MADRID, 1 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s water polo team has reached, for the seventh time in its history, the final of the World Championship, which is being held in Budapest, after beating Croatia in the semifinals this Friday (10-5), and will seek its third world gold.
Showing off a solid defense and with a stellar Unai Aguirre under the sticks -named man of the match-, David Martín’s team held off the current World Cup bronze medalist to reach their seventh final in the history of the championship.
Now, 21 years after their last wound, Spain will try to lift their third world trophy (1998 and 2001) and make up for the lost final in the last edition of Gwangju 2019. Before them, a transalpine team that suffered to defeat Greece ( 11-10).
Alberto Munarriz unleashed hostilities in the Alfred Hajos pool on Isla Margarita, where Alex Bustos subsequently took advantage of De Toro’s serve at the buoy to materialize the first superiority for David Martín’s men (2-1). However, the drop in defensive intensity in the following minutes allowed the Balkan team to achieve its first lead before the end of the first quarter (2-3).
After a blocked shot by Marc Larumbe, Blai Mallarach managed to equalize with only a few seconds to go (3-3) to put the Spanish reaction on track in a second set where they managed to keep the attack of the current World Cup bronze medalist at bay, unable to score in their four situations with extra man.
The current runner-up in the world and fourth in the Tokyo Olympics improved performance with two consecutive goals from Álvaro Granados, after a shot by Felipe Perrone hit the crossbar, and confirmed a 3-0 run that allowed them to reach the goal with a two-goal advantage. intermediate.
Then the figure of Unai Aguirre emerged to disrupt two new Balkan occasions and leave some surprising numbers at the end of the third quarter: Spain had only conceded two goals in ten inferiorities. Two goals from Bernat Sanahuja allowed them to manage the lead before the final set (7-5).
Álvaro Granados and Blai Mallarach came close to victory (10-5), which was no longer in danger in the final stretch. With this, Spain adds a new final to the one achieved three years ago and to the two of the last two Europeans.