Julius Baer clinch beach polo cup

Dubai: Five goals from Nacho Gonzales helped sponsors Julius Baer dethrone three-time champions Maradiva with a 6-3 win in the final of the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup at the Mina A’Salam Hotel here on Saturday.

The experienced Argentinian professional was on fire throughout the four-chukka encounter, scoring one goal each in the first, third and fourth chukkas as well as a couple in the second to take the match away from the Mohammad Al Habtoor-led defending champions.

Nothing could stop Gonzales, not even a fall from his horse in the fourth chukka that left him needing some strapping on his left knee. The Argentine got the necessary treatment and continued playing, setting up the sixth and final goal for young Khalaf Al Habtoor with just ten seconds remaining.

Maradiva, who had won the tournament on the three previous occasions it was held in 2004, 2005 and 2006, tried to negate the experience of Gonzales, but the wily veteran was simply too good.

He gave Julius Baer a solitary-goal lead at the end of the first chukka and scored two more, including a 15-yard penalty conversion, to make it 3-0 by the end of the second chukka.

Maradiva slowly fought back, with their Argentine professional JJ Storni converting a penalty and Habtoor Al Habtoor scoring a lovely solo conversion from an acute angle to make it 4-2.

Maradiva started the fourth and final chukka on a promising note, with a fired-up Storni scoring early from the spot to make it 4-3, only for Gonzales to convert from the spot and then set up Khalaf Al Habtoor to complete the win.

Earlier, another Argentinian pro, Lucas Labat, also scored five goals to lead Le Clos to a 6-5 win over Aston Martin in the third place play-off.

American singer Lionel Richie was the chief guest on the final day, along with Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group of Companies.

The annual tournament was created and organised by Mamemo Productions with sponsorship from Swiss private banking group Julius Baer.