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Olympic Water Polo Recaps: 27 July (Day 8)

Water Polo Semifinal/Game 5

HUN vs. ESP

Spain Upsets Previously Undefeated Hungary

Salvador GOMEZ fired in a game-high four goals to lead Spain to a second semifinal water polo upset with a 7-6 triumph over Hungary. Hungary entered the game previously undefeated with six wins. Spain (5-2), the 1992 Olympic Games silver medalist, will play in the gold medal game against Croatia (5-2) on 28 July at 16:30.

With the game knotted at three in the closing seconds of the first half, Tibor BENEDEK put Hungary up by a goal when he scored with 1 second remaining on the clock. BENEDEK is currently in a three-way tie (VAN DER MEER and BENEDEK) for the scoring lead in the tournament with 15 goals. Balazs VINCZE gave Hungary its largest lead of the game, two goals, late in the third quarter, scoring his team's only goal of the quarter.

It was then GOMEZ who took over, as he scored two consecutive goals, ending the third quarter and beginning the fourth, which ignited a 4-0 scoring run for Spain. Ivan MORO gave his team its first lead since 1-0 and Sergi PEDREROL scored an insurance goal with 90 seconds left.

Tamas KASAS, who was responsible for winning Hungary's first two games of the preliminary round, finished the game scoring with 1:03 remaining.

Hungary and Italy, both 5-1, will play for the bronze medal at 15:00 on 28 July.

Final Score: ESP 7, HUN 6.

Water Polo Classification/Game 6

YUG vs. RUS

Russia Prevails in Sudden Death Overtime

It was the highest scoring affair of the seven-day water polo competition as Yugoslavia and Russian Federation combined for 31 goals. Russia prevailed in sudden death overtime, 16-15. In all, the game had 12 ties and 10 lead changes. Also, five players for both teams scored multiple goals for their respective teams.

Russia's Maxim APANASSENKO scored four goals, including the game winner in the sudden death period. Also scoring four goals in the game was Yugoslavia's Veljko USKOKOVIC.

Yugoslavia put the first goals on the board but Russia quickly tied up the contest. After building up another two goal lead (6-4) neither team would lead by more than one goal throughout the remainder of the contest.

APANASSENKO also was responsible for sending the game into the first overtime as he scored the final goal of regulation with less than a minute remaining. Three of his four goals were scored from the fourth quarter on.

Yugoslavia (3-3-1) will play the United States (4-3) for seventh place at 11:30 followed by Russia (3-3-1), which will play Greece (3-4) for fifth place at 13:00.

Final Score: RUS 16, YUG 15 (sudden death overtime).


Water Polo/Classification Game 3

GRE vs. USA

Greece Tops United States

The United States dropped its second game in as many days, losing to Greece, 7-6, in a classification water polo game at the Centennial Olympic Games.

The game was tied at 1-1 after the first quarter, but Greece managed three goals in the second while holding the United States scoreless.

The United States rallied in the third quarter as HUMBERT scored two consecutive goals to pull his team within 4-3. Theodoros LORANTOS scored for Greece, but goals by Jeremy LASTER and MCNAIR, who scored his second goal of the game, knotted the contest at 5-5.

The United States took its first lead of the game at 6-5 when Chris OEDING, the team's second-leading scorer with eight goals, scored on a penalty shot. LOUDIS then took over for Greece, scoring the final two goals, including the game-winner with 2:29 left.

Chris HUMBERT and Rick MCNAIR led the United States with two goals each and Konstantinos LOUDIS and Anastasious PAPNASTASIOU each scored a pair for Greece.

Greece (3-4) will play for fifth place Sunday against the winner of the Russia-Yugoslavia game at 11:30. The United States plays the Russia-Yugoslavia loser for seventh place Sunday at 13:00.

"Yesterday was a serious heartbreaker," said Gavin ARROYO (USA). "We embarrassed ourselves today. After yesterday (a 5-4 loss to Spain), it would have shown character to play hard today, but we had trouble doing that. We feel like we let down our fans. There's nothing we can do about it now. Tomorrow will be a different story - win or lose, we'll be fighting hard."

Final Score: GRE 7, USA 6.


Water Polo/Semifinal Game 2

CRO vs. ITA

Croatia Stuns Italy

Italy, the heavy gold medal favorite entering the Olympic Games, was stunned by Croatia, 7-6, in double overtime in water polo semifinal action at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon. Croatia scored the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of the second overtime period.

Italy controlled the game early, taking a 2-0 lead in the second quarter after outshooting Croatia 7-3 in the first quarter. Croatia rallied, scoring two straight goals to tie the game at 2-2 at halftime.

Josko KREKOVIC gave Croatia its first lead of the game at 3-2, scoring his second straight goal for the only tally in the third quarter.

The game was tied five times, three in regulation. Italy's Alberto GHIBELLINI tied up the game at 4-4 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Amedeo POMILIO scored twice in the first overtime period to give Italy a 6-5 lead, But KREKOVIC scored twice on penalty shots in the final minute of the second overtime, propelling Croatia into Sunday's gold-medal match.

KREKOVIC paced Croatia by scoring four goals, while POMILIO scored twice to lead Italy.

Croatia (5-2) will play the winner of the Hungary-Spain semifinal Sunday at 16:30. Italy (6-1) will play the Hungary-Spain loser for the bronze medal at 15:00.

Final Score: CRO 7, ITA 6.


Day 8, Game 1 (Classification 1 of 2)

Germany vs. Netherlands

Germany Defeats Netherlands

Germany overpowered the Netherlands in the second half to come away with a 9-6 victory in classification water polo action at the Olympic Games on Saturday morning.

Dirk KLINGENBERG scored a game-high three goals in leading Germany to the win. Davor ERJAVEC also pitched in with a pair of goals. Leading the Netherlands was Harry VAN DER MEER, who is currently the co-leader in the scoring column in the tournament with 15 goals (tied with Romania's Vlad HAGIU), had two goals in the game.

The two teams were tied at the intermission with three goals each but Germany broke open the game in the second half, outscoring the Netherlands 6-3. KLINGENBERG and ERJAVEC both scored their second goals of the game in the third quarter, putting Germany up 6-4. KLINGENBERG added his third goal of the game in the final quarter, giving Germany its largest lead of the game, 8-4.

Germany improves to 2-4 in tournament action and will play in the ninth place game at 9:30 on 28 July. The Netherlands will play in the 11th place game at 8:00.

Final Score: GER 9, NED 6.


Day 8, Game 2 (Classification 2 of 2)

Romania vs. Ukraine

Romania Wins First Game of Tournament

Romania jumped out to a quick start and never looked back en route to an 11-8 victory over Ukraine in a classification game at the Olympic Games water polo tournament.

Vlad HAGIU, the team captain, led Romania with a game-high four goals. He is currently tied for the scoring lead in the tournament with the Netherlands' Harry VAN DER MEER with 15 goals. Vadym ROZHDESTVENSKY and Tolik SOLODUN each scored two goals for the Ukraine.

Istvan MOLDVAI gave Romania a 6-1 lead with under 3 minutes to play in the first half, but the Ukraine came back with two goals in the last two minutes to cut the lead to 6-3.

Romania maintained a four-goal lead throughout most of the second half but went up by five (11-6) midway through the final quarter on Nicolae FULGEANU's second goal of the game.

The Ukraine polished off the game scoring with goals by SOLODUN, his second, and Andriy KOVALENKO.

The Ukraine (0-6-1) will play the Netherlands at 8:00 on 28 July. Romania (1-5-1) will play Germany at 9:30.

Final Score: ROM 11, UKR 8.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).