Six years have passed since that memorable afternoon on Field 2 at Palermo when La Ensenada debuted in the Argentino Abierto with a resounding victory over Alegría. Back then, they were four young players heralded as the next generation of polo talent. In the years that followed, they lived up to the promise with a brand of polo that blended elegance and power, earning significant wins against formidable opponents like La Dolfina (twice) and La Natividad.
But this time, La Ensenada returned to the same field with a very different goal: fighting to retain their place among the elite. Their opponents, a new team with echoes of La Ensenada’s youthful beginnings, featured two promising teenagers—17-year-old Lorenzo Chavanne and 18-year-old Beltrán Laulhé.
Though it came late in the tournament, La Ensenada finally rediscovered its characteristic flair, captivating a packed grandstand that included the boisterous supporters of La Zeta. Their dominant 16-7 victory secured not only their place in the 2025 Triple Corona but also a repeat of their impressive 5th-place finish in the rankings from the previous year. Such are the paradoxes of this eclectic Palermo tournament.
La Ensenada found themselves in this precarious situation after a shocking loss to Cría La Dolfina in their opening match—a game they once led 10-1 but ultimately lost 16-14. That defeat left the team reeling, dashing their hopes of upsetting Ellerstina and La Dolfina in subsequent matches. By the final round, they faced a must-win scenario against a La Zeta team that had surprised many by defeating Cría La Dolfina.
“Today, the team finally showed up,” exclaimed Juan Martín Zubía, who shone not only in this match but throughout the tournament for La Ensenada. “We played more cohesively today than we have all season. It was a decisive match, and we were more united than ever.”
La Ensenada’s path to victory was methodical, built on a slow, steady dismantling of their opponents. They took a one-goal lead in the second chukker, extended it by another in the third, and finally found their rhythm with consecutive goals in the fourth. The game’s turning point came in a pivotal play after a penalty-1. Jerónimo del Carril unleashed a powerful shot from midfield, leaving the ball perfectly positioned for Juan Britos, who needed only to tap it in. From there, Zubía’s orchestration and Del Carril’s relentless drive allowed La Ensenada to take full control. By the fifth chukker, they had surged to a six-goal lead (10-4).
La Zeta, led by Matías Torres Zavaleta, mounted a brief comeback, scoring three consecutive goals to narrow the gap to 10-7. However, Zubía stepped up once more, guiding La Ensenada to a resounding finish with a 6-0 run that left their opponents deflated.
Despite the high stakes, the match was remarkably fluid, with end-to-end action and minimal fouls. Of the 23 goals scored, only three came from direct penalties. Even in defeat and relegation, La Zeta left Palermo with their heads held high after a respectable debut on polo’s grandest stage.
Did experience play a role in this decisive match? “No,” asserted Torres Zavaleta. “From the first match of the qualifiers, we’ve been playing high-pressure games. Every game has been important.” La Zeta, Ellerstina’s second team, led by Nicolás Pieres, fell victim to the frenetic pace of this season. In another year, even a single victory might have been enough to earn them a playoff spot against the Cámara de Diputados champions.
“It’s been a pleasure to play for this team, and I’m incredibly grateful for how they welcomed me and the horses they provided,” Torres Zavaleta continued. In 2019, he played alongside two other rising stars, Camilo and Bartolomé Castagnola, during La Natividad’s debut season. “We won a match and played good polo. I’m frustrated because we wanted to qualify, but I’m proud of the team.”
Will there be a La Zeta in 2025? The answer depends on how the hierarchy of top teams unfolds in the coming months.
Back in 2018, four young players in La Ensenada jerseys made a splash in Palermo. Six years later, they found themselves as seasoned veterans, triumphing over another youth-laden team. Experience prevailed, the crowd reveled, and polo was the ultimate winner.
Match Summary
La Ensenada: Juan Britos (9), Alfredo Bigatti (9), Juan Martín Zubía (9), Jerónimo del Carril (9). Total: 36 goals.
La Zeta: Lorenzo Chavanne (6), Beltrán Laulhé (6), Nicolás Pieres (8), Matías Torres Zavaleta (8). Total: 28 goals.
Scoring Progression: 1-1, 3-2, 5-3, 7-3, 9-4, 10-5, 12-7, 16-7.
Goal Scorers:
• La Ensenada: Britos (3), Bigatti (2), Zubía (4), Del Carril (6, including 2 penalties and 2 corner goals), 1 penalty-1.
• La Zeta: Chavanne (1), Pieres (2), Torres Zavaleta (4).
Referees: Guillermo Villanueva and Martín Pascual. Umpire: Rafael Silva.
Field: No. 2, Palermo.