The European water polo teams met last night on Tuesday March 20 for their fifth round game of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League 2018.
Playing at home in Podgorica, Montenegro beat Serbia 11-8, leading right from the start of the game but letting the Serbians come back in the last two quarters (3-2, 4-2, 1-1, 3-3). However Serbia keeps the lead of Group A with 9 points (3 wins). Montenegro is second with 6 points (2 wins) and Romania is last.
Group B’s game was on March 6, when Russia beat Germany 16-12 (2-1, 5-1, 4-5, 5-5). Following this game, Croatia was the first team to secure a berth to the Super Final.
Group C’s Hungary crushed the Netherlands 13-1 in Debrecen (HUN) giving zero chances to the Dutch in the three first quarters (2-0, 2-0, 5-0, 4-1). Hungary has 9 points and is atop of the group. Spain is second with 6 points and the Netherlands are last with no win so far.
Provisional ranking
GROUP A: 1. SRB 9 pts (3W, 1L); 2. MNE 6 pts (2W, 1L); 3. ROU 0 pt (3L)
GROUP B: 1. CRO 9 pts (3W); 2. RUS 5 pts (2W, 2L); GER 1 pt (3L)
GROUP C: 1. HUN 9 pts (3W); 2. ESP 6 pts (2W, 1L); 3. NED 0 (4L)
The sixth and final round of the World League will be played on April 10 in Izvorani (ROUvsMNE), Slavonski Brod (CROvsGER) and Pamplona (ESPvsHUN).
The women’s European tournament resumes on Tuesday March 27.
About Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)
The Fédération Internationale de Natation, founded in 1908, is the governing body for aquatics worldwide. FINA’s five discipline Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming – are all included in the Olympic programme. High Diving made its first appearance in FINA events at the 2013 FINA World Championships. FINA counts 209 affiliated National Federations on the five continents and has its headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).
Press release courtesy of FINA.