Mazzini scores match winner

Published March 1, 2002

LAHORE, Feb 28: Gerardo Mazzini scored six goals, including a last-minute decider, to give Master Paints/Remounts a narrow 11-10 win over Samsung Whites in the Samsung National Open polo championship at the Lahore Polo Club Aibak ground Thursday.

In an another exciting match, Samsung Blues defeated Nee Punhal/Diamond Paints 9-8 — thanks to six goals by Diego Araya that included a hat trick.

For Whites, Ramiro Garros (five goals), Dr I.A Khan Simba (three) and Malik Asif Yar Tiwana (two) played well. But the trio couldn’t save their team from seven-goal handicap player Mazzini who was excellent in attack and defence.

He was ably supported by the four-goal handicap Argentinean Dielia Toto, who pumped in three goals.

Ramiro and Asif scored a goal each in first chukker but Mazzini reduced the margin and Dielia levelled the scores at 2-all.

In the second chukkur, Simba scored back-to-back field goals while Ramiro converted a spot penalty near the goalpost for Samsung. Mazzini then converted a 40-yard penalty to reduce the deficit to 5-3.

MP/Remounts scored two field goals through Dielia and Sufi Muhammad Amir to level the scores but Simba scored his third goal to put Samsung 6-5 ahead at end of third chukker.

Mazzini struck twice during fourth chukker and Dielia and Sufi Amir scored a field goal each while Ramiro scored a field goal and Asif scored a 40-yard as Remounts finished the fourth chukker leading 9-8.

In the fifth chukker, Ramiro tapped the ball through goal-post off a 40-yard penalty to level the scores at 9-all. Mazzini crowned a team effort to put MP/Remounts 10-9 ahead but Ramiro once again equalised the score by scoring a field goal.

In the dying minutes, Dielia did the necessary spadework and Mazzini came rushing in to score the winner.