Two weeks after an encouraging appearance that seemed to signal a turning point in their season, UAE Polo returned to Palermo with a mixture of expectation and pressure.
The team, guided by the experienced leadership of Polito Pieres, entered the match determined to prove that their upward trajectory was not an illusion.
For the first two chukkers, it looked as if everything had fallen into place, as if the team had finally reconnected with the identity it had struggled to maintain throughout the year.
Their movements appeared synchronized, their passes sharp, and their communication crisp enough to suggest a group fully aware of its own strengths.
Those early minutes painted the portrait of a team playing with purpose. UAE Polo dominated possession, controlled the rhythm of the match, and displayed a confidence that had at times gone missing in previous appearances. Their early 7 to 1 advantage was not only a reflection of scoring efficiency but a manifestation of clarity, of a team embracing the style that once carried it deep into the Hurlingham final. The crowd felt the shift, sensing that UAE Polo was stepping into the version of itself that supporters had been waiting to see.
However, the bright beginnings often seen in sports can conceal deeper issues. As the third chukker unfolded, the match began to reveal the fragility beneath the surface. What had been accuracy turned into repetition of small errors, subtle at first, then increasingly costly. Strikes that would normally cut through space with intention drifted wide. Short backs left the team exposed. Passes delivered under pressure became invitations for Los Machitos to turn defense into attack. It was as if a quiet wind had blown through the field and rearranged the inner structure of the game.
Los Machitos, a team that had struggled with fluctuating form throughout the season, suddenly rediscovered its pride. They responded with a tenacity that grew visibly with each successful play. Their horses accelerated with sharper energy, their riders found new confidence, and their tactical coordination exceeded anything they had shown in recent matches. The transformation was remarkable. Chukker by chukker, they pressed forward, slicing into a lead that once seemed unassailable.
If the match had been judged on sustained momentum, Los Machitos would have dominated the central chapters. They captured four of the next five chukkers, an achievement made even more dramatic by two extraordinary long range goals from Bigatti and Cavanagh. These were not ordinary strikes but elegant, powerful moments that drew gasps from the stands and shifted the emotional center of the match. When the scoreboard marked 11 to 11, it was clear that Los Machitos had not only caught up but had also seized the psychological upper hand.
For UAE, the sudden collapse of rhythm raised immediate concerns. After the match, coach Fernández Araujo spoke with candor about the unraveling of the team’s structure. In his analysis, the mallet work disappeared. They began missing straightforward hits, failed to execute the distance needed on long shots, and ultimately lost the foundation on which their entire tactical system depends. This loss of technical consistency created a ripple effect that disrupted transitions, slowed recoveries, and undermined their ability to build organized attacks. Though UAE had previously delivered a strong performance against Sol de Agosto, this match revealed an inconsistency that would require urgent correction.
The turning point arrived in the seventh chukker. Two penalties awarded to UAE, one of them the subject of heated debate due to its distance from the main play, offered the team a moment of relief. With these goals, they regained a slim margin and began to rebuild confidence. Yet Los Machitos remained combative, and when Cavanagh galloped nearly one hundred yards to score a breathtaking goal, the tension returned instantly. The crowd leaned forward, fully aware that the match stood on the edge of unpredictability.
Polito Pieres then took control of the narrative. In the moments when leaders define matches, Pieres stepped forward confidently. He found space, accelerated past defenders, and anchored the team with decisive plays. His nine goals, including three penalties, reflected not only technical excellence but also emotional composure. Each successful strike was a declaration that UAE still had command of the match’s destiny.
Afterward, Pieres shared that his strong bond with Juan Martín Nero had influenced his commitment to the team’s improvement. When Nero reached out for support in stabilizing the squad, Pieres accepted immediately. Their friendship and shared understanding of high level polo brought cohesion, even amid the turbulence that characterized parts of the match.
UAE Polo struggled until the final bell to win 15-12.
UAE Polo now stands exactly where it needed to be: heading into the decisive clash for a place in the final against La Natividad La Dolfina. The team achieved the objective of positioning itself for a critical showdown, but questions remain about the quality of its performance. To advance further in the Open, UAE will need a far more convincing display, especially given the impeccable form of its upcoming rival.
Fernández Araujo acknowledged that improvement begins with restoring the quality of the striking. Once that happens, he said, the rest of the structure follows naturally. He admitted that the team still feels distant from the level it aspires to reach. Perhaps pressure will help, he mused. The coach also observed that enthusiasm in key moments has not always matched expectation, though he reminded listeners that matches must be played regardless of predictions. Using the example of Saudi Arabia’s unexpected triumph over Argentina in the last World Cup, he emphasized the unpredictability inherent in sport.
Los Machitos, for their part, played one of their best matches of the season. They began the year with a promising win in Tortugas against La Irenita La Hache but struggled in Palermo. Their losses to Sol de Agosto and La Natividad La Dolfina created doubts about their ability to rise to the occasion. Yet in this match, they brought not only intensity but also clarity. Their final performance, despite ending in defeat, demonstrated character and technical ability that will serve them well moving forward. With one match remaining, and their place in the top tier already secure, they have the opportunity to close the tournament with renewed pride. La Zeta, their next opponent, faces significantly higher stakes.
This season, marked by uneven performances at the top, has shown that some of the most compelling and dramatic matches have come from the lower and middle tier teams. UAE, although ambitious, must confront the reality of its inconsistencies. The match against La Natividad La Dolfina will demand more precision, more unity, and more resilience.
When asked whether the upcoming clash carries emotional significance, Fernández Araujo stated firmly that it does not. He holds close friendships with Adolfito and Poroto Cambiaso and knows the Castagnola brothers well, yet maintains that this is simply another match, one that will be contested with professionalism and intensity regardless of personal ties.
UAE Polo has reached the stage it desired. Now comes the difficult part: refining its execution in the short span of five days. Whether the team can convert flashes of brilliance into a sustained performance will determine not only its fate in the next match but its legacy in this season’s Open.
UAE Polo (15): Pablo Pieres, 9; Lucas Monteverde (h.), 9; Tomás Panelo, 9, and Juan Martín Nero, 10. Total: 37.
Los Machitos (12): Victorino Ruiz Jorba, 8; Alfredo Bigatti, 8; Diego Cavanagh, 8, and Teodoro Lacau, 8. Total. 32.
Progression: UAE Polo, 2-0, 7-1, 8-3, 9-5, 10-7, 11-8, 13-11 and 15-12.
UAE Polo goals: Pieres, 9 (3 from a penalty); Monteverde, 2; Panelo, 2 (1 from a penalty), and Nero, 2. From Los Machitos: Ruiz Jorba, 5 (2 from a penalty); Bigatti, 4; Cavanagh, 2, and penalty-1, 1.
Yellow card: Diego Cavanagh, in the seventh chukker.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero and Martín Pascual. Referee: Nicolás Scortichini.
Venue: Field No. 2, Palermo.