La Natividad stands as the only remaining contender for the prestigious 2024 Argentine Polo Triple Crown, a feat that every polo team dreams of but few achieve. In a gripping 80-goal contest—the fifth official match at this level—the team led by the Castagnola family secured a razor-thin 13-12 victory over La Dolfina, the iconic squad spearheaded by the legendary Cambiaso family. This last-minute triumph, claimed in the very final moments, handed La Natividad the first of the three grand tournaments of the season: the Hurlingham Open, contending for the historic Ayrshire Cup.
With an eager crowd gathered under a sky charged with anticipation, La Natividad clinched a hard-earned yet well-deserved win, making it their second consecutive victory over their greatest rival. This win revived memories of their epic clash in last year’s Palermo final, which saw La Natividad emerge victorious in a similarly thrilling battle. However, this wasn’t a smooth ride for La Natividad; despite opening with intensity and dominance, they found themselves in a precarious position by the end of the match. Building an early lead of 7-2 by the third period, the team seemed to control both the scoreboard and the field, yet they nearly lost their grip. With an advantage of 9-4, they began to lose momentum, perhaps letting complacency set in.
Initially, La Natividad displayed an explosive style of play that embodied their signature precision, swift passes, and unyielding pressure on their opponents. Their combinations were seamless, their attacks unrelenting, giving La Dolfina few opportunities to counter. Yet as the game progressed, they seemed to fall out of rhythm. Mistakes crept in, with unforced errors and undisciplined moves giving La Dolfina unexpected openings. Seizing this opportunity, La Dolfina slowly closed the gap, working their way back point by point, largely through penalty shots. The scoreboard gradually shifted as they closed in, catching La Natividad off guard. By the seventh chukker, La Dolfina had not only leveled the score but had taken a two-point lead (11-9) after a dominant 7-0 run. This turn of events took the game into an unexpected direction, with the momentum now firmly on La Dolfina’s side.
A dramatic turning point came when, during the sixth period, a hamstring injury forced Adolfito Cambiaso out of the game, casting a shadow over La Dolfina’s prospects. Yet, rather than diminishing La Natividad’s spirit, this moment fueled their resolve, uniting the team and strengthening their determination to reclaim control. The absence of such an influential figure seemed to embolden La Natividad, as each player stepped up, channeling their focus and intensity into every move. Young talent Gonzalo Ferrari took charge, netting seven goals and re-energizing his teammates, allowing La Natividad to meet La Dolfina’s challenge with equal ferocity.
La Natividad quickly shook off their slump and reentered the fray with renewed energy and commitment. “We relaxed,” observed Lolo Castagnola, father to Barto and Jeta, the team’s core players, from the sidelines. “We went all out,” echoed Juan Martin Nero, acknowledging the pivotal shift that brought La Natividad back into the match. This change in attitude transformed the game; what had been a cautious battle evolved into a fast-paced, thrilling exchange of action. No longer bound by strategies or pre-set plays, both teams cast aside their tactical plans and played openly, with an intensity driven by passion and pride.
The game took on a new form, shifting from a foul-heavy struggle to an electrifying display of skill and athleticism. La Natividad and La Dolfina gave the audience what they had come to see: a true showdown of 80-goal teams, each moment filled with suspense and the promise of something extraordinary. Stars like Barto, Jeta, and Poroto displayed brilliant moments of individual skill that captivated fans, turning every play into a highlight and showcasing the full spectrum of what top-level polo offers.
The final chukker and a half brought an explosive, back-and-forth exchange that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Every swing of the mallet, every attack, and every defensive move felt crucial. Both teams engaged in a relentless exchange, goal for goal and move for move, each attack matched by a swift counter. The crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch as applause echoed across the field, each cheer growing louder with the escalating tension.
The ball rolled unpredictably across the turf, carrying with it the weight of the match’s outcome. Each pass and every shot held the potential to decide the fate of this high-stakes encounter. La Dolfina came close to sealing their victory with a 60-yard penalty, but fortune didn’t favor them. La Natividad also missed a tight, chaotic shot near the goal mouth, adding to the suspense. Then, Pelón Stirling’s cross-field shot dashed La Dolfina’s hopes once and for all. In the ensuing play, La Natividad seized their chance to seal the match.
Barto Castagnola took the lead, and, despite the weight of the moment, he held his nerve. Calmly claiming the ball, the MVP pushed forward, skillfully reading the field before executing a precise pass to Facundo Pieres. Pieres, who had joined the team in late 2022, slipped past Nero’s defense and, with time running out, took an ambitious shot from 80 yards out. The clock showed about 36 seconds remaining as the ball soared through the air, its trajectory unwavering. As it passed Pablo Mac Donough’s final line of defense and crossed the goal, the stadium erupted. The men in green celebrated, knowing they had clinched victory with no time left for a response.