WATER POLO: The Australian Men’s Water Polo Team have booked their sport in the quarter finals of the FINA World Championships in Budapest, after a solid 8-3 win over Brazil.

It was the perfect redemption for the Aussie Sharks, who narrowly lost by one goal to the Brazilians in the opening game of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The result will see both the Australian Men’s and Women’s teams progress through to the quarter finals of the World Championships, which is pleasing for both sides that both have many new faces post the Rio Olympics.

Australian Men’s Assistant Coach Dean Kontic was pleased the team were able to execute the game plan.

“We played well, from the beginning we controlled the game and we didn’t allow Brazil to come closer and played good defence which was our main goal for this game. We can be proud of the game and how we played.

“Now we will play against Serbia and they have been the best team in the world for the last four or five years. It will be a difficult game but of course we will try to do our best and prepare as best we can,” he said.

Rio Olympian George Ford said the team were pleased to do what was needed to progress through to the quarter finals.

“We are happy to have won this game. It could have been better, of course, but we put in a great effort.

“We had a solid defence and allowed only one goal in the last three quarters, so happy with that result,” he said.

While Brazil were first to get on the scoreboard, Joe Kayes evened it up with a backhand goal at centre forward. It was another goal from Kayes on the post in extra man that saw the Aussies take 2-1 lead. It was short lived however with Brazil replying with a conversion in extra man to even scores 2-2 at the end of the first quarter.

It was almost half way through the second quarter before Nathan Power delivered a goal from down town to get the first goal of the quarter. It was a double for the Aussies courtesy of a James Fannon steal, which he followed up with a swim of the length of the pool and counter goal to take the score 4-2 at half time.

Hyranthos in goals for the Aussie Sharks was impressive throughout the game, with some vital saves in the second and fourth quarters keeping the Brazilians scoreless.

The second half saw the Aussies get off to a strong start with a Jarrod Gilchrist goal on the post followed up by a rocket from outside thanks to Andrew Ford. Brazil weren’t about to go down fighting with a goal in double extra man to take the score 6-3 at the end of the third.

Kayes opened the scoring for the Aussie Sharks in the final quarter for his third goal of the game, with Fannon sealing the deal for the Aussies with a goal from the outside to finish 8-3.

Like the Australian Women’s team, the Aussie Sharks will now face reigning Olympic Champions in the quarter finals. For the Sharks that will be the formidable Serbian side on Wednesday 26 July 4:30am (Tuesday 25 July, 8:30pm Budapest, Hungary).

RESULTS

Australia 8 Brazil 3

AUSTRALIA: Edward Slade, Timothy Putt, George Ford, Joseph Kayes (3), Nathan Power (1), Lachlan Edwards, Jarrod Gilchrist (1), Aaron Younger, Andrew Ford (1), James Fannon (2), Lachlan Hollis, Nicholas Brooks, Anthony Hrysanthos. Head Coach: Elvis Fatovic

Water Polo Australia