Spain strains its passes to the semi-final against the United States

Spain strains its passes to the semi-final against the United States

David Martin struggled until the last quarter and will face Italy or Serbia, the current Olympic champion, to reach the final

Madrid, 4 years ago. (European Press) –

The Spanish men’s water polo team qualified for the semi-finals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, after its victory (12-8) over the United States in the quarter-final match, which was held at Tatsumi Center, and will fight again for victory. Medals at the Games after more than 20 years.

Spain added its sixth consecutive victory in Tokyo 2020 and will face in the semi-finals next Friday (12:50 PST) the winner of the quarter-final crossing between Italy and Serbia, something it has not achieved since the 2000 Sydney Olympics where it concluded – after losing to Russia Extinct Yugoslavia in the match for bronze – 4th place.

In this way, Spanish water polo achieved the plenum, where the two national teams will compete for medals in this Tokyo 2020 Games, after the ‘Water Warriors’ beat China in the quarter-finals and will face Hungary on Thursday also to reach the tournament. Championship final.

It was not easy for the current world and European runners-up. The ‘desired’ quarter-finalist, the United States, choked on rival David Martin until the break (6-6), despite a good start (3-1) to the match that seemed to provide a quiet championship classification. The fight for Olympic metal.

Three goals from the best American bowler, Hanes Daube, turned the match (3-4) and raised uncertainty in Spain, which returned with two goals from Alvaro Granados and Miguel de Toro, on the center of the blackjack, to equalize the tension. The pulse in Uhud that ineffectiveness in excel (3/9 at the end) did not allow him to distance himself.

American goalkeeper Alex Wolff was a wall against which the shots of Alvaro Granados and Alberto Munares crashed until the main game arrived. At 5:53 until the end of the fourth quarter, American Luca Cupido entered early after being eliminated and the penalty kick (8-6) was converted by Monares to take out the pass.

Another penalty kick scored by Athletic Barceloneta player made the score 11-8 for Spain, who once again clung to the defense and the effectiveness of Daniel Lopez Pinedo in the goal to continue his dream of the podium. Italy or Serbia, the Olympic champion winning (13-12) on his debut in Tokyo, is his last obstacle to trying to emulate the golden achievement at Atlanta 96.

data sheet.

– Result: USA, 8 – Spain, 12 (6-6, first half).

–groups.

United States: Wolf (p); Hopper (-), Cupid (1), Haluk (1), Woodhead (-), Bowen (1), Irving (-) – starting team- Favitch (-), Obert (2), Daub (3), Stevenson ( -) and Smith (-).

Spain: Lopez Pinedo (at home), Monárez (2), Granados (2), de Toro (1), Larrumbi (-), Famera (-), Peroni (1) starting team-, Sannahuga (2), Fernandez Miranda (2), Tahla (1), Malarash (1), Bestos (-).

Partial: 3-3, 3-3, 0-1, 2-5.

–ÁRBITROS: Michel Zwart (Ned) and Georgy Kohn (Hon).

POOL: Tatsumi Water Polo Center.