overtime. Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario was once again the day’s hero by scoring the winning goal for Habtoor Polo Team, 7-6.

The teams are now facing a resting weekend, and the action is due to resume on Monday, March 4th. Habtoor Polo Team will be trying to remain undefeated when it faces Bin Drai Polo Team, while Zedan Polo Team and Abu Dhabi Polo Team will be playing a very important match in what refers to both teams hopes of a place in the semi-finals.

LivingPolo.com is proud to be one of the official media partners of this 2013 edition of the renowned Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series.

Results:

Monday, February 25th
Ghantoot Polo Team 5 vs. Zedan Polo Team 4
Abu Dhabi Polo Team 7 vs. Bin Drai Polo Team 6

Tuesday, February 26th
Habtoor Polo Team 6 vs. Mahra Polo 5

Thursday, February 28th
Ghantoot Polo Team 5 vs. Abu Dhabi Polo Team 6

Friday, March 1st
Mahra Polo 9 vs. Bin Drai Polo Team 14
Habtoor Polo Team 7 vs. Zedan Polo Team 6

Schedule:

Monday, March 4th
Habtoor Polo Team vs. Bin Drai Polo Team
Zedan Polo Team vs. Abu Dhabi Polo Team

Tuesday, March 5th
Mahra Polo vs. Ghantoot Polo Team

Thursday, March 7th
Bin Drai Polo Team vs. Zedan Polo Team

Friday, March 8th
Abu Dhabi Polo Team Mahra Polo
Habtoor Polo Team vs. Ghantoot Polo Team

Monday, March 11th
Semi-finals

Friday, March 15th
Final

The Teams:

Zedan Polo Team
Amr Zedan 0
Matías Logioco 3
Ignacio Heguy 9
Rodolfo Ducos 4
Total: 16

Habtoor Polo Team
Mohammed Al Habtoor 0
Ignacio Bello 3
Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario 7
Guillermo Cutino 6
Total: 16

Bin Drai Polo Team
Saeed Bin Drai 0
Ignacio Ithurburu 2
Salvador Ulloa 7
Juan José Brane 7
Total: 16

Mahra Polo
Rashid Al Habtoor 0
Guy Gibrat 4
Agustín Canale 6
Fernando Bourdieu 6
Total: 16

Abu Dhabi Polo Team
Faris Al Yabhouni 0
Juan José Storni 5
Juan Ambroggio 7
Manuel Elizalde 4
Total: 16

Ghantoot Polo Team
Ali Al Merri 0
Juan Zubiaurre Canal 4 
Facundo Sola 8 
Pelayo Berazadi 4 
Total: 16