Two one-goal semi-finals set up an unpredictable Gstaad final

Two semi-finals, two matches decided by a single goal and a final few would have dared to predict. Albinati Aeronautics first brought down Hublot and its star Gonzalo Pieres after a thrilling encounter (11–10), before Kielder Agro Group knocked out defending champions Gstaad Palace with a golden goal (6–5). Under returning sunshine and in front of a large crowd, Saturday confirmed one thing: rarely has the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad featured four teams so evenly matched.

Adrian Laplacette, who scored six goals, played a major role in securing Albinati Aeronautics’ place in the final. © Pascal Renauldon – R&B Presse

Albinati bring down Hublot and Pieres in a thriller

It took strong nerves to claim the first ticket to the final of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad. At the end of a spectacular semi-final packed with goals and dramatic swings in momentum, Albinati Aeronautics caused the upset by defeating Hublot and Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 11–10.

The two teams initially traded blows (3–3), before Hublot appeared to take control in the second chukker, moving 6–4 ahead. But nothing in this match was settled for long. Four goals in the third period completely turned the situation around, allowing Albinati to enter the final chukker with a one-goal advantage (8–7).

The last period produced a superb mano a mano. With Hublot having drawn level, Adrian Laplacette struck a golazo to put Albinati back in front. Bautista Beguerie responded almost immediately with an equally spectacular goal: 10–10 with less than two minutes remaining. Facundo Retamar then delivered the decisive blow, scoring the goal that sent Albinati into the final.

Gonzalito Pieres certainly did not disappoint. The three-time Argentine Open winner scored seven of Hublot’s ten goals and imposed all his talent on the match. But Albinati countered with a collective effort that Fabio Meier believes ultimately made the difference: “Their team is very, very strong. We were behind, then ahead, then behind again… But in the end, we all worked together. I think that’s what made the difference.”

The Swiss player was equally generous in his praise of the man Albinati had just eliminated: “Gonza is one of the best players in the world. It was very difficult to play against him. But we are four, not just one player. We all fought together, and I think that’s where we made the difference.”

For Fabio Meier, tomorrow’s final will carry particular significance. A familiar face at Gstaad, he is still chasing his first victory here: “We’ve been coming here for many years now and have never managed to win the trophy. But I think this year… this is the one!”

The only question left was who Albinati would face on Sunday.

Manuel Fernandez Llorente celebrates after scoring the golden goal that sent Kielder Agro Group into the final. © Pascal Renauldon – R&B Presse

Kielder hold their nerve

After the 21 goals and multiple twists of the first semi-final, Kielder Agro Group and Gstaad Palace found another way to extend both the suspense and the pleasure: they needed a fifth chukker, the suplementario, and a golden goal to separate them.

Gstaad Palace made the better start (2–1), before Kielder gradually worked their way back into the match and appeared to take a significant step towards the final when they opened the first two-goal gap of the game in the third chukker (5–3).

But Gstaad Palace had no intention of surrendering their crown without a fight. After closing the gap to 5–4, they eventually drew level through Santiago Loza, who scored three goals in the match.

The Argentine even had victory at the end of his mallet in the closing minutes: a 60-yard penalty that could have sent Gstaad Palace straight into the final. But his shot flew wide to the right. With the score tied 5–5 after four chukkers, the match went into overtime and the unforgiving rule of the golden goal: first to score wins.

The fifth period proved every bit as fiercely contested as the previous four. The umpire’s whistle was kept busy until Kielder were awarded a 30-yard penalty. Manuel Fernandez Llorente held his nerve, sending the ball between the posts and sparking celebrations throughout the Pepa camp. With four goals, including two penalties, the Argentine finished as his team’s leading scorer, while his brother Horacio contributed the other two.

Juan Pepa also played a major role in the victory, albeit in a very different way. Playing at back, the Kielder captain produced a series of defensive interventions and long clearances that proved invaluable whenever Gstaad Palace applied the most pressure.

Horacio Fernandez Llorente, scorer of two goals, did not look for any complicated explanation for the victory: “I suffered! It was an incredible match, very difficult, on a challenging field after yesterday’s rain. At this level there was practically nothing between the two teams. We simply had a little more luck, and today that made all the difference.”

A final impossible to predict

Gonzalo Pieres is out. The defending champions are out. And after two semi-finals decided by a single goal, one of them in overtime, it would be a brave person who tried to pick a favourite for Sunday’s final between Albinati Aeronautics and Kielder Agro Group.

That uncertainty perhaps sums up the 2026 edition perfectly: four remarkably evenly matched teams and games capable of turning on a golazo, a converted or missed penalty : sometimes on a matter of centimetres.

Gstaad 2026 can already be called a great vintage: sunshine – with more forecast for tomorrow – a large crowd, a wonderful atmosphere and the mountains as a backdrop. After Friday’s weather caprices, even the Alpine skies chose their side on Saturday: the side of the party.

All that remains is to discover which quartet will have luck on their side on Sunday and leave Gstaad with the trophy… and a Hublot on each player’s wrist.

PROGRAM

1:30 p.m.: Team Hublot vs. Team Gstaad Palace
3:00 p.m. – Final: Team Kielder Agro Group vs. Team Kielder Agro Group

STATISTIQUES

Semifinal 1

TEAM HUBLOT
Rupert KNAUF – GER, 0; Gonzalo PIERES – ARG, 7 (7 goals, including 5 penalty shots); Alfonso NERO – ARG, 1 (1 goal); and Bautista BEGUERIE – ARG, 6 (2 goals, including 1 penalty shot)

TEAM ALBINATI AERONAUTICS
Luca MEIER – CH, 1 (1 goal), Fabio MEIER – CH, 1 (1 goal), Adrian LAPLACETTE – ARG, 6 (6 goals, including 3 penalty shots), and Facundo RETAMAR – ARG, 6 (3 goals)

Albinati Aeronautics’ Record: 3/3 – 6/4 – 7/8 – 10/11

Semifinal 2

TEAM KIELDER AGRO GROUP
Juan PEPA – IT, 2, Antonio MANZANO – ARG, 0, Manuel FERNANDEZ LLORENTE – ARG, 6 (4 goals, including 2 penalty shots), and Horacio FERNANDEZ LLORENTE – ARG, 6 (2 goals)

TEAM GSTAAD PALACE
Markus GRAEFF – CH, 0, Thommy GRAEFF – CH, 3 (2 goals), Santiago LOZA – ARG, 7 (3 goals), and Facundo KELLY – ARG, 4

Kielder Agro Group’s progress: 1/2 – 2/3 – 5/4 – 5/5 – 6/5 (golden goal)