La Hache Cría y Polo secured its place in the top tier and delivered another upset at the Palermo Open by defeating La Irenita La Hache 16 to 15 in Sunday’s first match.
The game, played on Field 2, was intense, physical, and unpredictable, and it stayed dramatic until the final seconds. Carlos María Ulloa’s team ended up shocking many observers with a victory few had expected.
For La Hache Cría y Polo, this was a do or die match. They needed a win in their last appearance of the 132nd Argentine Open to stay among the top eight teams and guarantee their full participation in the next season’s Triple Crown.
Bautista Bayugar, Toly Ulloa, Ignacio Laprida, and Joaquín Pittaluga held on to their confidence even when the game seemed to be slipping away, especially when their opponents went up by three goals at the start of the seventh chukker. During every break, Héctor Guerrero pushed them forward, offering calm and belief. The team responded.
The decisive play came just moments before the final bell, when Toly Ulloa, the standout player of the match, carried the ball with poise and finished coolly, avoiding an extra chukker.
La Hache Cría y Polo is a team known for its mental toughness. They might have ups and downs in form, but they never give in. After debuting with a tight win against La Ensenada, they suffered heavy losses to Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú and La Dolfina II, yet managed to regroup when they needed it most.
Their comeback relied more on resilience than elegance and on a fierce commitment to every play. Pittaluga’s accuracy was another key factor since he scored 10 goals, eight of them from penalties. With this result, the team that first reached Palermo through qualification in 2022 earned the right to play its fifth consecutive Open in 2026, once again with Toly Ulloa and Pittaluga as its core.
For La Irenita La Hache, this was a loss that few could have imagined. They had moments when the match was within reach and could have closed it out earlier, but they lacked precision in the defining moments. Hilario Ulloa was outstanding once again, although the team struggled to find the defensive solidity and midfield consistency it needed. Even so, they still control their chances of reaching the final. The situation now depends on next weekend’s showdown with the team formed by the Heguy and Pieres families. If that team beats La Ensenada, it will reach six points, a total La Irenita La Hache would match if they win their match. In that case, Ulloa and Mac Donough’s team would advance to the final because they would have defeated the rival with whom they are tied.
That upcoming match will be crucial, and within the team they hope to have Pablo Mac Donough back, a fundamental piece whose absence was felt.
Match Summary
La Hache Cría y Polo (16):
Bayugar 8, C. M. Ulloa 8, Laprida 8, Pittaluga 8. Total 32.
La Irenita La Hache (15):
H. Ulloa 9, Elizalde 9, M. Mac Donough (h.) 7, du Plessis 9. Total 34.
Progression: 1-3, 2-4, 6-5, 7-8, 9-11, 11-12, 14-14, 16-15.
Goal scorers:
For La Irenita La Hache, H. Ulloa 10 (7), Elizalde 2, M. Mac Donough (h.) 1, du Plessis 2.
For La Hache Cría y Polo, Bayugar 1, C. M. Ulloa 2, Laprida 3, Pittaluga 10 (8).
Umpires: Martelli and Villanueva (h.)
Referee: Inchauspe
Field: No. 2, Argentine Polo Grounds