Water polo: Croatia miss first chance to secure Olympics spot
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
(Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)
The Croatia water polo team has missed the first of two chances to secure qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo after losing their semi-final match at the qualifying tournament in Rotterdam on Saturday.
Croatia lost to Montenegro 12:14 (2:3, 3:2, 4:3, 1:2; 2:4) after a five-metre shootout on Saturday and now have to beat the loser of the second semi-final between Russia and Greece to qualify for the Olympics.
The top three teams from the qualifying tournament in Rotterdam secure tickets to Tokyo.
It was a tight match from the start and after the teams went in 5:5 at halftime it was anyone’s game. Croatia would lead 9:8 going into the last quarter but they could not hold the advantage with Montenegro managing to level the match 10:10 after four quarters.
Montenegro booked their spot in the final by winning the five-metre shoot-out 4:2.
The 3rd and 4th playoff match will be played on Sunday.
