Romania, Greece to Play for Quarterfinal Spot on Day Nine of 2020 European Water Polo Championships

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Cosmin Radu (blue cap) has been a star for Romania for two decades—and hopes to lead his teammates to the 2020 European Championship quarterfinals. Photo Courtesy: C. Radu

The knockout round at the 34th LEN European Water Polo Championships opens Monday as eight men’s teams will play crossover matches, with four advancing to quarterfinal play Wednesday at the Duna Aréna in Budapest.

2020_european_champ_logoThat Romania is one of those eight is a surprising turn of events, the result of an 11-10 upset win over Russia on Saturday. Cosmin Radu—one of his country’s all-time greats and among the top men’s players of his generation, helped Romania to its first win in the final day of group play. The 38-year old Radu, who has represented his country for two decades, scored twice in the first period to give Romania a shot at a quarterfinal berth for the first time since 2006.

The win—and better goal differential—pushed Radu’s team (1-2) past the Netherlands (1-2) in Group B and into a match against Greece, which finished second in Group D play thanks to a 12-10 win Saturday over France. Joining Greece and Romania in today’s action are: Russia (1-2 Group B) which will play Georgia (1-2 Group C); Montenegro (2-1 Group A) which will face Turkey; and Germany (1-2 Group A) which draws Spain (2-0-1 Group C).

As the result of winning their respective brackets, Croatia (3-0 Group A); Serbia (3-0 Group B), Hungary (2-0-1 Group C; advance over Spain on goal differential) and Italy (3-0 Group D) will rest up before meeting the Monday’s crossover winners in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The bracket bottom dwellers—all winless—will will also play on play Monday, but for 13th – 16th place: Slovakia faces Malta while France top off against the Netherlands.

5 FOUNTOULIS Ioannis (C) GRE GER - GRE Germany (white caps) vs. Greece (blue caps) Men Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships - Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Greek captain Ioannis Fountoulis had two goals in a 12-10 win over France. Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia/Giorgio Scala.

Of all the results Saturday at Duna, one that stands out is the Romanian upset of a Russian team that had played well against the defending champion Serbs on the tournament’s opening day.

Down 3-1 in the first period, Radu rallied his countrymen, scoring power play goals two minutes apart, including one with a second remaining in the quarter, to level the score at 3-all.

That momentum continued in the next period, as Andrei Fulea and Andrei Gheorghe (one of four goals on the day) scored a minute apart to give Romania a lead, one they would not surrender. Russia rallied, but the period ended with Radu and his teammates enjoying a 6-5 advantage.

The third period proved decisive; goals from Andrei Prioteasa and Alexandru Ghiban boosted the Romanian lead to 8-5, while the defense, backstopped by Florin Tic (five saves) shut down the Russian attack. But not for long; when Konstantin Kharkov (two goals) and Igor Bychkov (one goal) scored on Russia’s first two possessions of the fourth, it was again a one-goal match.

But Head Coach Athanasios Kechagias’ side scored three of the next four goals to go ahead 11-8, and Romania held on for the win despite late power play goals from Ivan Nagaev and Kharkov.

In Saturday’s other close contest, five goals from Angelos Vlachopoulos—including three in the final period—boosted Greece past France by a 12-10 score. The Greeks sprinted out to a 6-1 lead midway into the second period before the French rallied, scoring five of the next six goals to cut their deficit and trailed 9-8 entering the fourth. That’s when Vlachopoulos registered a natural hat-trick to put his team up 12-9, enough to ensure Greece a shot at a quarterfinal berth.

For live streaming and all scoring sheets, visit the 2020 Budapest website here.

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