RRI Sports Club
Water polo
Florin Orban, 10.01.2024, 13:45
Romanias mens water polo team Tuesday saw their 3rd win in the European Championships hosted by Croatia.
In Dubrovnik, coach Bogdan Raths team defeated Slovakia 8-7. After a balanced first half, Slovakia went ahead to 7-5 in the 3rd quarter, but the Romanians dominated the last part of the game, with 3 consecutive goals. Tudor Fulea scored 4 times, Vlad Georgescu 2, and Andrei Prioteasa and Andrei Ţepeluş 1 each.
Previously, Romania had defeated the Netherlands, 12-8, and Slovenia, 13-5. Thanks to these results, the Romanian team won Group D and moved forward into the competitions next round. On Thursday in Zagreb Romania takes on Georgia for qualification in the quarter-finals. Georgia came out the last in Group B, where it lost all its 3 games: 5-22 against Italy, 11-15 against Hungary and 9-18 against Greece. If they defeat Georgia, Romania is next to play against Spain on Friday.
In the continental championships held 2 years ago, Spain won the bronze while Romania finished 10th. In the group stage, Spain beat Romania 16-9.
Also these days, the Netherlands is hosting the womens European Championships. Romania played in Group C, where it lost to the Czech Republic and Serbia, and defeated Turkey. After a win against Bulgaria and a defeat in its second match against Turkey, Romania is set to finish 14th out of the 16 participating teams. The semi-finals, pitting the Netherlands against Italy and Spain against Greece, are scheduled on Thursday, with the final to be played on Saturday in Eindhoven. (AMP)