Croatia defeated Team USA 8:6 in Walnut, California, in the last preparation match before the 20th World Championships in Fukuoka.
Leftie Konstantin Kharkov led the Croats to the win with four goals.
Friendly match, Walnut
USA – Croatia 6:8 (2:2, 1:2, 0:2, 3:2)
USA: R. Dodd 2, Hallock 1, Daube 1, Cupido 1, Vavic 1
Croatia: Kharkov 4, Vukicevic 2, Zuvela 1, Basic 1
The Croats opened the match with a 2:0 lead. But, USA’s junior Ryder Dodd netted two goals in the 8th minute, so the sides were tied at 2:2 at the first break. Kharkov made it 3:2 in the 11th minute. Shortly after, the hosts leveled at 3:3. The Americans couldn’t find the net in the following 15 minutes, while Croatia netted four goals for a comfortable 7:3 advantage in the 26th minute and secured a victory. The home side halved the distance in the remaining six minutes.
The two teams will finish joint preparations on Tuesday.
For more news and the schedule about the upcoming Worlds, visit Total Waterpolo’s page 2023 World Championships.
The 46-year-old was in front of Team USA’s goal in the opening several minutes before Drew Holland replaced him.
Moses began his journey with the USA Men’s National Water Polo Team in 1997 and was the starting goalkeeper at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. He won silver in Beijing in 2008. Moses clinched gold medals at the 2007 and 2015 Pan American Games and played six times at the Water Polo World Championships between 2003 and 2015, with his highest finish being 4th in 2009. Moses also won two silver and one bronze medal in the World League. Currently, Moses serves as an associate head coach in water polo at the University of Pepperdine.
More articles about the World Championships
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more video content, subscribe to our Youtube Channel and Tik Tok account
