The Serbian men’s water polo team (players under 20) defeated Germany with a score of 20:15 (9:2, 4:6, 3:3, 4:4) in the play-off match for fifth to eighth place at the European Championship in Varna.
Coach Miloš Korolija’s team played an excellent first quarter and gained a big lead after just eight minutes. Serbia scored nine goals in the opening period and took a 9:2 lead.
Germany managed to fight back in the second quarter and won that period of the game 6:4, but Serbia went into the big break with a safe 13:8 lead.
The third quarter ended with a 3:3 tie, with Serbia leading 16:11 before the last eight minutes. Germany managed to come within two goals of the deficit in the final quarter – 17:15, but our team scored three consecutive goals in the final period and confirmed the victory – 20:15.
The most efficient player for the Serbian national team was Vasilije Pakashki with five goals, while Kosta Bodiroga scored four. Vuk Kojić, Strahinja Krstić, Luigi Kanepa and Mateja Kosanović each scored two goals, and Filip Novaković, Miljan Đokanović and Pavle Papić each scored one goal.
Serbia, after a narrow defeat to Croatia in the quarterfinals, returned to winning ways and qualified for the match for fifth place at the European Championship. They will play for fifth place against Hungary, which defeated Greece 17:10 in the second match of the playoff. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 3:15 p.m. Serbian time.
Serbia – Germany 20:15 (9:2, 4:6, 3:3, 4:4)
Serbia: Savic, Novakovic 1, Čonkic, Kojic 2, Lazic, Bodiroga 4, Đokanovic 1, Pakaski 5, Adamovic, Krstic 2, Kanepa 2, Kosanovic 2, Mićanovic, Papic 1.
Germany: Bruchwalski, Taubert, Kugler 1, Hoffmann 4, Palata, Janke 1, De Marco 3, Mitiska, Halb, Scherible 4, Bruns, Heinrich, Nosnik, Goetke 2.
