Spain and Team USA will compete in the final of the World U20 Championships in Zagreb tomorrow.
In the semifinals, Spain defeated Croatia 13:11. The match featured several twists and turns, but Spain was up to the task when it mattered most – in the fourth quarter. The Spaniards arrived at the final with a flawless record of 5-0.
In a thrilling semifinal, Team USA defeated Hungary, the 2023 World U20 Champion 18:16. The Americans, similar to Spain, came back from a deficit to overcome a major rival. Hungary led by four goals in the first half and maintained a slim advantage before the final eight minutes. However, Team USA dominated those crucial moments to take revenge for their earlier 12:13 defeat in the group stage
For the first time, Team USA has reached the final of the Men’s World Championships in any category. Previously, their biggest success in men’s world water polo championships was a bronze medal, won by the U20 team in Otopeni in 2023. The Americans opened the tournament in Zagreb with losses to Croatia (10:19) and Hungary (12:13) but bounced back to defeat Montenegro, Serbia, and Hungary, resulting in this historic success.
In the 5th-place match, Serbia and Montenegro will face off, having won against Italy and Greece, respectively.
2025 World U20 Championships, Zagreb, Day 7
Semifinals
Spain – Croatia 13:11 (5:3, 1:3, 2:3, 5:2)
Spain: Aguirre 5, Perrone 3, Flaque 2, Sabadell 2, Granados 1.
Croatia: Pavlic 6, Jerkovic 2, Susic 2, Curkovic 1.
Yesterday, Croatia staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Greece in the quarterfinals, overcoming a five-goal deficit early in the third period. However, today was a different story for Croatia. Despite having a 10:8 lead with less than six minutes remaining, the hosts could not hold on to their advantage as Spain made a timely comeback, ultimately securing the win.
Spain opened the match excellently and rushed to a 3:0 and 4:1 lead. But, in the 7th minute, when two goals separated the rivals (4:2), Spain’s Garcia was excluded for a violent foul. During a four-minute suspension, the Croats leveled the score (5:5). Oier Aguirre (the younger brother of Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Aguirre) found the net from a distance in the 12th minute to make it 6:5. Immediately after, Croatia’s leader Vlaho Pavlic leveled at 6:6. It was the last goal in the first half.
Fajkovic (CRO) and Perrone (ESP) Photo by CRO WP (Croatian Water Polo Federation)
In the third quarter, Spain controlled the result in an even contest. Two minutes before the last break, it had a slim 8:7 lead.But Pavlic and Curkovic closed the third period with goals, and the hosts earned a 9:8 advantage. Pavlic converted a penalty shot in the 25th minute to double the hosts’ lead – 10:8. However, Croatia didn’t continue in the same rhythm. Spain, led by two players from successful water polo families – the mentioned Aguirre and Tomas Perrone (Felipe Perrone’s nephew) turned the score around. The Spaniards scored five consecutive goals within five minutes and went ahead by three goals – 13:10 with 43 seconds left in the game. Pavlic scored a consolation goal for Croatia.
With this win, Spain secured its first medal at the World U20 Championships after a 14-year drought. The Spaniards won a silver medal in Volos in 2011.
Hungary – USA 16:18 (5:4, 5:5, 3:3, 3:6)
Hungary: Leinweber 7, Varga 3, Peocz 1, Toth 1, Benedek 1, Porge 1, Balogh 1, Lugosi 1.
USA: Dodd 6, Akerstrom 3, Castillo 3, Ohl 1, Liechty 1, Appledorn 1, Schneider 1.
Hungary was constantly in front during the first half. Midway through the second period, the Hungarians built a 4-goal lead (8:4 and 9:5). But, Team USA proved that it didn’t qualify for the semifinals by chance. By the end of the first half, they reduced the gap to one 9:10.
Peter Castillo converted a man-up in the 17th minute, and the teams were tied for the first time – 10:10. Shortly after, Ryder Dodd gave the Americans a first lead – 11:10, scoring from a distance. Still, at the finish of the third quarter, Hungary regained an advantage. Captain Oliver Leinweber made it 13:12 in the 23rd minute. After that, the Americans had a few nice chances, but Hungary’s defense, with goalkeeper Szabo, did their job well.
However, the best from Team USA was still to come. The Americans went on a 4:0 run by the middle of the fourth quarter, earning a 3-goal lead. Ryan Ohl scored to make it 16:13.Leinweber netted two goals (those were his 6th and 7th in the match) to reduce the gap to 15:16. Still, shortly after, Bode Brikanema found the net with a nice long-distance shot shot to double USA’s lead. Two minutes and 13 seconds were left in the game. Hungary couldn’t score in the remaining time. The Europeans made a 7 on 6 in the final minute, but Zeman had his shot blocked by Mills. Team USA launched a counterattack, and Dodd sent the ball into the empty net at 18:15, sealing his team’s win. The Hungarians scored their 16th goal in the dying seconds.
Saturday (June 21) – FINAL: Spain – USA (20:30), bronze-medal match: Croatia – Hungary (16.00)
5th – 8th place semifinals
Italy – Serbia 16:21 (3:4, 3:4, 4:5, 5:7)
Italy: Giacomone 4, Tringali Capuano 4, Cora 4, Gullotta 3, Lo Re 1.
Serbia: Novakovic 5, Jaukovic 4, Andjelic 3, Kojic 2, Krstic 2, Conkic 2, Gajic 1, Gladovic 1,
Today’s match between Serbia and Italy was similar to their previous encounter in the group stage. Both teams experienced numerous exclusions and red cards, although there were no violent fouls, resulting in 4-minute exclusions. In the group stage match, the game remained competitive until the end (Serbia won 14:12), but today was different. Serbia took control in the middle of the match, thanks to a better man-up conversion rate (10 out of 18) compared to Italy’s 7 out of 15. Additionally, Serbian goalkeeper Gosic made 10 saves, while the Italian goalkeepers combined for only 6 saves.
ALl photos by CRO WP (Croatian Water Polo Federation)
Serbia was almost always in front. Italy leveled the score three times – at 1:1, 3:3, and 6:6. The Serbs scored twice in the 16th minute and added a goal in their first possession of the second half to establish a 3-goal lead for the first time (9:6). The Italians narrowed the gap to two goals several times. Early in the fourth quarter, they trailed by 13:15. However, their last hope soon disappeared. Serbia produced a 3:0 rush in a minute and a half. It went to 18:13 in the middle of the quarter and maintained the difference until the end.
Montenegro – Greece 21:20 (3:2, 3:4, 5:5, 2:2, PSO 8:7)
Montenegro: Hadzic 3, Stupar 2, Janovic 2, Markovic 1, Perov 1, Ne. Petrovic 1, Radanovic 1, Ni. Petrovic 1.
Greece: Bitsakos 3, Georgas 3, Zervoudakis 2, Nikolaidis 2, Spachits 1, Lykoudis 1, Tottis 1.
Both Montenegro and Greece experienced ups and downs throughout the tournament, as well as in today’s match. Georgios gave Greece a 2:0 lead in the first two minutes. Montenegro responded with five goals in a row to earn a 5:2 advantage. Greece leveled at 6:6 by the middle break and opened the second half with two goals to re-establish a 2-goal lead (8:6). However, the teams were tied at 11:11 at the last break. The series of turns continued in the fourth quarter. Montenegro went ahead (12:11), but Greece responded with two goals. The Montenegrins leveled at 13:13 with 03:44 left on the clock. It was the last goal in the regular time, so a penalty shootout decided a winner.
All 14 penalty shots in the first seven rounds were converted. In the 8th round, neither team scored. Finally, the decision came in the 9th round. Lykoudis hit the post, while Nebojsa Petrovic made no mistake, and Montenegro qualified for the 5th-place game.
Saturday (June 21) – 5th-place match: Serbia – Montenegro (17:30), 7th-place match: Italy – Greece (16.00)
Semifinals 9th – 12th place
Iran – Australia 13:17 (2:5, 2:4, 5:3, 4:5)
China – Germany 2:20 (1:8, 0:3, 1:5, 0:4)
Germany, led by Simic and Hofmann (each scored four goals), showed no mercy to China.
The match between Iran and Australia was practically decided in the first half. The “Sharks” led 9:3 after the first 16 minutes. Iran refused to give up and fought hard. The Asians cut their deficit to three goals on three occasions (9:12, 10:13, 11:14), but Australia controlled the match and didn’t let Iran come closer. Tucker and Magasanik scored four goals apiece for Australia. Iran’s captain, Shams, also found the net four times.
Saturday (June 21) – 9th-place match: Germany – Australia (13:30), 1th-place match: China – Iran (12:00)
Classification 13th – 20th place
17th-place match
Singapore – Colombia 18:21 (5:5, 6:2, 3:7, 3:3, PSO 1:4)
19th-place match
New Zealand – South Africa 15:16 (3:3, 3:4, 4:3, 3:3, PSO 2:3)
After two interesting matches decided in penalty shootouts, Colombia won 17th place, while South Africa avoided the bottom of the standings with a victory over New Zealand.
Saturday (June 21) – 13th-place match: Brazil – Canada (10:30), 15th-place match: Argentina – Kazakhstan (9:00),
