Olympic Males’s Water Polo: Dominant First Quarter Units Tone for Serbia Gold Medal
Milos Cuk and Nikola Jaksic scored twice every within the first quarter as Serbia constructed a three-goal lead and managed the Olympic ultimate all through on the way in which to a 13-11 win over Croatia for its third straight gold medal.
Serbia is atop the Olympic podium for the third straight time. It’s the second time that it’s come on the expense of Croatia, beating them within the 2016 Rio ultimate when Croatia was the reigning gold medalist. Serbia has, in its varied incarnations, medaled at seven straight video games, together with silver for Serbia and Montenegro in 2004 and bronze for Yugoslavia in 2000.
“It’s unbelievable,” Dusan Mandic stated. “That is the facility of unity. That is the group spirit. That is protection, protection, protection till the tip, sacrificing for one another. It’s unbelievable how this recreation went, how we performed. That is my third ultimate. I can not consider that I truly received this one additionally.”
Croatia is again within the medals after ending fifth in Tokyo three years in the past. The 2024 World Champions received silver in Rio and gold in London.
Serbia’s Strahinja Rasovic and Vladimir Misovic have fun after successful the gold medal over Croatia within the males’s water polo ultimate Sunday in Paris; Photograph Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Serbia received the bounce Sunday on the Paris La Protection Enviornment. Although Croatia led 1-0 with Loren Fatovic’s opener, Nemanja Ubovic quickly pegged it again on the facility play. Cuk scored twice in a row, then Jaksic added two to make it 5-2 after eight minutes.
The lead would develop to 4 on three events, together with on Mandic’s solely aim of the sport with 1:16 left within the third quarter to make it 11-7. Croatia twice received inside two within the fourth, however 4 big shot blocks by the Serbia protection prevented them from getting nearer. Konstantin Kharkov scored with 1:06 left to make it 12-10, however Cuk answered instantly to revive a three-goal lead with 37 seconds left and formally seal gold.
Cuk led the way in which with three objectives for Serbia, plus an help. Nikola Dedovic scored two objectives to go along with two assists. Jaksic did all his scoring within the first quarter.
“I have no idea inform you,” Jaksic stated. “Initially, exhausted, however most of all, actually happy. I wish to congratulate Croatia’s group for the sport, however most of all, congratulations to our group. I’m happy with my teammates and every little thing that we did. I truthfully assume that we deserve it after these two years. Solely we all know what we now have been via.”
Serbia weathered Mandic being held to 1-for-3 capturing. Strahinja Radovic, Nemanja Vico, Viktor Rasovic and Ubovic had a aim and an help every. Radoslav Filipovic made 11 saves in aim.
Fatovic was excellent regardless of the loss, with two objectives and 7 assists for Croatia. Kharkov scored twice. Jerko Marinic Kragic scored 3 times regardless of simply 3-for-9 capturing.
