The United States men’s water polo team suffered a 10 – 9 defeat to Spain this afternoon, which puts them at risk of elimination as the tournament moves forward. The match against Spain was the second time that the US men’s water polo team has taken to the pool in these Rio Games, after falling to Croatia on Saturday 7 – 5.
The game began with Spain scoring first, only to be answered by a US goal about a minute later. USA scored again in the first period to take their first of only two leads during the match, only to see Spain pull ahead 4 – 2 by the end of the first period. During the second period Team USA rallied and both teams sat at 5 – 5 when intermission was called. The USA and Spain both scored in the third period, with the USA briefly taking the lead at 6 – 7, though it was short-lived. Spain scored four more times before the match ended, while the USA found the net three more times before the fourth period ran out. In the end the victory went to Spain, 10 – 9.
Goals for both teams came from the following players:
Spain:
G. Echenique – 3
A. Español – 2
G. Molina – 2
A. Muñarriz – 2
G. Mallarach – 1
Total
10
USA:
B. Bonanni – 4
A. Bowen – 3
T. Azevedo – 1
L. Cupido – 1
Total
9
Team USA is currently tied with France for 5th in Group B. The US men compete in a round robin of six teams from which only the top four advance to the finals. With the loss to Spain and three difficult matches yet to come, it is going to be an uphill battle for the USA to advance to the quarter finals. In Group A Japan and Australia are tied for 5th, though each team has only played (and lost) one game so far.
The US men will take to the pool again on Wednesday, August 10th, where they will square off agains France who is also 0 – 2 in the Group B tournament. After that match Team USA will play Montenegro (1 – 0 – 0) on Friday, August 12th, and Italy (2 – 0 – 0), on Sunday, August 14th. For now, Italy is the top-ranked team in Group B and in the overall tournament, as Greece, the best team in Group A, has only one loss and one tie (1 – 1 – 0).
For a more in-depth explanation of the men’s and women’s water polo tournament rules in the Olympics, please click here. Results and match schedules can also be found here.
The guys water polo is usually not as good as the women’s. Last time I thing the silver is the best they did in years unlike swimming most water polo players are limited to the state of California. If the sport had became more popular like swimming is, then we could have had better teams.