The Spanish men's water polo team, current world runner-up, played one of their best games in recent years to come back from 10-6 to Italy, win first place in group C and save themselves the round of 16 at the World Cup in Budapest. David Martín's men were superb after hitting rock bottom, to get up in a sensational fourth quarter: 0-4, with a masterful Unai Aguirre, best player of the match.
The clash against Italy had at stake the first place in group C and with it, going directly to the quarterfinals (on Wednesday), saving a duel of attrition in the round of 16 against Australia or the United States.
For this reason, David Martín's men went out to the Sopron pool with one more march, and their start was devastating: a 1-4 to start, with goals from Famera, De Toro, Larumbe and Tahull at the buoy. However, before closing the quarter, Italy stiffened their defense and responded with a 3-1 run that cut the deficit to 4-5 at the end of the set.
At the start of the second quarter, David Martín made a decision that almost cost him the match: he replaced goalkeeper Unai Aguirre -who had conceded two goals in a row- with Edu Lorrio and the team sank. He received a severe 5-1 partial with the Sabadell goalkeeper under the sticks (0/5 on his account) and Spain was seen with -4 (10-6) shortly before the break, with a gigantic Gianmarco Nicosia in the Italian goal.
Rectifying is wise, Martín again resorted to Aguirre in goal from 9-6 and the partial closed with a 1-2 for Spain, with two goals in a row from Bernat Sanahuja, who stopped the bleeding and put the 10- 8 at rest. Everything was possible.
In the second half, the picture changed completely. The Spanish team recovered their pulse, despite the fact that Nicosia kept stopping like an octopus, but now also accompanied by an Aguirre who was getting into tune. Thus, the quarter ended 2-2, with goals from Munárriz and Mallarach, who kept the deficit at -2 (12-10).
Everything was going to be played in the last 8 minutes, in which Spain was sublime. Especially his defense, impregnable, and his goalkeeper Unai Aguirre, who lowered the blind and kept a clean sheet to finish with 10 saves (in 17 shots, a 59% success rate). In attack, his teammate from Barceloneta Álvaro Granados finally appeared with three goals that made the final 12-14.
In quarters, on Wednesday, Spain would cross, in principle, with Montenegro; a rocky rival, but affordable.
Italy: Nicosia, F. di Fulvio (2), Damonte (2), Iocchi Gratta, Fondelli (1), Cinnamon (1), Marzialli (1), Echenique, Presciutti (1), Bruni (1), Di Somma ( 3), Dolze, Del Lungo (ps).
Spain: Unai Aguirre, Munárriz (2), Granados (3), Sanahuja (2), De Toro (1), Larumbe (2), Famera (1), Cabanas, Tahull (2), Perrone, Mallarach (1), Bustos, Lorrio (ps).
Quarters: 4-5, 10-6, 12-10, 12-14.
