Dubai
Desert Palm 2 and Ghantoot both secured tight wins to qualify for the final of the McLaren Cup polo being held at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club (DPEC).
Desert Palm 2 scored three goals in the final chukka for a 7-6 win over Bin Drai Polo, while Ghantoot overcame a two-goal deficit in the final period to secure a 9-8 win over Zedan in the two semi-finals held on Tuesday.
Though both semi-finals were played out on very different levels the results remained uncertain and tense till the very end.
The first semi-final between Desert Palm 2 and Bin Drai Polo was an engrossing affair with play riveting from one end to the other. Though they enjoyed a better part of the exchanges, Desert Palm 2 were always in arrears in the first three chukkas while trailing 1-2 at the end of the first, 2-3 at the second and 3-4 at the third chukka.
In the fourth chukka, Desert Palm 2 managed to draw level 4-4 leaving all to play for in the fifth and final seven minutes. With both teams giving nothing away they were on level terms 6-6 with one minute to go when Desert Palm 2 were awarded a 60-yard penalty and pro Diego Cavanagh turned the ball in from the spot to secure their rightful spot in the final.
In the second semi-final, defending champions Ghantoot and Zedan played hard and tough with the two tied 1-1 at the end of the opening chukka. In the second chukka Ghantoot took a two-goal lead at 4-2 only to see Zedan fight back on level terms 5-5 at the end of the third.
In the fourth, Zedan took a comfortable 8-6 lead. But Ghantoot just dug in and kept on fighting the very end with Argentinean pro Alejandro Muzzio coming up with a solo run in the very last move of the match to score and make it to the final.
Meanwhile, the semi-finals of the subsidiary Hildon Cup will be held between Abu Dhabi and Desert Palm 1, while Habtoor Polo will take on Mahra in the second match.
Semi-finals: Desert Palm 2 bt Bin Drai Polo 7-6; Ghantoot bt Zedan 9-8.
