SHEIKHA MAITHA LEADS GODOLPHIN TO FINALS

Godolphin Polo and Hungary booked their places in the final of the Emirates Cup in two storming performances at Desert Palm.

An absolute showcase of polo in Dubai and worthy reflection of the standard of polo in the Emirates, the afternoon’s highlight was the semi-final showdown between HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum’s Godolphin Polo and Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm.

Anticipated as the ‘match of the day’ the encounter lived up to expectations, delivering fast and furious end-to-end action from the outset.

Sheikha Maitha opened the Godolphin account scoring within the opening seconds of the game. Desert Palm were quick to reply but at half-time the teams were inseparable at 1-1.

Desert Palm moved one up in the third chukka thanks to a loftily converted penalty from Ollie Cudmore but Sheikha Maitha’s quartet replied almost instantly to level the match once again and a goal in the closing seconds put them one ahead at 3-2.

Desert Palm equalised and then pushed ahead and with just three minutes left to play the home team led 4-3. But Godolphin were far from done. Coming back hard they converted a penalty to equalise before following up
rapidly with a field goal that put victory within sight. Desert Palm attacked hard but time was not on their side and as the final bell sounded Godolphin enjoyed possession and victory 5-4.

Earlier in the afternoon Hungary secured their place in the finals in a thriller against Zedan Polo. Riding out victorious at 6-4 Andras Tombor’s squad sealed the deal with a storming field goal in the closing seconds of a
match that set the fast tone for the stormer that followed.

In the morning’s Nations Cup match Iraq defeated the UAE 5-4 confirming the UK’s final slot. EFG Switzerland went on to defeat the UK in the afternoon but the Brits’ final was secure. They will meet Iraq on Friday.

Thursday will see subsidiary finals played in both Emirates and Nations Cups with Zedan Polo playing Desert Palm and EFG Switzerland lining up against the UAE.