NEWS

The USPA Polo Network will livestream the United States Arena Handicap Final Saturday, August 5 at 1pm ET.

Argentine brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada will be pitted against each other when Flexjet and Audi play Saturday in the final of the United States Arena Handicap at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado.

In Thursday's semifinals, Audi (Daren Tamplin 2, Nacho Novillo Astrada 8, Stewart Armstrong 4) advanced with a thrilling 13-12 victory over Aspen Valley Polo Club (Pablo Dorignac 7, Grant Ganzi 2, Juancito Bollini 3). It was Audi's second one-goal victory of the tournament. In the opening game, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi 1, Juan Bollini 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8) showed their dominance once again with a 17-12 win over La Karina Green (Harrison Azzaro 1, Lucas Lalor 6, Ramiro Cordero 5).

Audi and Flexjet are undefeated at 2-0. Game time is 1pm ET and will be livestreamed by ChukkerTV and the USPA Polo Network.

In the quarterfinals, Flexjet defeated Sopris Mountain Ranch (Santos Bollini 2, Pablo Spinacci 6, Gabriel Gracida, 4) 14-8, and Audi edged La Karina White (Ailsa "Ace" Currier, Carlitos Gracida, Mike Azzaro) 15-14.

On Thursday, it was another wild finish for Audi with Nacho Novillo Astrada scoring a game-high eight goals including what turned out to be the game-winner in the final minute after Bollini scored with 40 seconds left to cut the lead to one. Aspen Valley Polo Club, given a 1-0 lead on handicap, started off strong behind Dorignac's three goals including a 2-pointer, and Ganzi's Penalty 2 conversion for a 5-1 lead.

Audi, led by Astrada, bounced back in the second chukker scoring three of the next four goals. Tamplin, filling in for starter Marc Ganzi, drew a right of way penalty to set Astrada up with a penalty 2, but Astrada's shot sailed over the goal. Aspen Valley Polo Club saw their 6-4 lead dwindle in the third chukker as Audi continued to control the momentum. Armstrong's goal tied the game 9-9 after three chukkers.

Armstrong opened the fourth chukker with a goal and Astrada added another for an 11-9 advantage. Ganzi converted an additional Penalty 2 and Bollini scored to tie the game, 11-11. With 1:20 left, Astrada played the wall and scored back-to-back goals for a 13-11 advantage in the final minute. Bollini scored again to cut the lead to one but ran out of time. In addition to Astrada's game-high eight goals, including a 2-pointer, Armstrong added three and Tamplin had one. Dorignac led Aspen Valley Polo Club with six goals, Ganzi had three and Bollini added two.

In the early game, Flexjet was the more experienced team. For the second consecutive game, Flexjet had to give up four goals to La Karina Green on handicap. Despite a close first half with Flexjet leading by one, 8-7, the talented trio kept their composure in the second half to run away with the win. With so much chemistry, Flexjet looked unbeatable in the second half, outscoring La Karina Green, 9-5. Azzaro filled in for starter Brian Boyd and was playing for the first time with Lalor and Cordero.

"We are excited about playing in the final," Bollini said. "That was a tough team, a strong team with young talented players. We have been playing together and know each other. It's a pleasure having Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada playing here and to be in the final."

In addition to Astrada's game-high eight goals, Ganzi scored six, including four in the fourth chukker, bringing her two-game total to 14 goals. Bollini added one goal. Cordero, making his Aspen debut this summer, led his team with six goals including a 2-pointer. Lalor and Azzaro each had one.