Serbian water polo players achieved their second victory at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Alexandroupoli, as they once again defeated the Netherlands with a score of 16:12 (3:2, 4:4, 6:1, 3:5).
On Sunday, Easter, Serbia will play Croatia at 8 a.m., after beating the USA 18:12. In order for Serbia to finish first in the group and thus qualify for the final tournament in Sydney, Croatia needs to be defeated by any score, but on condition that the Netherlands is better than the USA.
If the Americans beat the Netherlands, then Serbia will need to win by a four-goal margin.
Nikola Jakšić was the top scorer against the Netherlands with five goals, Vasilije Martinović added four, and Nemanja Stanojević, Đorđe Lazić, Vuk Milojević, Nikola Murišić, Luka Gladović, Petar Jakšić and Marko Dimitrijević each scored one. On the other side, Ten Broek and Van der Wejdnen scored three goals each, De Werder scored two, and Bakker, Te Rile, Vanden Burg and Schnell scored one goal each.
Serbia started well and took the lead with two goals from Martinović. The Dutch came back quickly. Glušac did not have his day in the first two quarters. In the second quarter, the Netherlands had a 6:5 lead, but by halftime, Lazić and Nikola Jakšić turned the score around.
The Serbian captain’s goal was the introduction to his simultaneous performance in the third half, in which Serbia secured the triumph. After goals by Martinović and Petar Jakšić, the captain secured a big advantage with three goals (two from the penalty spot) and another by Martinović.
In this period, Glušac was in a much better form, the Dutch had three chances with two more players and one goal. Serbia also failed to realize a single such chance in the final part.
In the final part, the Serbs did their job and the opposing water polo players managed to mitigate the defeat.
In the second match in the group, Croatia convincingly defeated the USA 18:12 (4:2, 4:3, 7:3, 3:4). Žuvela played excellently for the Croats with five goals, Kharkov and Brubnjak with three goals each, while Irving was the most effective for the Americans with four goals.
On Sunday, at 8:00, the Serbs and Croats play, and at 10:00, the USA and the Netherlands play.
Serbia – Netherlands 16:12 (3:2, 4:4, 6:1, 3:5)
Referees: Erse (Hungary), Vasileu (Greece). Player more: Serbia 9 (4), Netherlands 14 (6). Peterci: Serbia 3 (3), Netherlands 1 (0)
Serbia: Misovic, Pljevancic, Stanojevic 1, Urosevic, Lazic 1, Milojevic 1, Trtovic, N. Jaksic 5, Murisic 1, Gladovic 1, P. Jaksic 1, Dimitrijevic 1, Glusac, Martinovic 4.
Netherlands: Spyker, Gbadamasi, Rouwenhorst, Bakker 1, Van der Weyden 2, Jukic, Te Rile 1, J. Van der Weyden, Van den Burg 1, De Werd 2, Schnell 1, Ten Broek 3, Cabort, Christ.
Ranking: Croatia 6, USA and Serbia 3, Netherlands no points.
