Greeks Ready For Serbia After Win Over Romania

The Age

Tuesday March 27, 2007

Martin Boulton

GREECE will play reigning world champion Serbia in a quarter-final of the men's water polo after beating Romania at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Romania, which lost by two goals to reigning Olympic champion Hungary on Sunday, had several chances to level the score and force the match into extra time during a dramatic final term yesterday but fell agonisingly short, 8-7.

Goals to Cosmin Radu and Kalman Kadar with less than three minutes remaining in the game raised the prospect of extra time, but the experienced Greeks held on after snatching the lead in the third term.

After the match, Greek captain Georgios Afroudakis was happy with the win and looking forward to taking on Serbia on Wednesday. "We respect them but are not afraid because the Greek team is one of the top in the world," he said.

"The pressure and stress will be on Serbia to continue."

Romanian coach Vlad Hagiu said his team made too many mistakes.

"It was our fault. We did too many mistakes and wasted too many opportunities," he said.

"We now have to focus on the next games, the championship is not over yet. You win first of all with your mind, which is what we did not do today."

In other men's results yesterday, South Africa beat Japan by two goals and will play China to battle out 13th place.

New Zealand lost to China by three goals and plays Japan on Wednesday to decide who finishes last in the tournament.

© 2007 The Age

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