Water polo - Croatia end seven-year losing Serbia hoodoo to set up Hungary final
Water Polo –Serbia v Croatia – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Maro Jokovic of Croatia reacts. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The Croatian men's water polo team ended a seven-year losing streak against defending champions Serbia on Thursday to advance to the final at the world championships, where they will face hosts Hungary.
Croatia won 12-11 in the high scoring game after the two Balkan arch rivals had traded the lead in a gruelling yet spectacular encounter.
Serbia came into the tournament as defending World, Olympic and European champions with the first two of those titles coming after finals against Croatia.
Water Polo – Serbia v Croatia – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Team Croatia reacts. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Yet three big saves by goalkeeper Marko Bijac allowed the Croats to end a losing streak that stretched back to 2010.
"We weren't able cope with the atmosphere tonight and we didn't get that right," Serbia's Milos Cuk said. "What can you do? That's sport and Croatia were better tonight. We'll fight for sure for the bronze."
Hungary beat Greece 7-5 in an intense, but far more defence-oriented match.
Water Polo –Serbia v Croatia – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Javier Garcia Gadea of Croatia and Andrija Prlainovic of Serbia compete. REUTERS/Mate Balogh
The Hungarians enjoyed a measure of luck as four powerful Greek shots hit the goal post in the third quarter.
Hungarian head coach Tamas Marcz heaped praise on their defence.
"We played an all-around huge defensive game," Marcz told reporters. "(Goalkeeper) Viktor (Nagy) was downright fantastic."
Water Polo –Serbia v Croatia – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Stefan Mitrovic of Serbia competes. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
(Additional reporting by Rod Gilmour; Editing by Toby Davis)
Water Polo – Serbia v Croatia – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Ivica Tucak, head coach of Croatia reacts. REUTERS/Mate BaloghWater Polo – Greece v Hungary– 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semifinal – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Team Hungary reacts. REUTERS/Laszlo BaloghWater Polo – Greece v Hungary – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semi Final – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Marton Vamos of Hungary reacts. REUTERS/Laszlo BaloghWater Polo – Greece v Hungary – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semi Final – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Christodoulos Kolomvos of Greece and Marton Vamos of Hungary compete. REUTERS/Mate BaloghWater Polo – Greece v Hungary – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semi Final – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Viktor Nagy competes. REUTERS/Laszlo BaloghWater Polo – Greece v Hungary – 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships – Men's Water Polo Semi Final – Budapest, Hungary – July 27, 2017 – Christodoulos Kolomvos of Greece and Gergo Zalanki of Hungary compete. REUTERS/Mate Balogh
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