Dubai: Both teams have predicted an engrossing finale to the Threadneedle Polo Gold Cup to be played at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club today.
"We are up against a very strong team in the final and we just hope to continue with our winning streak in this tournament," Dubai Falcons's hat-trick hero Tommy Iriarte told Gulf News following his team's 9-3 thrashing of DCC Sumaya on Wednesday.
"We have managed to keep a clean slate in this tournament so far. So there is nothing like going for an all-out victory and making this a terrific debut participation for us," said Abu Dhabi Polo's skipper Fares Al Yabhouni after his side's 7-4 win over Ghantoot Polo in the earlier semi-final.
Both Dubai Falcons and Abu Dhabi Polo have been emphatic in their run to the final with four wins each going into today's final.
Served well by Al Yabhouni and professionals Romero Dagna, Oscar Colombres and Facundo Sola, Abu Dhabi were always in command against a fighting Ghantoot Polo. They were up 5-2 by the end of the first two chukkas and this was further improved to 6-3 by the end of the third chukka.
And by the end of the fourth and final chukka, Sola sealed a fine solo effort to finish the match 7-4.
Despite starting off without the services of professional Nico Petrachi, the second semi-final proved to be a one-sided affair with the Falcons keeping a strict control.
With seven-handicapper Salvador Ulloa marshalling a solid defence, it was Iriarte coming alive in the final chukka with three goals to help the Falcons to an emphatic 9-3 result against the DCC Sumaya.
"But one of us will win and the other has to lose. I hope we can be on the winners' podium," Al Yabbhouni hoped.
RESULTS
Semi-finals: Dubai Falcons bt DCC Sumaya 9-3; Abu Dhabi Polo bt Ghantoot Polo 7-4.
Fixtures: (Subsidiary final 2 pm) DCC Sumaya vs Ghantoot Polo; (Main final 4 pm) Dubai Falcons vs Abu Dhabi Polo.
