Archive for the ‘Water Polo’ Category.
25th August 2008, 01:22 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 17:59:07
Tamas Varga of Hungary shoots. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
(BEIJING, August 24) — Hungary beat the United States 14-10 to win gold and create its own slice of history at the Yingdong Natatorium on August 24.
It was the first time a country had won three consecutive Olympic titles in Water Polo and Hungary’s ninth crown in all.
It is the third time six players have visited the top of the podium — Tamas Kasas, Zoltan Szecsi, Tamas Molnar, Peter Biros, Gergely Kiss and captain Tibor Benedek. Their coach Denes Kemeny has also been with the team for the past three gold.
The game started at a crazy pace with the US team jumping to a 2-1 lead before Hungary scored two late goals for a 6-4 lead at the first break.
The second period slowed a little, with Team USA captain Tony Azevedo twice leveling the scores with his third and fourth goals of the game.
Biros received a pass on a short drive to score his third and give Hungary a 9-8 lead on the half-time horn, but he limped from the pool to receive treatment on his left leg and had to sit out the second half.
Layne Beaubien leveled the scores for the United States early in the third quarter but Hungary had an 11-9 lead going into the final period.
The final quarter was all Hungary until US player Jesse Smith drilled a shot with one minute 23 seconds remaining, but by then Hungary had already clinched the gold.
25th August 2008, 01:22 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 17:32:45
Tony Azevedo of the United States tries to move the ball out in front of members of the Hungary team. (Photo credit: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Hungary beat the United States 14-10 to win the Olympic Men’s Water Polo gold medal here on Sunday. Serbia beat Montenegro 6-4 for bronze.
Peter Hudnut and Rick Merlo of the United States attack Denes Andor Varga and Gabor Kis of Hungary. (Photo credit: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Tamas Varga of Hungary shoots. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
Daniel Rudolf Varga of Hungary fights for the ball with Ryan Bailey of the United States. (Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
25th August 2008, 01:22 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 16:24:33
(BEIJING, August 24) — A depleted Serbia beat Montenegro 6-4 for the bronze medal in Men’s Water Polo at the Yingdong Natatorium on Sunday.
Three-time World League champions Serbia began the match without key player Aleksandar Sapic and lead goalkeeper Denis Sefik. Sapic had gone home with a knee injury after falling down some stairs on Friday night.
Sefik broke his hand in a previous game but only realized on Sunday that the injury would prevent him from playing, according to head coach Dejan Udovicic.
The match was further complicated when Montenegro’s Predrag Jokic was sent for misconduct in the first quarter and Milan Ticic went on three major fouls in the second half. Serbia’s Vanja Udovicic, Zivko Gocic and Dejan Savic all fouled out of the game.
However, this did not take away from the spectacle of the two teams who just two years before played as Serbia and Montenegro, winning the World Cup in Budapest, Hungary.
Serbia played their best game of the tournament when it counted, leading 3-0 at the quarter and stretching the margin to 4-1 by half-time and 6-2 by the final break.
Serbia’s last goal came with four minutes left in the third period. It was enough to hold out Montenegro, who battled to get two goals in the fourth quarter but, at 6-4 with 90 seconds remaining, it was too late.
25th August 2008, 01:22 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 15:30:49
(BEIJING, August 24) — Spain finished off Croatia 11-9 for fifth place in the Men’s Water Polo competition at Yingdong Natatorium on Sunday.
Spain excelled in the second half of play while Croatia put in little effort, gifting the fifth spot to Spain.
Croatia took a quick 2-0 lead to finish the first quarter.
Spain fought back to 5-5 with Marc Minguell scoring all three goals in the second quarter. Two goals were from extra-man advantage, which Spain executed well.
Croatia seemed to stop playing in the second half, letting Spain pull away with the game.
At one point Spain scored four unanswered goals to give them a comfortable 11-6 lead with just three minutes left in regular time.
Felipe Perrone netted two of the goals to make him the team’s top scorer with 16 goals for the tournament.
Croatia narrowed the gap to 11-9 with two goals by Teo Dogas but the last-minute effort made no difference.
25th August 2008, 01:21 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 12:22:27
(BEIJING, August 24) - Italy defeated a sluggish German team 10-8 to take ninth place in the Men’s Water Polo competition at Yingdong Natatorium on August 24.
Italy won the first and fourth quarters 4-3, while leveling with Germany 1-1 during the second and third.
Alessandro Calcaterra of Italy, who has been the exploding cannon during the tournament with 27 goals, scored five goals on Sunday, contributing more then a quarter of his team’s points.
He scored in every quarter except the second. He could have added one more in the fourth, but his penalty shot was blocked by German goalkeeper Alexander Tchigir.
25th August 2008, 01:21 am
Updated: 2008-08-24 10:28:39
(BEIJING, August 23) — Italy and Germany open the day’s activities with the play-off for 9th and 10th place. Both high-flying teams in past years, they have under-performed in Beijing 2008 but will be keen to finish on a winning note.
Australia and Greece clash for 7th and 8th place. Both are happy to be in the top eight but harboured hopes of a higher finish. Australia beat Greece 12-8 in preliminary play.
World champions Croatia and outgoing world No. 3 Spain will fight it out for 5th and 6th place at 13:00. Croatia were unlucky not to be in the semifinals, missing out by a goal to Montenegro.
Balkan neighbours Montenegro and Serbia clash in the bronze-medal match. The teams won the Budapest 2006 World Cup playing as a united Serbia and Montenegro.
Hungary, chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Gold medal and ninth in total, will play surprise finalists United States of America in the final. Hungary are the sentimental favorites, while the US have the nerve and flair to take the game.
25th August 2008, 01:21 am
Updated: 2008-08-23 19:21:17
(BEIJING, August 22) — The United States defeated Serbia 10-5 in the second Men’s Water Polo semifinal at the Yingdong Natatorium on Friday, August 22.
The US players celebrated as if they already had the gold medal after a calculated and clinical demolition of the triple world league champions Serbia.
It marks a return to center stage for the United States, last winning World Cups in 1991 and 1997.
The United States has the team to threaten the winners of the past two Olympic titles, Hungary, on Sunday August 24.
The game was even for most of the first half but the United States had the edge 5-4 at the break.
Serbia only scored one goal in 22 minutes of actual play.
Serbia did not stop attacking but the US teams defense was strong, with excellent goalkeeping from Merill Moses.
Several Team USA goals stood out, with captain Tony Azevedo receiving a pinpoint cross pass on a short drive to score midway through the fourth period and Jeffrey Powers scoring at the end of possession time at 2:25 from a free throw to end the scoring.
Serbia will face Montenegro for the bronze medal in what should be an interesting match considering that as Serbia and Montenegro they won the World Cup in 2006.
