ISLAMABAD, Jun 04 (APP): Islamabad Club Polo Juniors staved off a late comeback challenge from Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club to cruise to a 6-5 victory in the second exhibition fixture of the two-match series here at Polo Ground of Islamabad Club on Sunday.
Islamabad Club Juniors got off to a flying start as Abdullah hammered the first goal for them at the start of the opening chukker. But moments later, Dubai’s Charlie Matthews hit a fantastic goal to equalise the match. At the end of the first chukker, the match was tied at 1-1.
Islamabad Club’s promising young guns displayed some incredible horsemanship and aggression in the second chukker. It was Saad Mirza, who first chipped in with a fantastic goal to make it 2-1 and then Saim Abbas scored a third goal for them to make it 3-1.
Islamabad continued playing their hearts out as Saim Abbas and Saad Mirza scored one goal apiece for them in the third chukker to enhance the lead to 5-1.
Dubai Club made a strong comeback in the fourth chukker when Ayden Al Ahmed Aiden converted two back-to-back undefended 30-yard penalties into goals to decrease the lead to 5-3. But Hashim Waheed knocked another goal for Islamabad, making it 6-3.
In the dying moments of the match, Dubai scored two more goals to end the thriller 6-5.
United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony gave away trophies and awards to the players of both the teams.
The visiting team players included Hassan Al Abbar, Ayden Al Ahmed, Charlie Matthews and Harmes Werle. They were accompanied by Lisa Mathews (Team Manager) and Jan Azam (Team Coach).
The players for the Islamabad Club Polo team comprised Chengiz Khan Leghari, Akbar Aurangzeb, Abdullah, Saad Mirza, Muhammad Ali Malik and Hashim Waheed. The Islamabad Club for the first time hosted a series of exhibition matches between the junior teams of Islamabad Club and Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.
This was the first time a junior polo team visited Pakistan which as part of the sports diplomacy of Islamabad Club.