Bergamo, Italy – June 27 – The USA Men’s Senior National Team lost to Croatia 11-6 earlier today in the semifinal round of the FINA World League Super Final. The loss sends Team USA to the bronze medal match on Sunday and ends a chance for 2016 Olympic Games qualification from this competition.
Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC) scored two goals in the loss. The United States will take on Brazil for third place on Sunday at 12:40pm et/9:40am pt. The match will be webcast live and is available by clicking here.
The United States hoped to replicate their upset victory over Hungary on Friday in the quarterfinal round and got off to a good start against Croatia tied at 2-2 after the first eight minutes. The battle continued into the second period with Team USA keeping pace trailing by just one at intermission at 5-4. Croatia turned it on in the second half. In the third period they managed to hold Team USA scoreless while adding on two more goals to grab a 7-4 lead. In the fourth Croatia loaded up four more goals to put the game out of reach, winning by a final of 11-6.
By reaching the bronze medal match, Team USA has a chance for their first Super Final medal since 2008 when they earned silver.
Scoring
USA 6 (2, 2, 0, 2) T. Azevedo 2, A. Roelse 1, L. Cupido 1, J. Samuels 1, A. Bowen 1
CRO 11 (2, 3, 2, 4)
Swimming news courtesy of USA Water Polo.
More detail of Croatia plays final would be nice.