The Serbian men’s water polo team was defeated by Spain with a score of 3:0 (4:1, 6:4, 6:5) in the semifinals of the first 4×4 Water Polo World Championship in Dubrovnik.
Spain started the match better and took a 3-0 lead in the first set. Petar Stanić reduced the lead to 3-1, but Albert Sabadell Porcar made it 4-1 in the final.
Serbia opened the second set with two goals from Aleksandar Kovačević, and after Spain’s first goal, Filip Ćorić scored for 3:1. The Spanish then turned the score around to 4:3, while Đorđe Ljubenović equalized at 4:4. Max Casabella Belles scored two goals in the last 30 seconds, one of which was from the bonus point, and Spain won the set with a score of 6:4.
The biggest fight was seen in the third set. Serbia reached a 5:2 lead with goals from Kovačević, Miroslav Ranđić, Aleksa Petrovski and twice by Ljubenović. Serbia then missed a five-pointer, and Roberto Valera Calatrava reduced the score to 5:4 with 11 seconds left with a goal worth two goals. Ranđić missed a bonus five-pointer eight seconds before the end, only for Valera Calatrava to equalize at 5:5 two seconds before the end.
Following Casabello’s “golden goal”, Bellés scored from the bonus point, giving Spain the third set with a score of 6:5 and a place in the final.
Serbia will play for the bronze medal on Sunday, September 6, at 4:15 p.m., against Croatia.
SPAIN – SERBIA 3:0 (4:1, 6:4, 6:5)
SPAIN: Garcia Plana, Asensio Suribas, Estevez Rodriguez 1, Valera Calatrava 5, Sabadell Porcar 4, Herrero 2, Blasco Arroyo, Casabella Belles 4.
Coach: Javier Sanchez-Toril del Pino.
SERBIA: Virijevic, Jovic, Petrovski 1, Ljubenovic 3, Randjic 1, Kovacevic 3, Coric 1, Stanic 1.
Selector: Goran Krstonošić.
Peterci: Spain 1/1, Serbia 1/2.
Bonus points: Spain 2/2, Serbia 0/1.
Referees: Tony Karaman (USA) and Ruben Sapp (Netherlands).
