Building a successful U.S. Open Championship team requires many quality horses and a talented combination of top players who work well together. It often takes at least a few highgoal seasons before the team finally clicks. A mid-season line-up change usually ends a team's chances, but for Zacara, it likely put the team in the winner's circle.

British-born business mogul Lydon Lea, 43, had a stellar summer season after winning the British Open. His next goal was the U.S. Open. He has been investing in horses, both in the U.S. and U.K., for quite some time and lined up quality players in 10- goal Facundo Pieres, 8-goal Magoo Laprida and 7-goal Joaquin Pittaluga for his Zacara team.

Being English, the British Open was always the tournament I most wished to win, followed by the U.S. Open. I certainly had no dream we would win both within a 12-month period," explained Lea.

"They are each special in their own way. The British Open has the most teams and is therefore possibly the most competitive. Having said that, this was the most competitive U.S. Open I have ever seen and was well attended. The U.S. Open, being 26 goals, separates it and puts it in a league of its own. I also like the U.S. Open as there is no artificial foreign player restriction, which will always hold back high-goal polo in the U.K. So, they each have their attractions and certainly both are special.

Previously, Lea's polo teams have been named after businesses he owned including Typhoo tea and Jimmy Choo shoes, however he changed the names each time the companies were sold. The Zacara name is likely to stay with him, not only because it has been successful, but since it is named after his children Zachary and Chiara.

In the Open Zacara would have to face George Rawling's Crab Orchard team with superstar Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling and Mike Azzaro. But as Lea says, polo is full of surprises. Without doubt the team was favored to win, but before the season began Stirling's handicap was raised from 9 to 10. Now a 27-goal team, one of the players would have to go. Instead the team dropped out and all three pros were left without a team.

Finding a team within weeks of the season is almost impossible as most patrons have already committed to their players. When Bob Jornayvaz heard Cambiaso and Stirling were available, he decided to enter a second team, Valiente II led by his son Robert, using both Cambiaso and Stirling.

Azzaro, however, was still watching from the sidelines when the season began. Zacara did fairly well, winning its first two games of the C.V. Whitney but lost in the semifinal.

As co-founder of Lion Capital, Lea's success in the business world is due to his knack for knowing when to buy and when to sell. In the Gold Cup, Zacara counted two wins under its belt when he decided it was time for a change.

"Sometimes difficult choices need to be made, which you don't want to make but you know should be made. That is where the experience in business comes into play. I had to make one such decision this year when I saw Pittaluga was not playing up to his potential," explained Lea.

Former 10-goaler Azzaro, now rated 7 goals, was brought in to replace Pittaluga. The team won its next game, but again got knocked out of the tournament in the semifinal round. Azzaro was originally put in front of Pieres with Laprida at back. Eventually the players shifted so Azzaro would play behind Laprida with Facundo at No. 1, a position he knows best. Lea would play at his prefered No. 2 spot. "We really hit our stride when Mike started playing back," said Lea.

By the time the U.S. Open began, most teams were either beginning to gel, with their horses peaking, or were realizing it wasn't going to be their year. Having only played two games with the team, Azzaro was just getting used to his teammates. His horses were fresh and with some additional horses from Lea he was in good shape.

Zacara won its first game 15- 10 over Alegria thanks to nine goals by Facundo Pieres. Its next game a week later had Zacara over Orchard Hill 15-12 with Pieres again scoring nine goals. It was evident Pieres was benefitting from the support of his teammates. Lea said, "The team wanted to win. Everyone subjugated their egos and played for the collective [good]. We created space for Facundo. When he has space, he is unstoppable."

The team's next game was against Valiente I, winner of the C.V. Whitney. Zacara took an early lead and never looked back. It took the 11-9 win with Pieres scoring six goals and Laprida and Azzaro adding two apiece. Zacara was the only team to go undefeated heading into the quarterfinal round where it smoked Coca-Cola 13-7.

Valiente II suffered after Cambiaso broke his hand in the Gold Cup. It was eliminated by Valiente I in the Open quarterfinals.

Zacara's win put it into the semifinals against a tough ERG squad. Scott Wood's ERG was driven by 9-goal brothers Tincho and Sebastian Merlos and 8-goal Paco de Narvaez..

The pressure was really on in the semi-final, knowing we were so close. We played Tincho and Sebastian who we had played against in the final of the British Open, which was a close affair. I thought maybe it would be their turn," said Lea. "They are always difficult to play against and did an effective job of not allowing us to play our open, running game."

When Zacara held a 7-4 lead after two periods, it looked liked it would coast to victory but costly fouls and persistence brought ERG within two, 8-6, at the half. ERG was gaining momentum and by early in the sixth had tied the score. Pieres capitalized on a Penalty 4 and Laprida gave Zacara some more cushion. Agustin Merlos scored one for ERG but ran out of time and Zacara had the win.

After Victor Vargas' Lechuza Caracas, led by 10-goalers Juan Martin Nero and Sapo Caset, and 5-goal Facundo Obregon, edged Valiente I in overtime, the final was set for Sunday with Zacara taking on the defending champions.

The days leading up to the Open were rain soaked, putting into question if the final could be played as scheduled. On Sunday, with a mix of clouds, sun and showers, International Polo Club brought in several helicopters to hover over the field to help ensure the grass would be playable.

Meanwhile Zacara's focus was on winning. Its strategy was to keep the ball away from Nero and play its own running game. "I thought the final was a 50/50 chance," said Lea. "Victor is a fantastic competitor and always dangerous if you let him have the ball. He creates winning teams without fail."

Lechuza held one-goal leads in the first two periods, but a pair of unanswered goals by Azzaro put Zacara ahead 5-4 at the half. Zacara went up by three in the fourth, but Lechuza fought back to within one going into the sixth. Zacara's strategy was working but the game wasn't over yet. It was still too close to call, but a goal by Laprida and another by Lea pushed Zacara ahead by three. Lechuza battled back when Caset sunk a Penalty 3, but that would be its last tally and Zacara would hang on for the wellearned U.S. Open victory.

Sapo Caset was high scorer with five goals for Lechuza. Mike Azzaro was named MVP after putting in a stellar effort and leading Zacara with four. The win was his sixth U.S. Open title. Lyndon Lea's La Lina, a 10-year-old bay mare recently purchased from Ruki Baillieu in U.K. and played by Pieres in the second and sixth periods, was named Best Playing Pony of the final.

For Zacara, the line-up change likely made the difference. Lea said, "If we had persevered [with Pittaluga] then I don't believe we would have won the U.S. Open. ... It was a tough decision but, in hindsight, clearly the right one."

When asked if Lea will keep the team next year, he said, "How could I not!"