La Natividad La Dolfina endured a demanding and emotionally charged afternoon at the historic grounds of Palermo, yet the team ultimately demonstrated the resilience and competitive strength that have defined its season.
In a match filled with tension, fluctuating momentum, and several moments that could have altered the result entirely, the team managed to secure a well deserved place in the final of the Argentine Open Championship.
With that achievement, they also kept alive the possibility of completing the coveted Triple Crown, a distinction that represents the highest honor in world polo and one that has remained out of reach for every team for a full decade.
The match offered drama from start to finish. The catalyst for the triumph was Camilo Castagnola, who delivered two spectacular goals in the final chukker. These goals, achieved under immense pressure and with the match tied near the end, reflected not only his talent but also his ability to remain composed in critical moments.
Thanks to his performance and the collective effort of the squad, La Natividad La Dolfina sealed a hard fought 16 to 14 victory over the determined UAE Polo lineup. Adding to the atmosphere, the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, was present in the stands, observing one of the most intense matches of the tournament.
Standing between La Natividad La Dolfina and the championship is a still unknown opponent. The team they will face in the final will emerge from the match scheduled for Thursday at 16:30, featuring Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú, rated at thirty six goals, and La Irenita La Hache, rated at thirty seven goals. The winner of that clash will claim the last spot in the title match, completing the picture for what promises to be a memorable final in Palermo.
From the outset, La Natividad La Dolfina, with its forty goal valuation, appeared to have the match under control. Despite an unexpectedly erratic performance from the legendary Adolfo Cambiaso, at one moment inadvertently striking his son Poroto on the shoulder and Bartolomé Castagnola on the back with misdirected shots, the team played with authority during the first few chukkers. By the end of the third period they held a solid seven to three lead and seemed capable of widening the distance even further. Their flow was smooth, their horses responded well, and their teamwork showed a level of familiarity and confidence that UAE struggled to match. UAE, with a valuation of thirty seven goals, relied heavily on Pablo Pieres, who ultimately became the top scorer of the match with eight goals, including two from penalties.
UAE Polo refused to surrender. Beginning in the fourth chukker, the team gradually found its rhythm. Tomás Panelo stepped forward as a more prominent figure, pushing the pace, contesting every play, and helping reduce the gap on the scoreboard. The momentum slowly shifted. By putting sustained pressure on La Natividad La Dolfina, UAE disrupted the patterns that had worked so well earlier. The result was a more balanced and unpredictable match, one in which control changed hands several times.
The end of the seventh chukker brought a thirteen to thirteen tie, and along with it the sense that the outcome would depend on a detail, a single mistake, or a spark of brilliance. The physical toll of the match was becoming clearly visible. Players from both sides showed signs of fatigue. Among them, Lucas Monteverde stood out. At only twenty years of age, he had performed with courage and determination, but the intensity caught up with him. Before the final period began he stepped off his horse, sank down into the grass, and received urgent massages on his arms and legs. His exhaustion was evident. He mentioned that he was completely cramped, a condition likely made worse by a fall he had suffered in the sixth chukker after a collision between horses.
The last chukker magnified everything that had defined the match: pressure, speed, physical strain, and the constant threat of a decisive moment. UAE Polo seemed on the verge of achieving a historic win. With five minutes remaining, Panelo found the goal that gave his team a narrow fourteen to thirteen lead. For several minutes afterward La Natividad La Dolfina struggled to score. The weight of the clock turned every play into a desperate attempt to regain control. It was only when a thirty yard penalty was awarded that Poroto Cambiaso managed to even the score at fourteen to fourteen with just over three minutes left.
The atmosphere in the stadium grew more intense with each passing second. Spectators knew that the next goal could shape the entire tournament. At this crucial moment, when tension peaked and opportunities were scarce, Camilo Castagnola rose to the occasion. He took command of the play and produced two extraordinary goals. The first came with one minute and fifteen seconds remaining. The second, even more dramatic, arrived with only twenty six seconds on the clock. These goals did more than secure the win, they defined the character of the team and its determination to reach the final despite the adversity faced throughout the match.
Having already secured titles at Hurlingham and Tortugas, the Cambiaso and Castagnola family partnership will now compete for the most prestigious prize: the Triple Crown. Achieving it would place them in the same territory occupied by the most dominant teams in the history of polo. The last team to complete the feat was La Dolfina itself, which won all three major tournaments in succession during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons.
That legendary lineup consisted of Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough, and Juan Martín Nero, a combination that marked an era. Now, Adolfo Cambiaso has the opportunity to make history again, this time accompanied by his son and his nephews.
It is a moment filled with symbolism and the promise of a new chapter in the sport.
Team scoring details:
La Natividad La Dolfina:
Camilo Castagnola, 6 goals, including 2 penalties
Poroto Cambiaso, 6 goals, including 4 penalties
Adolfo Cambiaso, 2 goals
Bartolomé Castagnola, 2 goals, including 1 penalty
UAE Polo:
Pablo Pieres, 8 goals, including 2 penalties
Lucas Monteverde
Tomás Panelo, 5 goals, including 3 penalties
Juan Martín Neto, 1 goal
Score progression: 3 to 1, 4 to 2, 7 to 3, 8 to 6, 10 to 9, 12 to 11, 13 to 13, and 16 to 14.