La Dolfina has swept through the group stage of the Argentine Open with clinical precision, asserting their dominance with overwhelming victories that leave little room for suspense. Unbeaten and overflowing with goals, they have turned their matches into mere formalities. In their opener, they dismantled newcomers La Zeta with a crushing 21-7 victory. Next, they delivered a resounding 20-10 win over their “cría,” and after a week off, they demolished La Ensenada 20-7, making a clear statement of their superiority over their neighbors from Cañuelas.
These three emphatic wins highlight the formidable strength of La Dolfina. Their latest triumph especially underlines their potential to reclaim the Palermo title, currently held by La Natividad. With relentless speed, seamless teamwork, and an onslaught of goals, they suffocated La Ensenada, pulling ahead early and managing their lead with confidence. When the opportunity arose, they pressed the accelerator, further cementing their best performance of the tournament against an overwhelmed opponent.
La Dolfina’s style is pragmatic yet powerful, adapting to the level of their rivals. Against La Ensenada, just flashes of their trademark brilliance and the efficiency of their well-honed system were enough to secure a commanding victory. Each win brings them closer to their comfort zone—the high-stakes knockout stage—where their collective strength shines brightest.
Their true test, however, awaits this Sunday on Palermo’s iconic Field 1, where they will face their longtime nemesis, Ellerstina. This storied rivalry has defined many of polo’s greatest moments, and while La Dolfina has historically held the upper hand, this year’s Ellerstina is a revitalized force. Buoyed by recent successes, including a 15-9 win over Cría La Dolfina earlier today, they bring fresh energy and newfound confidence to the matchup.
For La Ensenada, the clash with La Dolfina proved to be an insurmountable challenge. “They were simply better,” admitted a disappointed Juan Martín Zubía, who suffered a heavy fall but managed to continue. This team, which claimed the Drysdale Cup in September, now finds itself searching for a way to salvage a faltering season and reignite their future prospects.
This tournament has been a rollercoaster for La Ensenada. After surrendering a massive 1-8 lead to Cría La Dolfina in a 16-14 defeat, they had a bye week, followed by an 18-15 loss to Ellerstina, and now a lopsided defeat to La Dolfina. Their final opportunity to salvage the season lies in their upcoming match against La Zeta, another team hungry for redemption.
On the other hand, Ellerstina is hitting their stride at the right time. Gonzalito Pieres, who stood out alongside Sapo Caset (both scoring six goals) in their victory over Cría La Dolfina, reflected on the team’s progress: “We beat a tough opponent that gave us trouble in Tortugas, but this time we avoided the mistakes from that game.” Looking ahead to the semifinal showdown, he added, “We’ve reached where we wanted to be—playing well, refining our system. La Dolfina is always a formidable opponent, but we’re confident in what we’re bringing to the table. Hopefully, everything clicks on the day.”
Meanwhile, Pelón Stirling of La Dolfina shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash: “Ellerstina is having a fantastic season. They barely missed out on Tortugas. But we’ve got our strengths too. Poroto is in excellent form, and Adolfito and Juanma are right there with him. We’re ready for the challenge.”
Next Sunday, the rivalry will be renewed as Ellerstina and La Dolfina face off once again for a place in the final. It will be their second meeting of the year. Their last encounter, during the Hurlingham Open semifinals, saw La Dolfina narrowly prevail with a golden goal in extra time. This rematch promises another thrilling chapter in their historic duel.