Thu 24th Mar 2016 USPA Gold Cup Finalists Decided Audi and Dubai Come Out Winners of the Semi Finals Wednesday 23 March saw victories for Dubai and Audi at the International Polo Club, Palm Beach, setting the stage for the Final of the 2016 USPA Gold Cup, which is due to take place on Sunday 27 March. Dubai took to the field for the midday game against a talented Coca-Cola team in the first Semi Final match of the day. In a cautious and defensively oriented start, Coca-Cola took the lead, ending the first half with a close 6-5 advantage, despite a strong offensive attack from Dubai after Adolfo Cambiaso was taken off having been on the receiving end of a mallet swung by Coca-Cola’s Miguel Astrada. All patched up and ready to go Cambiaso returned to the field to mount an attack on the Coca-Cola defence and after half-time a regenerated Dubai team charged onto the field. Dubai took the lead that saw them through to the end. Coca-Cola did their best, staying close on their heels, but Facundo Sola was on fire, scoring goal after goal and Coca-Cola could only try to catch up. Refusing to give up they kept closing the score difference, but they were unable to surpass their opposition and the final whistle blew as the Dubai side celebrated an 11-9 win. In a rematch of the Final of the 2015 USPA Gold Cup, Audi and Orchard Hill faced one another in the second Semi Final with Audi getting the better of Orchard Hill, 12-10, and earning the right to defend their 2015 title on Sunday afternoon against Dubai. Playing without the services of 10 goaler Polito Pieres (suffering a shoulder separation after a fall in the Quarter Finals), Orchard Hill lined up with Argentine 9 goaler Hilario Ulloa. At first, it looked as though this change in line-up would affect the team’s previously fluid playing style. With Audi coming out strongly from the first chukka, Hilario proved his worth on the field in the third chukka, scoring back to back goals that helped them bring the score to a more equal footing, the first half ending 8-7 in favour of Audi. The second half was a close affair and as Orchard Hill settled into their stride, the lead alternated between the two teams throughout. Mounted on fresh horses, both teams returned to the field for the final chukka to settle the affair and find out who would be facing Dubai in the tournament Final. It didn’t take long – Gonzalito Pieres converted a 40 yard penalty shot for a 10-10 deadlock. Two more goals from Pieres left no doubt and Audi earned their place to fight for victory.   Photograph: Cambiaso with a huge shot to goal. By Alex Pacheco

Other top stories Thu 4th Jun 2026 The Cartier Queen’s Cup Quarter Finalists Confirmed League stage comes to a dramatic end and eight teams survive Wed 3rd Jun 2026 The La Martina Varsity Day Student polo takes centre stage at Smith’s Lawn Tue 2nd Jun 2026 The Cartier Queen’s Cup Round Up Contenders Emerging as Quarter Final Race Intensifies Thu 21st May 2026 And We’re Off The Cartier Queen’s Cup is officially underway Tue 19th May 2026 Balanz Capital/ La Hechicera’s Debut Win Dominant Victory in The Trippetts Challenge Mon 18th May 2026 Golden Goal Win for Juan Pepa Cibao La Pampa/Murus Sanctus victorious at The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy Mon 11th May 2026 The La Martina Queen Mother’s Centenary Final A comeback victory for Don Tancredi Thu 7th May 2026 The UK High Goal Season is Officially Underway The Cartier Queen’s Cup draw and The Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy Wed 6th May 2026 Polo Times May Issue Out Now Gauntlet glory, high goal insights & season essentials See all news in: June 2026May 2026April 2026March 2026February 2026January 2026December 2025November 2025October 2025September 2025August 2025July 2025June 2025May 2025April 2025March 2025February 2025January 2025December 2024November 2024October 2024September 2024August 2024July 2024June 2024May 2024April 2024March 2024February 2024January 2024December 2023November 2023October 2023September 2023August 2023July 2023June 2023May 2023April 2023March 2023February 2023January 2023December 2022November 2022October 2022September 2022August 2022July 2022June 2022May 2022April 2022March 2022February 2022January 2022December 2021November 2021October 2021September 2021August 2021July 2021June 2021May 2021April 2021March 2021February 2021January 2021December 2020November 2020October 2020September 2020August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020March 2020February 2020January 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019September 2019August 2019July 2019June 2019May 2019April 2019March 2019February 2019January 2019December 2018November 2018October 2018September 2018August 2018July 2018June 2018May 2018April 2018March 2018February 2018January 2018December 2017November 2017October 2017September 2017August 2017July 2017June 2017May 2017April 2017March 2017February 2017January 2017December 2016November 2016October 2016September 2016August 2016July 2016June 2016May 2016April 2016March 2016February 2016January 2016December 2015November 2015October 2015September 2015August 2015July 2015June 2015May 2015April 2015March 2015February 2015January 2015December 2014November 2014October 2014September 2014August 2014July 2014June 2014May 2014April 2014March 2014February 2014January 2014December 2013November 2013October 2013September 2013August 2013July 2013June 2013May 2013April 2013March 2013February 2013January 2013December 2012November 2012October 2012September 2012August 2012July 2012June 2012May 2012April 2012March 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010December 2009November 2009October 2009September 2009August 2009July 2009June 2009May 2009April 2009March 2009February 2009January 2009December 2008November 2008October 2008September 2008August 2008July 2008June 2008May 2008April 2008March 2008

End of Polo Times news page