MADRID, 25 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s water polo team qualified this Saturday directly for the quarterfinals of the World Championship, which is being played in Hungary, after winning (12-14) –with a comeback included— over Italy, a team which they had not beaten for more than three years.
David Martín’s team, which started like a flash, quickly put the 0-3 in their favor on the scoreboard, but paid dearly for the defensive imbalances in the first and second rounds. The world champions gave their best version and had no problem containing the great reaction of Spain.
The first set was of little use because Italy replied with a 6-3 that left the Spanish two behind (10-8) in the rest time, including a painful 5-0 that short-circuited the nationals. It was then that Bernat Sanahuja emerged to unclog the duel with two fundamental goals at the end of the third quarter.
Spain began to believe it and improved with each attack, also the result of the confidence acquired by the current world champion, who ended up relaxing somewhat. The difference was reduced to two goals and with that margin the final minutes of the match were reached. There Álvaro Granados took his hand out for a walk, whose three goals were concentrated in just six tremendous minutes that served to knock Italy down.
In this way, David Martín’s men sign their third victory in as many matches at the World Cup in Hungary and go directly to the quarterfinals. A victory in that match would be enough to access the fight for the medals.