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Yesterday Wednesday the 10th of December the FIP World Cup Play-Offs officially opened at the Casa de Campo polo fields with USA defeating Canada and Mexico victorious against the Dominican Republic. But it’s not over yet…
The FIP World Cup Play-Offs will continue here in Casa de Campo on Friday with more fast and furious polo as we’ll see team USA go up against the Dominican Republic at 9:30am, and at 4pm Mexico will go head to head with Canada. The winners of these two games will then ride out against each other in the finals being played at 4pm this Sunday December 14th.
A prize-giving ceremony and party with music by DJ Luz will take place immediately following the finals on Sunday, so we hope to see you all there!
The winners will then go on to compete in the FIP World Cup finals in Argentina next year.
And so while today did end in a devastatingly close defeat for the Dominican Republic, it was a day of exceptional polo. Here Calixto Garcia-Velez, Director of Polo and Manager of Sports for the Sporting Life gives us a rundown on the action.
Match #1: Canada vs USA
In what started as a very tightly marked and low scoring match, Team USA emerged victorious with a score of 9 – 41/2.
Jared Shelton was the high scorer of the day with five goals from the field for the USA squad. Jesse Bray played a very strong game scoring three goals as Felipe Vial and Patrick Uretz worked hard on defense. Team USA ably coached by Joel Baker seemed to have a bit of advantage in the horse department. They arrived a week early and were able to get better accustomed to their horses, as well as gain a bit of inside info on what to expect from the opponents horses.
Team Canada marked very well in the beginning, but a few mental errors cost them a few goals that turned the match around. All four players played quite well and aggressively, but it seemed they lacked a bit of cohesion. This was their first match as a team and also with the horses so they can only improve and should prove a tough test for their next opponent.
Match #2: Mexico vs Dominican Republic
A fantastic and close match as both teams played very fast, aggressive polo. The umpires “let them play” and play they did. The match looked like it belonged to the Dominican team who was up by 2 1/2 goals in the last chukker. But with a beautiful backhand slice goal by JJ de Alba and two powerful runs and goals by Valerio Aguilar in just three minutes the wild Dominican Partisan crowd was shocked into disbelief.
Heriberto Constanza mesmerized the crowd with beautiful runs on a brilliant grey mare donated by William Reid and Denis Santana’s booming back-shots had the USA team going crazy.
Valerio Aguilar was the high scorer of the match with four goals, but it was the young Mexican guns coached by HOF LEGEND MEMO GRACIDA that caught everyone’s attention.
Congratulations to both teams on great polo and fair play.
FIP World Cup play-off schedule
Friday December 12th
- 9:30am: USA vs Dominican Republic
- 4pm: Mexico vs Canada
Sunday December 14th – FINAL
- 4pm: Final between winners of Friday’s matches
- Followed by AWARD CEREMONY at field with music by DJ Luz
Contact: (809) 523-8951
Photos by Casa de Campo Polo Club on Facebook