PTJan/Feb 2010 p22-27 Open YC JM PJ 22/1/10 10:51 Page 5
Palermo in brief
◗ The final was watched by an estimated
17,000 spectators at Palermo, and about a
million saw it live on television, via ESPN and,
for the first time, Eurosport.
◗ Famous faces at the final included towering
tennis world number five Juan Martín Del
Potro, while fellow Argentine professional
David Nalbandian was spotted with Boris
Becker at the rescheduled final group game
between La Dolfina and La Aguada. Also
enjoying the action was Argentine football
midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron and his family.
◗ A series of rain delays for the second year in
a row meant the final was played a week later
than planned, disappointing many travelling
fans who missed the chance to see Ellerstina
and La Dolfina go head to head because of
flights home booked in the intervening week.
Gonzalito Pieres on flying form. Opposite: La Dolfina hoist the cup aloft (l-r: Lolo Castagnola, Mariano Aguerre,
Lucas Monteverde and Adolfo Cambiaso). The final was the first in the Open’s history between two 40-goal
teams (right). Aguerre (below right) scored the winner – before announcing his departure from La Dolfina
X contest was heading – even when Ellerstina opened direct from the throw-in at the start of the chukka.
up a three-goal lead in the third chukka, rather like There was no clear pressure from a defender and
La Aguada did over La Dolfina in the sides’ last hardly a soul in the ground could believe it, least of
group game, the players appeared to view the gap in all his opponents.
the scores with suspicion. “When Cambiaso missed, I thought we were in
They all knew La Dolfina would bring it back, as with a good chance,” said Ellerstina’s back Juan
did the crowd. Hence, the teams almost seemed to Martín Nero. “So of course we tried and did
be going through the motions early on, trading goals everything we could but, once you go through
with an odd mix of passion and resigned indifference to the extra chukka, you have to say it basically
on their way to the real business of extra time. just comes down to luck.”
When the predicted ninth chukka eventually Indeed, that is the unfortunate irony of the
arrived, it did not disappoint – producing perhaps Argentine Open in recent years. It’s the
world’s best polo, unquestionably, but so well
“When Cambiaso missed,
matched are its two best teams – Ellerstina
and La Dolfina – that every year’s result appears
I thought we were in with
destined to be cast cruelly into the hands of fate.
a chance. But in extra-time
Nero was less philosophical, however, about the
apparently fateful misfortune of Cambiaso’s
it basically comes down
dramatic fall. “Facundo was attacking and creating
to luck”
– Juan Martin Nero
a chance for us to win when Cambiaso fell, forcing
the umpires to stop the game and restart with a
the most dramatic 77 seconds of polo in the Open’s throw in,” said Nero. “But, anyway, that’s all I want
long and prestigious history. to say about that – we’ll have to wait another year.”
Adolfo Cambiaso, who had been far from If nothing else, the aftermath of Cambiaso’s fall
anonymous throughout the final as it was, elevated made for riveting viewing. He barrel rolled perhaps
the drama of his personal contribution further still half a dozen times and yelped out in agony with the
in the decisive chukka. First, by somehow missing sort of theatrical aplomb that football fans would
one of the easiest chances of his life, then by taking expect from a striker taking a tumble in the penalty
a crunching and acrobatic tumble over the head of box with the world cup at stake.
his falling pony and, finally, by leading the play that La Dolfina’s talisman recovered to ensure
set up the chance for Aguerre to clinch it. emphatically that it would not be Ellerstina’s day,
His missed chance had every spectator up on his breaking away with the ball once again and firing
feet. The world number one remarkably fired wide of his shot against an Ellerstina pony’s leg, whereupon
an open goal from right in front after breaking free his departing captain Mariano Aguerre followed up X
www.polotimes.co.uk January/February 2010 25
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