Greece edges out Spain to crown unbeaten run
Greece made it, in an exciting final they managed to beat Spain for the title and became Youth World Champion for the first time. Hungary and Serbia produced an outstanding battle for the bronze, the host side came from behind to clinch the third place. This led to a rare scene at the victory ceremony of a major men’s water polo event: no former Yugoslav team made the podium – among the youth it happened once in 2014, at other levels only in the mid-90s. The new rules tested at the tournament gained big success, can help to make water polo an even more thrilling and electrifying game.
The final day couldn’t have produced any more excitements: all four matches were decided by a single goal (just like the semi-finals), or, as in the game for the 5th place, a penalty shootout.
Greece outsmarted Spain in a tactical battle for the gold medal where the eventual winners might enjoy the benefit of coming first in the prelims which gave them an extra day off – something can become crucial when 17-18 years old boys had to take important decisions.
Ode to joy: the Greek boys won 7/7 in Szombathely to claim the title – Credit (all photos): Noemi Kondor
In that process the Greek did the better job, they were more effective in man-ups in the most crucial moments and ultimately that brought them the victory. In the final they managed to jump to a 3-goal lead by halftime and even though the Spaniards fought pretty hard, their chasing game burnt too much energy before they could narrow the gap to one goal. Once Bernat Sanahuja managed to score for 8-9 with his 6th goal in the game, there were 4:55 minutes to play but they could create their best chance only 1:44 from time, a man-up. However, the hero of the semis, Lluc Bertan (netted 5 against Hungary) was unable to beat the Greek goalie, and inside the last minute Oscar Asensio, who hit the game-winner from the centre a day earlier, couldn’t send the ball in from close range under pressure. Though the Greeks scored their last goal late in the third, they could withstand the pressure in the last 11:31 minutes, conceded only two goals, so just proved the good old saying: offence wins matches but defence wins titles. (All in all they won all seven games played here).
What went wrong? The Spanish won some big matches but came up short at the end
The bronze medal match offered a less tactical game, in fact it was an all-in effort from Hungary and Serbia, a tremendous display of attacking water polo with 69 shots altogether, leaving slim chances for the keepers. At the beginning the Hungarians were in the lead but the Serbs began to dominate in the third, at 8-10 they missed a big chance to break three goals clear and even if they led 9-11, then the Hungarians geared up and showed their very best by scoring three goals from various types of counter-attacks. They held their nerves in a decisive man-up battle, netted the crucial penalty for 14-12, the Serbs’ last lob came too late.
Hungary finished the tournament with two entertaining matches and they managed to win the second one to claim the bronze medal
Croatia had the game for the 5th place in hand against Italy, they should have buried at least one penalty of the two they earned in the fourth quarter but missed both. At the other end the Italians managed to score a goal which looked somewhat impossible in the dying seconds, but the ball arriving from the halfway line sneaked to the net. In the shootout they validated their psychological advantage to finish 5th.
The second missed 'match ball': Maurizi stops Penava's penalty with 53 sec to go
Australia tried to stage a big comeback once they fell behind by five goals at halftime against Montenegro and the boys from Down Under gave all they had, came closer but could never score the equaliser and lost by a goal at the end.
Szombathely was a great host once more, five years after the junior Worlds held here – the Magyar fans, filling the stands each evening as usual here, created electrifying atmosphere for the most important matches and the future generations of the sport offered performances being worthy of the environment.
The new rules tested in this tournament are quite promising, boosting the attacking water polo by offering more support for the players with the ball in scoring situations is definitely a good step (penalties can be called even the ball held in hand in case the defenders put a hand on the attacker from behind). Restricting the aggressive defensive manoeuvres is a good sign too, while setting the new shotclock to 20sec (instead of 30) after exclusions or after regaining the ball within the same possessions leaves at least four minutes more to change possessions and launch new attacks. That was clearly mirrored by the number of shots taken and the goals scored (and getting rid of the boring one-per-period time-outs also helped to enjoy the matches without too many unnecessary breaks). Some fine-tuning is needed obviously and to see how these rules shall be applied in the senior field, but at this level this set definitely made water polo more thrilling and all felt during the nine days that the teen boys enjoyed this edition pretty much.
Unai Augirre, the best goalie of the World Championship – see all individual awards below
Final rankings
1. Greece
2. Spain
3. Hungary
4. Serbia
5. Italy
6. Croatia
7. Montenegro
8. Australia
9. United States
10. Russia
11. Brazil
12. Colombia
13. Egypt
14. New Zealand
15. South Africa
16. Argentina
17. Canada
18. Saudi Arabia
19. China
20. Uzbekistan
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player:
Nikolaos-Sry Papanikolaou (Greece)
Best goalkeeper:
Unai Aguirre (Spain)
Top scorer:
Ahmed Elsapagh (Egypt) with 29 goals
Match reports
Game 72, 16.45 – Gold medal match: Spain v Greece 8-9
Quarters: 3-3, 1-4, 3-2, 1-0
Referees: Sebastien Dervieux (FRA), Gabor Vogel (HUN)
SPAIN
Unai Aguirre (9/18, 50%), Viktor Garcia (GK2, n. e.) – Bernat Sanahuja (6/11), Oscar Asensio (0/5), Sergio Prieto (0/3), Pau Linares (0/1), Joan Coloma (0/0), Lluc Bertan (1/5), Echevarria Rodriguez (1/3), Oscar Montas (0/0), Guillem Friogola (n. e.), Victor Alegre (0/3), Ivan Alcon (0/0). Head coach: Javier Sanchez
GREECE
Ugo Alessandro Piovan (11/19, 58%), Stayros Manthogiannis (GK2, n. e.) – Alexandros Alamanos (0/0), Aristgipis Chalyvopoulos (1/5), Efstathios Kalogeropoulos (3/4), Nikolaos Kovrouvanis (1/3), Ioannis Kechalaris (0/0), Dionusios Braime (1/2), Achilleas Grammatikos (1/1), Ippokratis Chalyvopoulos (0/0), Theodoros Pateros (0/0), Nikolaos-Sry Papanikolaou (1/5), Dimitrios Dimou (1/3). Head coach: Dimitris Kravaritis
Shots:
ESP: 8/31
GRE: 9/22
Extramen:
ESP: 4 for 9
GRE: 6 for 10
Penalties:
ESP: 1 for 1
GRE: 0 for 1
Mediterranean finals have become a rarity in men’s water polo in recent years but here no one questioned the rightful participation of these two sides as they showed a really composed team-effort throughout the previous eight days and offered some outstanding individual performances as well.
Despite the Greeks reached the last stage as the only unbeaten side of the field, Spain was considered the favourite (they lost the U17 European title to Montenegro in a penalty shootout a year ago). Still, the Greeks, having played a game less, started the encounter a bit fresher.
Efstathios Kalogeropoulos netted two man-ups early in the first, between the two Bernat Sanahuja scored a fine action goal. Hero of the semis, Lluc Bertan couldn’t beat the goalie in Spain’s first 6 on 5 and Achilleas Grammatikos doubled the Greeks’ lead from a fast-break. Echevarria Rodriguez was more precise in the next extra and Sanahuja soon equalised with a great action goal, with 39sec to go.
Nikolaos-Sry Papanikolaou sent the ball home from a man-up in the first possession of the second period, 77sec later Dimitrios Dimou netted another one but Sanahuja could pull one back, also from an extra for 4-5. Despite a missed man-up, Greece soon rebuilt the two-goal lead through Aristgipis Chalyvopoulos’ man-up goal. Some crucial moments came as Rodriguez were unable to get past the goalie in an extra, after a time-out, and in the counter the Greeks earned a 6 on 5 and Kalogeropoulos scored his third – instead of 5-6 the scoreboard showed 4-7, quite a difference in a grueling final, even if it was only halftime soon.
From this point it was a chasing game. Bertan finally found the back of the net from a free-throw, but Nikolaos Kovrouvanis scored one of the most magnificent goals of the tourney – he swam across in front of the cage, got a pass and sent the ball to the net immediately by back-handed shot. It was devastating for two reasons: the brilliance of the goal and was a fast response 22 seconds after the previous goal.
Still, the Spaniards bounced back soon, Sanahuja converted a penalty and this time the Greek faced some psychological setback as Dimou hit the post right from the next attack, also from a penalty. And Spain had the chance to narrow the gap to a single goal but Asensio’s shot from the centre was well saved by Piovan, then they had a man-up but Piovan denied Asensio once again. So instead +1 the difference jumped back to +3 soon, Dionusios Braime was brave enough to take the shot in a 6 on 5 despite missing one five minutes earlier and he was right, Greece was 6-9 up with 3:31 to go in the third. Sanahuja was Spain’s only option at this stage and he delivered in the next 6 on 5 as the Greeks couldn’t block his way. In the remaining 2:24 minutes Greece had three attempts, Spain had one, none made it to the goal so the last period started from 7-9.
Just 72 seconds into the final quarter Spain earned a man-up but this time Sanahuja was pressed and Sergio Prieto was unable to step up, the post denied him. The Greeks didn’t risk anything in front that’s why their attack-building lacked the real dynamism – but soon it seemed they could get into trouble if they remain passive as Sanahuja netted his 6th goal. There were 4:55min on the clock and Spain trailed by a single goal. Few would have guessed that the remaining time wouldn’t see any more goals. But that turned out to be the case: the Greeks earned a man-up but being off the pace it wasn’t really well played. At the other end Bertan tried to become the saviour of his team but unlike a day before he struggled with his shots. Had two in 55sec, the first was saved, the second went wide and Sanahuja’s attempt also landed in Piovan’s hand. The clock was ticking down, but it still showed 1:44 when the Spaniards had another man-up, Bertan took the shot but Piovan made the save again. The young Spaniard finished the match with 1/5 (was 5/7 on Saturday) and Asensio wasn’t better either with 0/5. It was the centre-forward who had one very last chance as he managed to get some free space in Spain’s last possession, the assist wasn’t the best one and soon the defenders arrived too, he still tried to direct the ball towards the goal but pushed it wide... With 40sec to go the Greeks had one aim, to keep the ball – and they got some help soon as a hurried foul from Alegre ended up in an exclusion which made the Greeks’ task easy for the last 20 seconds. Soon they could lift their arms and yell triumphantly: for the first time in the history of the event they were the world champions.
Dimitris Kravaritis, head coach, Greece:
"It was a final with all the tensions so it was mostly a mental game. I think we could play a bit more free from the pressure. Before the match I told my players, they were free to do whatever they thought would be helpful for the team. My most important message was that whether they win or lose this game, they would be the first in my eye."
Javier Sanchez, head coach, Spain:
"I think we were a little bit too tense to do the right things in the most important situations. My players tried very hard, but it was a typical final where the team committing less mistakes would win the match and the gold medal."
Game 71, 15.15 – Bronze medal match: Hungary v Serbia 14-13
Quarters: 5-4, 2-3, 3-4, 4-2
Referees: Frank Ohme (GER), Andrija Duraskovic (MNE)
HUNGARY
Mark Grieszbacher (3/9, 33%), Daniel Korom (7/14, 50%) – Laszlo Szieben (0/0), Botond Bobis (5/9), Benedek Baksa (2/6), Oliver Fodor (0/1), Norman Schmolcz (1/3), Dome Dala (2/3), Tamas Csorba (0/0), Zsombor Szeghalmi (2/6), Gergo Fekete (2/3), Bendeguz Ekler (0/1), Akos Vekony (0/0). Head coach: Janos Horvath
SERBIA
Milan Bulajic (11/25, 44%), Vladimir Misovic (GK2, n. e.) – Stefan Barnkovic (0/3), Nemanja Stanojevic (2/2), Vukasin Ganic (1/3), Jovan Tanasijevic (0/0), Marko Ilic (0/1), Petar Mitrovic (1/4), Arsenije Mitrovic (3/3), Marko Banovic (0/2), Kristian Sulc (2/5), Uros Maric (0/3), Marko Radovic (4/11). Head coach: Uros Stevanovic
Shots:
HUN: 14/32
SRB: 13/37
Extramen:
HUN: 6 for 11
SRB: 4 for 12
Penalties:
HUN: 2 for 3
SRB: none
Party time, on the last occasion, in the outdoor arena and the crowd filled the stands though the home side played for the bronze only instead of the expected final. This time the home guys missed the chance to take a flying start once more as Benedek Baksa’s penalty was caught by Milan Bulajic in the 18th second. After two minutes of wild shooting at both ends Kristian Sulc put the Serbs ahead with an action shot but Botond Bobis blasted one from outside for 1-1. Arsenije Mitrovic netted the Serbs’ first 6 on 5 but Bobis also converted the Magyars’ man-up. Both sides missed a man-up apiece, then Bobis completed a hat-trick (from a man-up again) and while the Serbs missed the second one in a row, Gergo Fekete buried a penalty for a 4-2 lead. Petar Mitrovic didn’t miss their next one, but Zsombor Szeghalmi’s left-handed shot also flew to the top corner with 16 seconds to go. The Serbian leftie Marko Radovic pulled one back with 0.6sec on the clock from a brilliant free-throw so the action-packed opening period ended with 5-4.
Norman Schmolz put away an easy 6 on 5 (rather 1 on 0, on the wing) to put Hungary 6-4 ahead but after missing a man-up the Serbs hit back even stronger, two action goals in 53sec and in little more than a minute Arsenije Mitrovic even gave them the lead for 6-7. Three minutes of heated battle followed with missed shots at both ends, then Gergo Fekete’s rocket hit the top left corner, it was a wonderfully angled outside shot from a centre-forward – so all was equal at halftime.
Not in the third as the Serbs tightened their defence, the Magyars couldn’t create real opportunities while their rivals built a two-goal advantage. The second was a lucky one, Kristian Sulc tipped in a rebound after a saved shot around the buzzer in a man-up. Benedek Baksa managed to reply with a spirit-lifting goal, an amazing 4m backhanded shot but Arsenije Mitrovic hit his third in the next Serbian extra, with 3:59 to go they led 8-10. And they had a ‘minor’ match ball soon as they had an easy 3 on 2 after an exclusion but Uros Maric’s close range shot was brilliantly stopped by Daniel Korom (who had to come in soon before halftime once more) and Baksa scored the following Magyar 6 on 5. Marko Radovic was unstoppable from the free throw but after killing a home extra his next attempt was saved by Korom and Dome Dala halved the gap from the ensuing counter for 10-11.
The fourth began similarly, after some battling in front of the goals Dala could escape again and levelled the score. Just 44 seconds later the crowd roared, another counter, this time 5 on 4 and Botond Bobis finished it off from 5m – Hungary was on a 3-0 action-goal run but there were still 5:13 minutes to go. Radovic’s next shot in a man-up was well saved by Korom, then Schmolz tried his luck but Bulajic was up to the task as well. Radovic took all responsibilities in this phase and the talented leftie found the bottom right corner in their next 6 on 5 so it was even with 2:46 from time.
The other leftie Zsombor Szeghalmi could thank his goal to Goddess Fortuna as his ball hit the post, then the back of the goalie to bounce in for 13-12. Radovic took a free throw, hit the post and with 1:26 remaining Hungary tried to keep the ball and find out something at the very end. They found gold there, rather bronze, as Fekete earned a penalty (hotly debated by the Serbians), Bobis buried it, it was his 5th in the afternoon and ultimately closed down the contest. The Serbs gave away the ball in their man-up and even though Ganic lobbed a nice free-throw goal some half minute later, it came way too late, 11 seconds from time. Five years after the junior side lost the bronze medal contest to the Serbs in this pool, now the youth team managed to make the podium, much to the joy of the local fans who were celebrating the boys for long minutes, only the march-in of the finalists halted the fiesta.
Janos Horvath, head coach, Hungary:
"In the battle of two disappointed teams tactics didn't play any role. It was about the will and the hearts – and we wanted this bronze pretty badly. Before the match we told the boys that they were working extremely hard in the past four years – ever since we had learnt that we would stage this championship here – to let this medal go. Also, the crowd offered so much support during the whole event that we couldn't let our fans down. We managed to make the semis in all major events with this team, I'm proud of the boys though we still have to admit that we came here for the title and even this bronze is a nice ending, we are still feeling some emptiness by watching the gold medal game from the stands."
Uros Stevanovic, head coach, Serbia:
"Ask the Montenegrin referee, he knows everything."
Game 70, 13.45 – For places 5-6th: Croatia v Italy 13-15 (pen)
Quarters: 3-1, 3-3, 2-4, 2-2 – pen: 3-5
Referees: Andreas Moiralis (GRE), Andrija Stanojevic (SRB)
CROATIA
Antonio Vukojevic (10/25, 40%, pen: 0/3), Martin Celar (pen: 0/2) – Ivan Rako (0/0), Tin Brubnjak (1/1), Goran Solje (0/0), Filip Krzic (0/1), Kristijan Culina (2/2), Marko Radulovic (1/4), Branimir Herceg (0/3), Luka Bajic (2/3), Jakov Markic (1/3), Jerko Penava (3/5), Marko Zuvela (0/1). Head coach: Zoran Bajic
ITALY
Bernardo Maurizi (9/19, 47%), Alessio Sammarco (GK2, n. e.) – Domenico Iodoce (1/2), Francesco Faraglia (2/6), Mattia Antonucci (0/5), Andrea Condemi (1/1), Tommaso Giannazza (1/1), Michele De Robertis (0/1), Michele Mezzaroba (1/2), Gianpiero Di Martire (2/7), Andrea Narciso (1/2), Filippo Ferrero (1/7). Head coach: Carlo Silipo
Shots:
CRO: 13/28
ITA: 15/41
Extramen:
CRO: 4 for 13
ITA: 3 for 12
Penalties:
CRO: 1 for 3
ITA: 0 for 1
Shootout:
Faraglia 0-1, Markic 1-1, di Martire 1-2, Culina saved, Antonucci 1-3, Penava 2-3, Condemi 2-4, Herceg 3-4, Iodoce 3-5
More than four minutes ticked down the clock before the first goals arrived, then two were scored from action in a span of 17 seconds, then the Croats netted two more – some minor drama already happened as Michele Mezzaroba’s penalty was saved by Antonio Vukojevic and Jakov Markic netted an action goal with 0:01 on the clock, so the Croats led 3-1 (though it could have been 2-2).
The Italians didn’t break down, though, they came back strong and equalised in 43 seconds soon, but Jerko Penava was also up to the task to score from a 6 on 5. The Italians missed two man-ups and Luka Bajic penalised them for that, his action goal set the two-goal gap back which remained for half-time as Domenico Iodoce’s action goal was followed by Kristijan Culina’s goal from a man-up and Iodoce’s next shot in a man-up was well saved by the goalie in the last minute.
Filippo Ferrero halved the distance (6-5) from a man-up early in the third, the both sides missed a 6 on 5 apiece before with some luck Tommaso Giannazza managed to score from action to go even again. The finish of the third was full of action, a quick exchange of goals in 17 seconds, then the same scenario was repeated inside the last 30sec, this time Andrea Narciso took the lead for Italy from a man-up but Penava buried a penalty 12sec from time for 8-8. Two red cards were supposed to calm down the boys in the dying seconds but soon the water boiled again. The Croats regained the lead with a penalty in their first possession, Gianpiero di Martire equalised from action but Jarko Penava finished a counter for 10-9 – and there were 5:54 minutes to go. And what a finish it produced. With 3:43 on the clock, the Croats earned a penalty but Maurizi stopped it. After another red card Italy had a man-up but it’s gone without a shot, just as the next Croatian man-up. After one missed action shot apiece, the Croats earned another penalty, this time only 53sec remained on the clock. Penava took the ball – and Maurizi made another save. Still, the Italians trailed by a goal (and they didn’t have any substitute left after one red card and three more fouled out, plus one player sidelined with injury). Their possession after a time-out didn’t bring any fruit, the Croats got the ball with 0:35 to go. Though they kept it but forgot to mark the Italians heavily, Francesco Faraglia tried to set up something from the halfway line by sending the ball towards di Martire who was unmarked in front of the goal – in fact the ball never reached the team-mate’s hand but the move fooled the Croatian goalie and the ball ended up in the net with 0:02 to go.
After two missed penalties in the fourth period and conceding a goal like this, the Water Polo Gods turned their eyes away from the Croats in the shootout. Maurizi added one more save in the second round, the other side tried to substitute their goalie for the fourth shot, Martin Celar could have a hand on the ball but it crossed the line by a fingernail and the Italians didn’t miss their last attempt either so they could celebrate their 5th place finish.
Game 70, 13.45 – For places 5-6th: Croatia v Italy 13-15 (pen)
Quarters: 3-1, 3-3, 2-4, 2-2 – pen: 3-5
Referees: Andreas Moiralis (GRE), Andrija Stanojevic (SRB)
CROATIA
Antonio Vukojevic (10/25, 40%, pen: 0/3), Martin Celar (pen: 0/2) – Ivan Rako (0/0), Tin Brubnjak (1/1), Goran Solje (0/0), Filip Krzic (0/1), Kristijan Culina (2/2), Marko Radulovic (1/4), Branimir Herceg (0/3), Luka Bajic (2/3), Jakov Markic (1/3), Jerko Penava (3/5), Marko Zuvela (0/1). Head coach: Zoran Bajic
ITALY
Bernardo Maurizi (9/19, 47%), Alessio Sammarco (GK2, n. e.) – Domenico Iodoce (1/2), Francesco Faraglia (2/6), Mattia Antonucci (0/5), Andrea Condemi (1/1), Tommaso Giannazza (1/1), Michele De Robertis (0/1), Michele Mezzaroba (1/2), Gianpiero Di Martire (2/7), Andrea Narciso (1/2), Filippo Ferrero (1/7). Head coach: Carlo Silipo
Shots:
CRO: 13/28
ITA: 15/41
Extramen:
CRO: 4 for 13
ITA: 3 for 12
Penalties:
CRO: 1 for 3
ITA: 0 for 1
Shootout:
Faraglia 0-1, Markic 1-1, di Martire 1-2, Culina saved, Antonucci 1-3, Penava 2-3, Condemi 2-4, Herceg 3-4, Iodoce 3-5
Game 69, 12.15 – For places 7-8th: Montenegro v Australia 12-11
Quarters: 2-2, 5-0, 3-5, 2-4
Referees: Reynel Castillo (PUR), Jakov Blaskovic (CRO)
MONTENEGRO
Andrej Bosanac (6/17, 35%), Bogdan Radnjic (GK2, n. e.) – Vuk Draskovic (1/1), Uros Vucurovic (0/3), Aljosa Macic (0/2), Igor Uskokovic (0/1), Danilo Radovic (4/7), Jovan Vujovic (1/1), Martin Gardasevic (2/5), Luka Murisic (0/0), Marko Milic (1/2), Nenad Dragovic (0/1), Marjan Mitrovic (3/6). Head coach: Petar Radanovic
AUSTRALIA
Max Fodor (9/21, 43%), Ethan Zirth (GK2, n. e.) – Joshua Collins (2/3), Matthew Oberman (1/1), Scott Dyson (0/0), Matthew Humby (4/6), James Gillfeather (0/4), Harry Molnar (0/0), Nicholas Taylor (2/2), Christian Kyriakou (2/6), Mitch Robinson (0/1), Kal Glanznig (0/0), Reilly Townsend (0/1). Head coach: Andrew Yanitsas
Shots:
MNE: 12/30
AUS: 11/25
Extramen:
MNE: 3 for 8
AUS: 3 for 8
Penalties:
MNE: 1 for 1
AUS: none
The first period brought a balanced game, both teams looked a bit tired on the last day. The Aussies went ahead, it took 5 minutes for the Montenegrins to score their first but in 56sec they added a second one, however, Matthew Humby’s free-throw brought the game to level 47sec before the first break.
There was no sign of what came in the following period. Danilo Radovic’s man-up goal could be considered a fitting part in the script just as Marjan Mitrovic’s action goal in the middle of the quarter. But the Aussie reply didn’t come and their struggle in front got worse and worse. Not even a debated situation arose, they couldn’t force man-ups, while the Montenegrins made it 5-2 from a penalty, and inside the last minute they netted a goal from the centre and another action goal (in a span of 35sec) to gain a 7-2 lead by halftime.
The big lead remained for long minutes in the third, the Montenegrin boys perhaps thought this game was won. Then in 34 seconds the heat was turned on and not because of the gorgeous sunshine – two hits, one from a man-up, and an action goal after a steal, made the Aussies believe again. The last 74 seconds of this period produced four goals, two apiece, to show that the game was alive again. And it became pretty tense once the Aussies reduced the gap to one, Humby netted one from a man-up, 52sec later Joshua Collins’ shot found the back of the net after an outside shot – it stood 10-9 and plenty of time (5:27) remained). Soon the Aussies had a man-up after a time-out but Christian Kyriakou couldn’t send the ball home, then James Gillfeather could launch two more shots but neither one was on target. Marjan Mitrovic doubled the Montenegrins’ lead but Kyriakou this time scored from a 6 on 5 for 11-10 and there were 2:28min to play. The Montenegrins spent almost a minute in front of the Aussie goal, thanks to a regained ball, then managed to neutralise the Aussie centre-forward and after a time-out Martin Gardasevic decided the match in an extra, his shot bounced in from a blocking arm. Nicholas Taylor’s action goal came too late, 25sec before the end and the Montenegrins managed to keep the ball and the 7th place.
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