World Men’s Junior Water Polo Championships 2017 / 11.08.2017
Russell McKinnon, FINA Media Committee / Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia, August 11.— Greece came from two down to defeat Spain 8-7 in the first quarter-final on the seventh day of the FINA Junior Men’s World Championships at the Sports Centre Milan Gale Muskatirovic here today.
Greece was never in front until 3:22 in the final quarter, resisted Spain levelling at 7-7 and scored the winner inside the final minute.
Serbia will be Greece’s opponent after it sent off Italy 17-9, thanks to four goals from Djorde Vucinic.
In the third semifinal, Croatia held off United States of America 5-4, always having the edge, except when USA levelled at 3-3.
Canada took out the first classification 9-12 semifinal, getting the better of China 17-4. Aria Soleimanipak top-scored with five goals. Russia will be Canada’s opponent after defeating Australia 11-8 in an engrossing match, which was tied 7-7 heading into the final quarter. A last-second penalty goal to Konstantin Kharkov gave him four goals and 20 for the championship.
In the classification 13-16 semifinals, Netherlands downed Iran 14-5 with Sam van der Burg leading the way with five goals. Facing Netherlands on Saturday for 13th will be Japan, a 19-11 victor over Egypt. Toi Suzuki was one of four players to score four goals, lifting his Belgrade tally to 21.
In the semifinal round for places 17-20, New Zealand beat South Africa 6-5 with two goals in the final two minutes after the South African goalkeeper left the water with a medical condition. Argentina screamed in six unanswered goals in the third period to set up victory over Puerto Rico 7-5 in the other semfiinal. Three goals from Puerto Rico in the final period were not enough.
Today’s match schedule:
Match 49. 08:00, SOUTH AFRICA 5 NEW ZEALAND 6
Classification 17-20 Semifinal
Match 50, 09:20, IRAN 5 NETHERLANDS 14
Classification 13-16 Semifinal
Match 51, 10:40, PUERTO RICO 5 ARGENTINA 7
Classification 17-20 Semifinal
Match 52. 12:00, EGYPT 11 JAPAN 19
Classification 13-16 Semifinal
Match 53, 13:20, CANADA 17 CHINA 4
Classification 9-12 Semifinal
Match 54. 14:40, RUSSIA 11 AUSTRALIA 8
Classification 9-12 Semifinal
Match 55. 16:40, GREECE 8 SPAIN 7
Classification 1-8 Quarter-final
Match 57. 18:00, SERBIA 17 ITALY 9
Classification 1-8 Quarter-final
Match 56. 19:20, CROATIA 5 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 4
Classification 1-8 Quarter-final
Match 58. 20:40, HUNGARY MONTENEGRO
Classification 1-8 Quarter-final
Day 8 programme:
Match 59. 08:00, RSA-PUR
Classification 19-20
Match 60, 09:20, NZL-ARG
Classification 17-18
Match 61, 10:40, IRI-EGY
Classification 15-16
Match 62. 12:00, NED-JPN
Classification 13-14
Match 63, 13:20, CHN-AUS
Classification 11-12
Match 64. 14:40, CAN-RUS
Classification 9-10
Match 65. 16:40, ESP-ITA
Classification 5-8 Semifinal
Match 66. 18:00, USA-L58
Classification 5-8 Semifinal
Match 68. 19:20, CRO-W58
Classification 1-4 Semifinal
Match 67. 20:40, GRE-SRB
Classification 1-4 Semifinal