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November 8, 2008 ...and they are back!!! La Aguada Arelauquen captured their first title in four years (the latest was the Tortugas Open, in 2004), as they won the 115 Hurlingham Open after beating Pilará en extra chukker with a golden goal by Javier Novillo Astrada, who converted a penalty from the spot. It´s without a doubt a very important win for the Novillo Astradas, just a week before the start of the Argentine Open in Palermo. It´s even much more important as the four brothers had already lost four consecutive finals (the three in 2006 and the Tortugas final this year, against Ellerstina). This comeback gives them a lot of confidence, looking ahead to what´s coming next, the world´s most important tournament, nothing less... And in spite of the loss, it´s been something very important for Pilará, who did a great job thoroghout the whole tournament. It´s about a great new team, who arrived to their first final in their first season. It was a very balanced match, which started with a 1-1 tie in the first chukker. A goal by Nacho Novillo Astrada gave La Aguada Arelauquen a 2-1 lead, which was quickly answered by Pilará, through a by a great goal by Santiago Chavanne to put things 2-2. The Novillo Astradas would eventually take the second chukker 5-3. The following chukkers saw both teams coming and going, but the score belonged to La Aguada Arelauquen. Meanwhile, Pilará tried to get closer mostly led by Agustín Merlos, the game top scorer, as he converted 14 of the 12 goals of his team (11 thorugh penalty shots). Pilará was eventually stopped by the good defensive job by La Aguada Arelauquen, maybe their strongest point, but the difference between both teams never went beyond two goals. Pilará made a comeback in the seventh chukker. After a goal by Miguel Novillo Astrada to give La Aguada Arelauquen a 11-9 advantage, Agustín Merlos converted two consecutive 40-yards penalties to get a 11-11 tie. Nacho Novillo Astrada quickly answered with another 40-yards penalty conversion and finally Agustín converted a penalty from the spot to enter the last chukker 12-12. Drama started.... . In the eighth chukker, Javier Novillo Astrada converted a 60-yards penalty to give his team a 13-12 lead. Quickly, Agustín Merlos scored a great field goal to tie things 13-13, answered by a goal from Eduardo Novillo Astrada to give La Aguada Arelauquen a 14-13 advantage. Then Marcos Heguy missed a goal to tie once again, after a quick run which went out, but Agustín did it, through another 40-yards penalty conversion. End of regulation time, and extra chukker. La Aguada Arelauquen failed to convert a 60 yards penalty shot. Then a foul led to a penalty from the spot, which was converted by Javier Novillo Astrada to give the title to La Aguada Arelauquen. La Aguada Arelauquen: Javier Novillo Astrada 9 (5 goals, three penalties), Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr. 9 (3), Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 (3) and Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9 (4 penalties). Total: 37. Pilará: Agustín Merlos 10 (12, eleven penalties), Santiago Chavanne 8 (1), Sebastián Merlos 9 and Marcos Heguy 10 (1). Total: 37. Score: La Aguada Areláuquen - 1-1, 5-3, 7-5, 9-7, 9-8, 10-9, 12-12, 14-14 and 15-14. Referees: Martín Haurie
y Federico Martelli. Umpire: Juan José Díaz Alberdi.
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La
Aguada Arelauquen´s comeback