Sport | Other Sports

Hungary clinch third straight Olympic gold in water polo

Peter Biros scored three goals to lead Hungary to a 14-10 win over the United States and a third consecutive gold medal in Olympic men's water polo.

  • AP
  • Published: 23:28 August 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

Belgium: Peter Biros scored three goals to lead Hungary to a 14-10 win over the United States and a third consecutive gold medal in Olympic men's water polo. Hungary became the first country to win three straight gold medals in the sport since Britain in 1920. The Hungarians stretched their Olympic unbeaten streak to 17 games, with the latest victim being an American team that surprised just about everyone by getting to the final.

Counter attacks

The Americans kept it close early and had it tied at 9 in the third quarter. But the Hungarians pulled away down the stretch, scoring five unanswered goals and turning a close match into a blowout.

US goalkeeper Merrill Moses even got benched during the spurt. But it wasn't all his fault. Hungary scored on three counter attacks, essentially beating the Americans across the pool and getting one-one-one shots against Moses.

"They are well-coached, they've got good athletes and they beat us," US coach Terry Schroeder said. "They beat us good."

The Americans (5-2) were content with returning to the medal stand for the first time since 1988.

The United States came to Beijing ranked ninth in the world, and many expected the team would finish sixth or seventh - the same spot it had the last three Summer Games.

But the Americans upset Italy, Croatia, Germany and Serbia en route to the silver medal.

The Hungarians (6-0-1) didn't lose a match for the second consecutive Olympics.

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