Dubai: Desert Palm 2 joined Zedan Polo in the semi-finals of the McLaren Cup polo after both teams ended the preliminary rounds with an all-win record.
Zedan had qualified to the last four stages on Friday with a win over Bin Drai and on Saturday Desert Palm 2 defeated Edrees 6-4 to become the second team with three wins from as many matches.
The other two teams qualifying to the semi-finals were to be decided later following a penalty shoot-out between Habtoor Polo, Ghantoot and Bin Drai Polo at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club.
In the last round of preliminary matches, Habtoor Polo defeated Abu Dhabi Polo 8-4, while Ghantoot got the better of Mahra 8-7 after Tariq Al Bwardy’s Desert Palm had secured their spot with a 6-4 win over winless Edrees.
Patron Mohammad Al Habtoor played a great match against Abu Dhabi and a great start saw the Dubai team go into the penultimate chukka with a 4-1 cushion. Habtoor Polo added one more goal compared to two from Abu Dhabi in the fourth chukka, but three quick goals in response to just one in the final period saw them advance 8-4.
In the second match, Ghantoot defeated Mahra 8-7 with the opening chukka ending goalless. However, Ghantoot took control in the second chukka and pushed for a 3-1 lead to further consolidate to 5-3 at the end of the third.
Mahra staged a comeback of sorts in the penultimate chukka and trailed Ghantoot by two goals at 6-8. But Ghantoot clamped down in their defence and allowed Mahra just one more goal in the final chukka to earn their spot for the shoot-out.
The subsidiary semi-finals were to be contested between Mahra, Abu Dhabi and Desert Palm 1 along with the team that misses out on Sunday’s penalty shoot-out.
